Wilkes Colonels (5-2, 4-2) vs. Lycoming Warriors (3-4, 2-3)
Saturday, October 29, 2022 - 12:00 p.m.
Schmidt Stadium
 
Game Notes
 
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THE MATCHUP
Wilkes University comes back home to compete in Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) action as they host Lycoming College, with kickoff scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 29 at Schmidt Stadium. Wilkes (5-2, 4-2 MAC) suffers their second conference defeat as they fell on the road to No. 14 Delaware Valley 27-14. Lycoming (3-4, 2-3) snaps their three game losing streak as they roll over Alvernia University 42-10.

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.

Mike Clark (Lycoming '93 & Rowan '96) enters his 15th year as Lycoming's head coach in the fall of 2022. Clark has been a part of 135 wins, eight MAC titles, seven NCAA tournament teams, nine postseason-bound teams and six NCAA playoff wins as a Warrior. During his time as head coach, Clark has tutored 114 all-conference selections, 45 Hampshire Honor Society members, 22 all-region selections, 12 Academic All-District selections, seven All-Americans, four Academic All-Americans, a Regional Player of the Year, and led the team to seven wins over top-25 programs. The Warriors became the first MAC team to win a MAC-Centennial Bowl Series game in four years when it beat Ursinus, 31-23, to wrap up an 8-3 campaign. The team finished second in the MAC and featured nine All-MAC performers and three all-region selections. In 2014, the Warriors reached as high as 20th in the national polls en route to an 8-2 season and a third-place finish in the MAC with a 6-2 mark. The team's offense racked up a school-record 415.0 yards of total offense per game. The 2013 Warriors were able to sustain a rollercoaster ride throughout the season and still capture a share of the program's 15th MAC title, posting a 7-3 record and a 7-2 mark in league play. The team started the year with a 4-1 mark, which included wins over 24th-ranked Widener and 16th-ranked Delaware Valley. Accolades rolled in for the team after the year, as 13 players were named all-conference, three all-region and Tanner Troutman, who led the nation in interceptions, was named the D3football.com East Region Player of the Year.

THE SERIES
The warriors holds a 41-20 series lead over the Colonels. 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.

UP NEXT
The Colonels finish their road game schedule and MAC play as they visit Stevenson University on Saturday, November 5 at 1:00 p.m. This will be the 11th meeting between both teams as the series is tied at 5-5. Wilkes won last season as the Colonels held off the Mustangs late comeback to secure a 21-14 victory at Schmidt Stadium. Stevenson's last win came in 2019, where they beat Wilkes 42-21 to cap off their three game win streak over the Navy and Gold.


SCOUTING THE WILKES OFFENSE (MULTIPLE)
- Wilkes ranks first in the MAC in scoring offense (30.7) and total offense (395.6), second in passing offense (228.6), and third in rushing offense (167.0).

- Wilkes was held to 256 total yards last week, only recording 100 yards on the ground and 156 passing. The Colonels look to improve this week on their offense that has racked up over 300+ yards in five of the seven games they have played this season.

- Junior quarterback Xavier Powell (Poughkeepsie, NY/Arlington) threw for 156 yards from 11 completions, throwing a touchdown and an interception in his first start of the season. Powell also ran for 60 yards on 12 attempts. Powell looks to continue the success in the quarterback spot where fellow teammate Isaiah Rodriguez (Lebanon, PA/Lebanon) earned MAC Offensive Player of the Week honors during his stretch at the position.

- Junior running back Elijah Jules (Red Bank, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) ran for 40 yards and a touchdown on nine carries last week against Delaware Valley. He scored with 6:07 left in the game to pull within two scores for the Colonels. Jules ranks second in the MAC in rushing yards (632) and average yards-per-game (90.3) while still leading the conference with 10 rushing touchdowns on the season. 

- Devon Higgins had 39 yards on three catches, including a 6-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter to put Wilkes on the board. Zane Grover (East Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) had 64 yards on two catches, with most of the yardage coming from a 53 yard pass in the fourth quarter to set up the Colonels for a touchdown on that drive. Whitaker ranks fifth in the MAC with 392 receiving yards on the year.

SCOUTING THE WILKES DEFENSE (4-3-4)
- Wilkes is second in scoring defense (15.1), second in passing defense (154.3), fourth in total defense (287.6, and sixth in rushing defense (133.3).

- De'Von James (Mount Holly Springs, PA/Boiling Springs) had a career day in tackles as he recorded 17 in the contest, the most by any Colonel this season. James also blocked an extra point in the first quarter to keep the game 6-0 in the first. Brandon Holcomb (Boynton Beach, FL/Boca Raton) followed behind with ten tackles, the third time this season he has accumulated 10+ tackles in a game. Holcomb ranks fourth in the MAC with 65 tackles on the season. James, Jesse Addesso (Staten Island, NY/St. Joes by The Sea), Angel Ramos (Allentown, PA/Parkland), Kellen Redmond (St. Petersburg, FL/Calvary Christian), and Matt Williams (Wheatley Heights, NY/Half Hollow Hills East) all recorded a tackle-for-loss, with Williams getting a sack on the day. 

- The Colonels went to the quarterback and put as much pressure against the Aggies, with Holcomb, Adam Piston (Laurys Station, PA/Parkland), and John Washington (Brooklyn, NY/Eagle Academy) all recording a quarterback hurry. 

- John Washington (Brooklyn, NY/Eagle Academy) and Leroy Marshall (Cambria Heights, NY/Christ the King) both have two interceptions on the season for Wilkes. Marshall looks to bring his presence this week against Lycoming that helped him earn MAC Defensive Player of the Week honors in week 5 against Alvernia.

SCOUTING THE WILKES SPECIAL TEAMS
- First Year kicker Igor Rzasa (Lindenhurst, NY/Lindenhurst)  converted on both of his extra points last week, going 2-2 on the day. Rzasa is 6-6 for PATs on the year, while fellow first year kicker Nick Volpone (Delco, PA/Ridley) is 20-22 on extra points.

- Orlando punted six times last week that went for 244 yards, having a touchback and pinning a kick inside the 20 on the day. He is tied for fourth in the conference with a 38.3 punting average on the season.

SCOUTING LYCOMING OFFENSE (MULTIPLE)
- Lycoming is sixth in scoring offense (22.4), ninth in passing offense (130.6) and rushing offense (103.1), and tenth in total offense (233.7). 

- Senior quarterback Elijah Shemory comes into this game throwing for 795 passing yards on 77 completions from 171 passing attempts. Shemory has thrown nine touchdowns to six interceptions on the year. Shemory helped Lycoming pass Alvernia last week, passing for 157 yards and three touchdown passes to lift the Warriors over the Golden Wolves 42-10.

- Sophmore running back Heath Jones leads the Warriors with 355 rushing yards on the year, while scoring a touchdown against Alvernia last week. First year running back Michael VanHorn has 85 rushing yards on 26 attempts, with two rushing touchdowns on the season.

- Junior wide receiver Brandon Timothy enters this week with 274 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 21 catches. Junior wide receiver Ziare Williams follows behind with 171 receiving yards on the year. Senior tight end Aaron Wolcott comes in after catching two touchdowns last week off of three catches for 35 yards.

SCOUTING LYCOMING DEFENSE (4-3-4)
- Lycoming is fifth in rushing defense (120.7), sixth in total defense (323.4), seventh in scoring defense (21.1), and eighth in passing defense (202.7).

- Junior defensive back Hunter Campbell comes in tied for seventh in the MAC with 53 tackles on the year. Champman has recorded 6+ tackles in five straight games for Lycomng. Senior defensive back Austin Rowley ranks second on the team with 49 tackles this season. Sophomore linebacker Joey Rivituso comes in earning MAC Defensive Player of the Week honors in week 3 as he had three tackles, an interception, and two fumble recoveries against Albright, with one of them going for a 28-yard touchdown to help Lycoming win 45-0. 

- Senior defensive lineman David Tomb leads the Warriors in sacks with three on the year. His teammate, senior linebacker Cole Senior follows behind with 2.5 sacks, where he recorded them against King's. Sophomore linebacker Rivituso has 1.5 sakcs, while Kevin Gianoni, Adam McCafferty, and Abubaker Audu have one apiece.

- Senior defensive back Austin Rowley is tied for first in the MAC with four interceptions on the year. Rivituso, Campbell, Stephon Payne, Coleman Witherite have two interceptions apiece, helping Lycoming lead the league with 12 interceptions on the season.

SCOUTING LYCOMING SPECIAL TEAMS
- Junior kicker Ian Plankenhorn is 6-11 on field goals for the year, while registering a perfect 19-19 on PATs. He went 3-3 on field goals against Susquehanna in week 1. Plankenhorn also averages 58.4 yards on kickoffs, with nine touchbacks on the year.

- Senior punter Michael Coe has 32 punts on the year, with 1124 yards punted on the season. He averages 35.13 yards a punt this year through seven games, with three going for 50+ yards.

- First year Brody Rhodes averages 22.54 per kickoff, including a game where he had 109 yards on five kickoff returns against King's.