READING, PA – The Wilkes University football team defeated Alvernia University 35-14 in a Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) game Saturday afternoon in Reading, Pa. as quarterback Isaiah Rodriguez (Lebanon, PA/Lebanon) threw for 335 yards and three touchdowns.

Wilkes improved to 4-1 overall and 3-1 in league games with the road victory. Alvernia fell to 1-4 overall and 0-3 in the MAC.

The Colonels defense opened the game forcing a punt near midfield to give the ball to the offense. On the first offensive play Rodriguez found Zane Grover (East Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) over the middle for a 46 yard pass play. Elijah Jules (Red Bank, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) then ran for 11 more yards to push the ball to the Alvernia 33. A pass interference call on the Golden Wolves put the ball at their 14 and on a fourth and five play Rodriguez found Grover for a nine-yard passing touchdown with 4:20 remaining in the first quarter. Nick Volpone (Delco, PA/Ridley) added the extra point to make it 7-0 Colonels.

The two sides then traded punts that set up an Alvernia attempt at a drive but that was cut short by an interception by Leroy Marshall (Cambria Heights, NY/Christ the King) that set the Colonels offense up at the Golden Wolves 40. On the ensuing drive Rodriguez connected with Jimmy Johnson (Fallston, MD/Fallston) for a 34 yard gain on a third and nine play that brought the ball down to the five yard line. On the next play Jules took the wildcat snap and ran in for the touchdown. Volpone's extra point made the score 14-0 with 9:37 left in the second quarter.

The Colonels defense forced another punt but then the Wilkes offense was stopped on a fourth and one play on their next drive. That set Alvernia up at the Colonels 40 to start its drive, as the home side would go in for a touchdown on a Joseph Perkins five yard run on the drive's fifth play as the score went to 14-7 with 3:40 left until half.

The Colonels next drive saw Jason Schweizerhof (Warninster, PA/William Tennent) go for 38 yards on a pass from Rodriguez and later the Colonels QB ran for 26 more yards. As the first half time ran down Rodriguez was stopped at the goal line on a third and goal play and then on fourth down with one second left a Volpone field goal was no good as Wilkes was unable to extend its 14-7 halftime lead.

The Colonels picked up one first down on a 20 yard pass to Jason Dean (Auburn, PA/Blue Mountain) during the first drive of the third quarter before punting. On the Golden Wolves next drive, Adam Piston (Laurys Station, PA/Parkland) had back-to-back sacks, the second assisted by Lance Priestas (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) that pushed Alvernia back to their 18 to punt to Wilkes. Walter Lewis (Sicklerville, NJ/Timber Creek) ran for 15 yards to the Alvernia 21 on the first play of the drive but Wilkes ended up turning the ball over on downs back to the Golden Wolves four plays later.

Marshall snagged his second interception of the game to stop a six play 46 yard drive by Alvernia and set Wilkes up at their own 45. A roughing the passer call and a 10 yard run by Jules moved the ball to the Golden Wolves seven where Rodriguez connected to Nate Whitaker (Upper Darby, PA/Haverford School) to the left side for a touchdown. Volpone's extra point made it 21-7 with 1:33 to play in the third.

The defense forced a three-and-out for Alvernia with Piston picking up a quarterback hurry on the third and seven play to lead to a punt. Devin Higgins (Pennington, NJ/Hopewell Valley) would go for 20 yards on a pass from Rodriguez near the beginning of the fourth and Jules would follow with a 10 yard run. Rodriguez to Whitaker for 10 more yards set the ball up at the Golden Wolves 16 where Lewis ran in for the touchdown on the next play. Following a Voplone extra point the lead went to 28-7 with 11:41 remaining.

Alvernia drove to the Colonels six on its next drive but on a third and one play Kevin Washington fumbled as Angel Ramos (Allentown, PA/Parkland) put the pressure on. Ramos would recover the ball as well to give the ball back to Wilkes at its own seven.

On the very first play Rodriguez hit Whitaker down the right side and the senior wide receiver took it to the house for a 93 yard touchdown, the longest play of the season for Wilkes. Volpone's extra point made the score 35-7 with 7:53 left.

The Wilkes defense forced another Alvernia punt on the next drive but the offense fumbled the ball back to the Golden Wolves and on the next play Ozmere Jones rushed in from 33 yards out to make it 35-14 with 5:02 remaining.

Lewis picked up a first down for the Colonels on the next drive before Alex Orlando (Allentown, PA/Emmaus) punted back to Alvernia. Time would run out on the home team on the ensuing drive as the Colonels finished off the 35-14 victory.

Rodriguez finished the day going 16-for-25 and 335 yards through the air with three touchdown passes and no interceptions. He added three carries for 28 yards. Jules ran 17 times for 64 yards and a touchdown while Lewis added 62 yards on 10 carries and a touchdown. Whitaker had three receptions for 110 yards and two touchdowns. Nine different Colonels caught at least one Rodriguez pass.

Marshall's big game on defense saw him tie for the lead with eight tackles along with his two interceptions. Piston also had eight tackles with 2.5 sacks while Brandon Holcomb (Boynton Beach, FL/Boca Raton) and Steele Hess (Allentown, PA/Whitehall) also added eight tackles.

Washington finished 5-for-7 for 31 yards with an interception for Alvernia while Monte McMorris was 6-for-11 for 66 yards and an interception. Gregory Harder went 3-for-5 for 54 yards. EJ Lee rushed 17 times for 99 yards for the Golden Wolves.

The Colonels return home to continue MAC play, hosting Misericordia University next Saturday, October 15 at Schmidt Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.