Wilkes Colonels (5-1, 4-1) vs. No. 14 Delaware Valley Aggies (7-0, 5-0)
Saturday, October 22, 2022 - 1:00 p.m.
Robert A. Lipinski Field at James Work Memorial Stadium
 
Game Notes
 
Live Stats

Live Video

THE MATCHUP
Wilkes University goes on the road as they battle for first place in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) against No. 14 Delaware Valley University, with kickoff scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 2 at James Work Memorial Stadium. Wilkes (5-1, 4-1 MAC) enters the game after beating Misericordia University 28-0 at Schmidt Stadium. Delaware Valley (7-0, 5-0 MAC) looks to stay unbeaten after visiting Lebanon Valley and leaving with a 34-10 conference win.

THE HEAD COACHES
Jonathan Drach (Western Michigan '04) was named head coach of the Wilkes University football team on February 8, 2018 becoming the ninth mentor of the program since its inception in 1946. Drach will continue to serve as the offensive coordinator during the 2022 season as well as working with the quarterbacks. In 2021 Wilkes finished its third season with six or more wins under Drach as the Colonels finished 6-4 including 5-0 start to the season. Five Colonels earned All-MAC honors including returners wide receiver/return specialist Nate Whitaker (Upper Darby, PA/Haverford School) and punter Alex Orlando (Allentown, PA/Emmaus) as Honorbale Mentions. In 2019 he led the Colonels to an 8-3 overall record, finishing 6-2 in MAC play and earning a postseason berth for the first time since 2010 and the program's first trip to the Centennial-MAC Bowl Series. The eight wins were also the most since 2006 for the program. Drach pioneered one of the biggest turnarounds in Division III football in 2018 when he led the Colonels to a 6-4 record after the team went winless in 2017. In 2018 and 2019, four Colonels were named All-MAC under Drach. Drach came to Wilkes after 11 years at Hobart. As the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, Drach was instrumental in leading the Statesmen to six Liberty League Conference championships, seven NCAA playoff appearances and three consecutive undefeated regular seasons. He began his career as the quarterbacks coach in 2007 until adding offensive coordinator to his responsibilities in 2014. Drach coached the Liberty League Offensive Player of the Year in 2007, 2014, 2016 and 2017 and the ECAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2007 and 2016. He also coached seven All-League quarterbacks and a Bill Middleton Memorial Football Award Winner. A native of St. Charles, Ill., Drach earned his bachelor's degree in business finance and economics from Western Michigan University in 2004. A three-year starter, he enjoyed his finest year as a senior, completing a single season record 67 percent of his passes for 1,499 yards and 13 TDs.

Duke Greco (Delaware Valley'03) enters his eighth year as Delaware Valley's head coach in the fall of 2022. He holds an astounding 70-12 record with postseason berths each year, including five NCAA appearances, two trips to the NCAA quarterfinals, four consecutive (2017-18-19-21) Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) championships, two Centennial-MAC Bowl Series championships, and two MAC Coach of the Year honors. The 2021 season proved to be another remarkable year for the Aggies, as Greco and his staff led the team to an 11-1 mark, including their fourth consecutive MAC championship. DelVal ran through the regular season at 10-0, including an 8-0 record in conference play that extended their MAC winning streak to 36 consecutive games, dating back to the 2016 season. The Aggies outscored opponents 443-81 and their defense ranked first in the country in nine different categories, while finishing in the top ten in five others. In 2017, Greco was selected as the MAC Coach of the Year and the Maxwell Football Club Tri-State Coach of the Year. Prior to becoming head coach, Greco had an 11-year stint as an assistant coach at his alma mater, including eight as the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator, where the Aggies won four MAC championships and reached the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs three times. The four MAC titles were from 2008 to 2011 as DelVal was one of just five football teams in the 100-year history of the conference to notch four or more consecutive championships. They also captured a pair of Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Bowl championships.

THE SERIES
Wilkes holds a 31-26 edge over Delaware Valley in the series. Delaware Valley won last season as they blanked Wilkes 30-0 at Schmidt Stadium, continuing a five game win streak over the Colonels. Wilkes last win came in 2015, where they scored a late touchdown with 2:14 left in the game to beat the Aggies 12-7.

UP NEXT
The Colonels will return home as they host Lycoming College in MAC action on Saturday, October 29 at 12:00 p.m. It will be the 62nd meeting between the two schools with the Warriors having a 41-20 series lead over Wilkes. Lycoming won last season as they held onto a 30-27 victory. The Colonels last win came in 2019 where they took the Warriors to double overtime and came away victorious 24-17 at Schmidt Stadium.

SCOUTING THE WILKES OFFENSE (MULTIPLE)
- Wilkes ranks first in the MAC in scoring offense (33.5), total offense (418.8), passing offense (240.7), and second in rushing offense (178.2).

- Wilkes went to the ground game to push through Misericordia, as they gained 223 rushing yards and scored three touchdowns on their way to a 28-0 victory over the Cougars. Wilkes balanced their offensive game as they compiled 230 passing yards, with the majority of those yards gained in the first two quarters. The performance by the offense was lead by the lineman Brendan Boris (Mount Carmel, PA/Mount Carmel Area), Aidan Palochik (Nazareth, PA/Nazareth Area), Billy Anderson (Mount Carmel, PA/Mount Carmel Area), Mauro Guarino (Cedar Grove, NJ/Cedar Grove), and Anthony Messina (Bellmore, NY/Mepham), who were honored by the D3.football Team of the Week earlier in the season.

- Sophomore quarterback Isaiah Rodriguez (Lebanon, PA/Lebanon) took his time against Misericordia, as he completed 15 of 19 passes on the day for 204 passing yards and a touchdown in the two and a half quarters he played for the Colonels. Rodriguez also ran for 23 yards on three carries as well. He continues to lead the MAC in various passing categories, as he ranks first in passing yards (1390), average yards per game (231.7), completion efficiency (163.1), and is tied for first in passing touchdowns (11). Rodrigue holds all these accolades while still being the only quarterback in the MAC to not have thrown an interception in his six starts for the Colonels.

- Junior running back Elijah Jules (Red Bank, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) had a big day running for the Colonels, as he finished with 128 rushing yards on 22 attempts and scoring three touchdowns on the day. Jules ran all over the Cougars in the first half of the game, gaining 121 of his 128 yards in the first two quarters. First year running back Ben Contella (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Hills) was given rushing duties for most of the second half, as he carried the ball seven times for 35 yards. Jules ranks second in the MAC in rushing yards with 592, while he still leads the conference with 98.7 rushing yards-per-game and nine rushing touchdowns. 

- Devin Higgins (Pennington, NJ/Hopewell Valley) led the Colonels in catches and yards, as he recorded seven receptions with 88 yards on the day. Whitaker would follow suit with five catches for 52 yards, which included an eight-yard touchdown grab from Rodriguez in the second quarter to extend Wilkes lead 14-0. Zane Grover (East Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) had 54 yards on two catches, including a 45 yard reception near the end of the second quarter to set up a potential scoring drive for thr Colonels. Whitaker ranks fourth in the MAC in receiving yards (392) and third in average receiving yards-per-game. Grover is first with 28.5 average yards-per-catch, with Jules and Whitaker ranking fourth (21.#0 and fifth (18.7) respectively.

SCOUTING THE WILKES DEFENSE (4-3-4)
- Wilkes is second in scoring defense (13.2), passing defense (132.3), total defense (249.3), and fourth in rushing defense (117.0).

- Wilkes forced three turnovers for Misericordia on the day as they held Alvernia to 181 yards of  total offense. The Colonels had two interceptions on the day, while recovering a fumble near the end of the second quarter to halt any offensive momentum for the Cougars

- De'Von James (Mount Holly Springs, PA/Boiling Springs) and Angel Ramos (Allentown, PA/Parkland) tied for first on the team with seven tackles on the day, with Brandon Holcomb (Boynton Beach, FL/Boca Raton) and Kellen Redmond (St. Petersburg, FL/Calvary Christian) following behind with six. Holcomb is still ranked fourth in the MAC with 55 tackles on the season.

- The Colonels put pressure on Misericordia's quarterback all day, as they didn't allow the passing game to get any form of groove through the majority of the game. Ramos and Adam Piston (Laurys Station, PA/Parkland) recorded half a sack on the day, while Redmond and Billy Costner (Bordentown, NJ/Bordentown Regional) had a QB hurry. 

- John Washington (Brooklyn, NY/Eagle Academy) recorded his second interception on the day that would have gone for a touchdown, but a flag took back the score and placed the ball at the Misericordia 40. Donell Mackey-Woodson (Hartford, CT/Southington) followed his teammates' lead in the next series by grabbing his own interception two plays later. Washington had three pass breakups on the day, with James and David Osman (Hellertown, PA/Saucon Valley) recording one apiece.

SCOUTING THE WILKES SPECIAL TEAMS
- First Year kicker Nick Volpone (Delco, PA/Ridley) converted on all of his extra points last week, going 4-4 on the day. Volpone attempted a 20-yard field goal right before halftime that went wide left. Fellow kicker Brandon Shire (Perkasie, PA/Pennridge) took his chance at a 36 yard field goal halfway through the third that went wide right for the Colonels.

- Orlando punted five times last week that went for 317 yards, having two touchbacks on the day. He is tied for fourth in the conference with a 37.4 punting average on the season.

SCOUTING DELAWARE VALLEY OFFENSE (MULTIPLE)
- Delaware Valley is first in rushing offense (180.3), second in scoring offense (26.3), third in total offense (366.7) and seventh in passing offense (156.4). 

- Junior quarterback Louie Barrios IV comes into this game throwing for 1041 passing yards on 82 completions from 152 passing attempts. Barrios IV has thrown 11 touchdowns to five interceptions on the year. Barrios IV also has rushed for 283 yards and six touchdowns as well. He led the Aggies to a victory over then No. 25 Stevenson, throwing for 190 yards on 12-17 passing and two passing touchdowns while also rushing for 40 yards and two scores, giving his efforts MAC Offensive Player of the Week in week 5. Barrios IV is third in the MAC with a 128.8 QB efficiency.

- Sophomore running back Jay White leads the MAC in rushing yards with 672 on the year, with six rushing touchdowns as well. White helped give the Aggies sole possession of first place in the MAC last week when he ran for a career-high 217 yards on 17 carries and two touchdowns on Delaware Valley's rout to a 34-10 victory over Lebanon Valley. White's efforts not only earned MAC Offensive Player of the Week for Week 7, but also was announced to D3football.com Team of the Week.

- Junior wide receiver Tahmir Barksdale has 339 receiving yards and two touchdowns on the year from 33 receptions. He produced 113 yards and a touchdown on seven catches in the Aggies 26-7 win over Stevenson. Fellow junior wide receiver Nahsir Morgan follows behind him with 169 yards and two touchdowns on 11 catches.

SCOUTING DELAWARE VALLEY DEFENSE (4-3-4)
- Delaware Valley is first in passing defense (113.4), rushing defense (56.3), total defense (169.7), and scoring defense (5.3).

- Junior linebacker Nick Chapman is tied for eighth in the MAC with 45 tackles on the year. Champman has recorded 6+ tackles in five straight games for Delaware Valley. Junior defensive lineman Xander Shaner ranks second on the team with 28 tackles in five games this season. Senior defensive back Cole Kitchen follows suit with 40 tackles on the season

- Senior defensive lineman Michael Nobile leads the MAC with 7.5 sacks on the year. He has registered a sack against Westminister College (PA), King's College, Misericordia, Stevenson University, and Lycoming College. His teammate, senior defensive end Yusuf Aladinov, follows behind him with five sacks on the year, putting him at fourth in the MAC with sacks. Aladinov has 10 quarterback hurries on the year, with senior defensive lineman Anthony Nobile and his brother Michael following behind with eight and seven respectively.

- Sophomore cornerback Micah Bootman leads the team with five pass breakups on the year, with senior Blaine Netterman, junior Ahmad Jones, Champman, and senior Jaelyn Gaither having three apiece. Netterman, Anthony Nobile, sophomore Rafael Torres, junior Anthony Puntolillo, Kitchen, sophomore Notti Jones, and sophomore Barry Turner are all tied for first on the team with one interception.

SCOUTING DELAWARE VALLEY SPECIAL TEAMS
- Sophomore kicker Nick Choi has made 19-24 PATs on the year. He made his lone field goal attempt in week one, where he hit a 22 yard field goal early in the fourth quarter to give the Aggies a 16-8 lead over Minister (PA). Choi also averages 48.6 yards on kickoffs, with two going for a touchback.

- Senior kicker Chris Moyer has 37 punts on the year, with 1261 yards punted on the season. He averages 34.08 yards a punt this year through seven games, with three going for 50+ yards and eight being pinned inside the 20.

- Bootman helped Delaware Valley when he scooped up a fumble and returned it 40 yards to set up a touchdown for the Aggies in their 22-8 win over Westminister (PA). His performance earned MAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors in week 1.