Wilkes Colonels (6-2, 5-2) vs. Stevenson Mustangs (7-2, 5-2)
Saturday, November 5, 2022 - 12:00 p.m.
Mustang Stadium
 
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THE MATCHUP
Wilkes University will go on the road to conclude Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) action this week as they face Stevenson University, with kickoff scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 5 at Mustang Stadium. Wilkes (5-2, 4-2 MAC) gets back into the win column as they push past Lycoming College 24-7. Stevenson (7-2, 5-2) get their third straight win as they roll over Misericordia University 44-7.

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.

Ed Hottle (Frostburg State '99) enters his 12th year as Stevenson's head coach in the fall of 2022. Hottle has led the Mustangs to seven straight postseason appearances, an active streak spanning back to the 2014 season. Hottle was named the ECAC Division III South and MAC Coach of the Year in 2016 when Stevenson won it's first MAC championship and earned an NCAA Tournament bid. Hottle has coached athletes to be successful in his program, including players to make the D3football.com All Region First Team, All-East Second Team, All-East Region Third Team, and Honorable Mention All-America. He coached Austin Tennessee, who was D3football.com Regional Defensive Player of the Year, Cliff Harris Finalist, and Rocky Myers Division III Defensive Player of the Year in 2016. Hottle has also coached his athletes to be recognized as All-MAC First Team, All-MAC Second Team, and All-MAC Honorable Mention during his time at Stevenson, including MAC Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in 2016. Hottle previously worked at Gallaudet for five years, accumulating a 27-20 record during his tenure for the Bison. He brought the team back to Division III in 2007, where they got their first victories as a Division III school since 1991. Hottle also lead the Bison to tie for second in the school's first years in the ECAC. During the Bison's first developmental season, Hottle lead Gallaudet to a 9-0 record. His last year with Gallaudet, Hottle won the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) Coach of the Year award in 2009, where he had 15 players selected on the all-conference teams and a ECFC Rookie of the Year.

THE SERIES
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.

UP NEXT
The Colonels conclude regular season action as they play in-town rival King's College in a non-conference game at Schmidt Stadium on Saturday, November 12 at 12:00 p.m. This will be the 35th meeting between both teams as Wilkes holds a 22-12 advantage in the series. King's won last year, beating the Colonels in a 34-7 victory at McCarthy Stadium. Wilkes last win came in 2019, where they won 24-14 over the Monarchs at Schmidt Stadium. Wilkes also has a 15-10 lead in the Mayor's Cup games since the teams began playing for the cup in 1996. The Mayor's Cup began with former Wilkes-Barre Mayor Thomas McGroarty and has remained intact through today with current Mayor George Brown presiding.

SCOUTING THE WILKES OFFENSE (MULTIPLE)
- Wilkes ranks first in the MAC in scoring offense (29.9) and total offense (374.3), second in passing offense (212.1), and third in rushing offense (162.1).

- Wilkes ran for 128 rushing yards on the day as they totaled 225 yards of offense in their 24-7 victory over Lycoming. The Colonels look to improve this week on their offense that has racked up over 300+ yards in five of the eight games they have played this season.

- Junior quarterback Xavier Powell (Poughkeepsie, NY/Arlington) threw for 97 yards from 10 completions, throwing an interception during the game. Powell has now thrown for 307 yards on 25 completions this season. He 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, where he completed 85 passes for 1390 yards, 11 touchdowns, and no interceptions while accumulating 120 rushing yards and two scores.. Rodriguez's efforts also show in the nation, as he is the only quarterback in the country to not have thrown an interception with six or more starts on the year.

- Junior running back Elijah Jules (Red Bank, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) ran for 101 yards and scored both offensive touchdowns for the Colonels last week against Lycoming. He scored from 31 and two-yards out, both being in the first quarter to make it a 14-0 lead for the Colonels. Jules ranks second in the MAC in rushing yards (733) and is first in average yards-per-game (98.8).  Jules ranks tied for 13th in the country with 12 rushing touchdowns, while placing 22nd with a 6.43 rushing yards-per-carry.

- Zane Grover (East Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) had 43 yards on four catches last week. Jules had two catches for 25 yards n the day. Whitaker ranks fifth in the MAC with 404 receiving yards on the year, while Grover still leads the conference with a 23.3 average yards-per-catch percentage.

SCOUTING THE WILKES DEFENSE (4-3-4)
- Wilkes is second in scoring defense (14.1), and passing defense (145.6), third in total defense (268.4), and sixth in rushing defense (122.8).

- Leroy Marshall (Cambria Heights, NY/Christ the King) led the Colonels with seven tackles, including a career-high five solo tackles on the day. Adding to his day was a pass breakup and a 56-yard pick-six for Wilkes that helped him earn MAC Defensive Player of the Week honors. This is the second time Marshall has earned this award, with his two interception performance over Alvernia helping him be recognized for the award in week 6. This is the third time a player has won the MAC Defensive Player of the Week award, with Angel Ramos (Allentown, PA/Parkland) earning that honors in week 1 against Keystone College. Ramos, Steele Hess (Allentown, PA/Whitehall), and Nick Troutman (Kulpmont, PA/Mount Carmel) following behind with four total tackles on the day. Brandon Holcomb (Boynton Beach, FL/Boca Raton) is fourth in the MAC with 68 total tackles and fifth with 33 solo tackles. 

- Kellend Redmond got a sack last week, with Holcomb and Adam Piston (Laurys Station, PA/Parkland) both getting a quarterback hurry. Ramos and Piston are tied for seventh in the MAC with four sacks on the year. Troutman and Jeremie Hernandez (Bronx, NY/Kennedy) also both recovered a fumble on the game. Wilkes looks to keep their defensive presence against quarterbacks, as they rank 19th in the country in passing yards allowed and are 33rd in red zone defense.

- Four players for Wilkes had an interception recorded last week against Lycoming. Piston started it off on the third play for the Warrior's drive, taking a tip pass and picking it off. The next series, Donell Mackey-Woodson (Hartford, CT/Southington) got his own interception near midfield, as Wilkes had two interceptions within the first five minutes of the game. Marshall then got his 56-yard pick-six in the second quarter to give Wilkes a 21-0 lead over the Warriors. Jeremie Hernandez (Bronx, NY/Kennedy) finished the day with the fourth interception for the Colonels, as he picked off Elijah Shemory in the middle of the third quarter to get the ball near midfield for Wilkes. Marshall is tied for third in the MAC with three interceptions on the season.

SCOUTING THE WILKES SPECIAL TEAMS
- First Year kicker Nick Volpone (Delco, PA/Ridley) converted on three of his extra points last week and kicked a 20 yard field goal late in the third quarter to give Wilkes a 24-7 lead. Volpone is is 4-7 on FGs and 23-25 on PAT's the year, while fellow first year Igor Rzasa (Lindenhurst, NY/Lindenhurst) is 6-6 on PAT's. Volpone is fourth in the MAC in scoring with 35 points this season.

- Orlando punted five times last week that went for 269 yards, having a touchback on the day. He is tied for fourth in the conference with a 37.1 punting average on the season.

SCOUTING STEVENSON OFFENSE (SPREAD)
- Stevenson is third in scoring offense (25.6), and passing offense (198.0), seventh in total offense (305.8), and ninth in rushing offense (107.8). 

- Senior quarterback Ryan Sedgwick comes into this game second in the MAC with 1769 passing yards on 169 completions from 268 passing attempts. Sedgwick has thrown a MAC leading 11 touchdowns on the year to just 11 interceptions, while also leading the conference with 241.3 yards passing per game. Sedgwick threw for 193 yards last week while rushing for 40 yards and three touchdowns against Misericordia in the Mustang's 44-7 victory over the Cougars, which helped him earn MAC Offensive Player of the Week honors. This is the second time he has earned the award, with the first being in week 3 against Alvernia where he had his 500th career pass completion.

- Junior running back Brandon Walker leads the Mustangs with 284 rushing yards on the year, while scoring five touchdown season. Sophomore running back Maurice Hammond follows behind with 239 rushing yards on 81 attempts, also scoring five touchdowns as well. Sedgwick has 128 rushing yards and leads the team with six rushing touchdowns. They help the offense that is 19th in the country in 3rd down conversion percentages with 49.6%.

- Senior wide receiver Steven Smothers enters this week third in the MAC with 512 receiving yards while hauling in three touchdowns on 57 catches. He has six games with 50+ receiving yards, including last week against Misericordia where he had 58 yards on seven catches. Senior wide receiver Brandon Booze follows behind with 372 receiving yards on the year, which is sixth in the MAC, with two touchdowns. He had 113 receiving yards and a touchdown on four catches in Stevenson's 20-7 victory over FDU-Florham. Sophomore tight end Tylor Blake has 148 yards and three touchdowns on 11 catches.

SCOUTING STEVENSON DEFENSE (3-4-4)
- Stevenson is fourth in rushing defense (106.1), total defense (270.4), scoring defense (16.0), and passing defense (164.3).

- Sophomore linebacker Clarence Travis comes in sixth in the MAC with 61 tackles on the year. Champman has recorded 5+ tackles in four straight games for Stevenson. Sophomore linebacker Demetrius Salley ranks second on the team with 51 tackles this season. Junior linebacker Tom Zatalava comes in earning MAC Defensive Player of the Week honors in week 2 as he had nine solo tackles, a forced fumble, and a pass breakup in the Mustangs 35-21 victory over then No. 21 ranked Salisbury.

- Salley and junior defensive lineman JanMichael Finch leads Stevenson in sacks with four on the year. Their teammate, junior defensive lineman William Humphrey follows behind with 3.0 sacks, where he recorded them against Alvernia and Widener. Junior linebacker Edward Mannone has two sacks, while Tashan Fitzgerald and Sheriff Kamara have one apiece.

- Senior defensive back Justice Pettus-DIxon is tied for first in the MAC with eight pass breakups, while tying for third with three interceptions on the year. Sophomore defensive back Corey Jones-Pentz is tied with Pettus-Dixon with three interceptions, with junior defensive back Marvin Manassa following suit with two and sophomore linebacker Sean Sullivan having one. 

SCOUTING STEVENSON SPECIAL TEAMS
- Junior kicker Brody Campbell is 5-7 on field goals for the year, while going 25-30 on PATs. He went 2-2 on field goals against Susquehanna in week 3, where he hit a 23 and 28-yard field goal. Sophomore kicker Zachary Rutsch also averages 59.6 yards on kickoffs, with 15 touchbacks on the year

- Senior punter Kevin Sheehan has 37 punts on the year, with 1433 yards punted on the season. He averages 38.73 yards a punt this year through nine games, which tied for first in the MAC.

- First year running back Jakari Lewis has 566 kickoff return yards on the year, averages 25.73 per kickoff, including a game where he had 121 yards on five kickoff returns against King's. He helps Stevenson rank 14th in the country with a 24.75 kickoff return yard average.