THE MATCHUP
Wilkes University comes in following a bye week for the second game of the season, the Colonels home opener and Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) opener, as they host Widener University at Schmidt Stadium with kickoff scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 17. Wilkes is 1-0 after an opening week victory over Keystone College. The Pride are entering this game 1-1 on the season as they made a comeback to defeat Hampden-Sydney 31-27 last week.

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 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 Barainyak (Delaware Valley '10) enters his fourth season as head coach of Widener's football team in 2022. In 2021, Barainyak guided the Pride to a 7-4 record and their first Centennial-MAC Bowl Series appearance since 2017. In addition, he coached six All-MAC players and two D3football.com All-Region 1 players. His first year in 2019 saw an improvement in the win total as compared to the previous season and a dramatic jump in the offensive output of the Pride, which scored 37.0 points per game, leading the MAC, ranking in the top-35 nationally, and was the highest per game point total for Widener since 2014. Prior to being named head coach, Barainyak spent two years as an assistant coach on the Widener staff, serving as the offensive coordinator in 2018 and the offensive line coach in 2017. Prior to his arrival in Chester, Pa., Barainyak spent two seasons on the coaching staff at the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor as the tight ends and assistant offensive line coach, winning a national championship in 2016 and advancing to the national quarterfinals in 2015. Barainyak has also worked at Villanova where he was the video coordinator and special teams graduate assistant for a Wildcats. He began his career at Delaware Valley University as the tight ends and assistant offensive line coach, winning multiple conference titles with the Aggies.

THE SERIES
This matchup will be the 35th meeting between these two teams, with Widener holding the lead 22-11-1. The last meeting between these two teams saw Widener earn a 30-13 win over Wilkes last season. The Colonels defeated the Pride the previous two meetings before that.

UP NEXT
The Colonels will continue MAC play when they travel to Lebanon Valley College for a game on Saturday, September 24 at 1:00 p.m. Wilkes holds a 26-23 record against the Flying Dutchmen including a 30-20 victory last season.

SCOUTING THE WILKES OFFENSE (MULTIPLE)
- Wilkes ranks first in the MAC in scoring offense (48.0), third in total offense (375.0), third in rushing offense (152.0), and third in passing offense (223.0).

- Wilkes used a balance offense to earn a victory over Keystone 48-21. The Colonels rushed for 152 yards and four touchdowns while throwing for 223 yards and two TDs. Wilkes ranks third in first down conversions per-game with 21.0.

- Sophomore quarterback Isaiah Rodriguez (Lebanon, PA/Lebanon) started his first game for the Colonels by passing for 217 yards and two TDs while rushing seven times for 32 yards and another score. He leads the MAC in completion percentage with 78.3. His efforts for the Colonels was enough to earn him MAC Offensive Player of the Week for week 1.

- The rushing game helped the Colonels control the time and kept them ahead last week. Wilkes saw four different players score a touchdown on the ground, including juniors Elijah Jules (Red Bank, NJ/Red Bank Catholic), Xavier Powell (Poughkeepsie, NY/Arlington), and senior transfer Walter Lewis (Sicklerville, NJ/Timber Creek) along with Rodriguez. Jules led the team with 50 yards on seven carries, holding a 7.1 average on the day.

- Jules led the team in receptions (4) and yards (74) on screens and short passes. Whitaker, a senior, followed behind with three catches for 44 yards, with most of his yards coming from a 29 yard catch in the first quarter to convert on a 3rd and 11 for Wilkes. 

- Senior tight end Michael Goralski (Southington, CT/Xavier) snuck behind the defense and caught a pass for 31 yards that setup Wilkes for a score to take the lead halfway through the first quarter. Junior Jason Dean (Auburn, PA/Blue Mountain) had two catches for six yards for Wilkes.

SCOUTING THE WILKES DEFENSE (4-3-4)
- Wilkes is second in total defense (201.0), fifth in scoring defense (21.0), second in rushing defense (51.0), and third in passing defense (150.0) 

- Wilkes caused two turnovers last game, one interception and a fumble recovery, while recording three sacks on the quarterback.

- The Colonels saw multiple players record career highs in tackles last game. These players include junior Angel Ramos (Allentown, PA/Parkland) (9) who also recorded three tackles-for-loss and two sacks on the day, junior Jesse Addesso (Staten Island, NY/St. Joes by The Sea) (8) along with two tackles-for-loss, senior Brandon Holcomb (Boynton Beach, FL/Boca Raton) (7) who also recorded an interception, and senior Jeremie Hernandez (Bronx, NY/Kennedy) (6) who also had a pass breakup on the day.

- Ramos helped Wilkes to seal their last game with a sack and force fumble that senior Adam Piston (Laurys Station, PA/Parkland) recovered for a touchdown to extend the Colonels lead 48-21 in the fourth quarter. Ramos' efforts earned him MAC Defensive Player of the Week honors for week 1 of the season.

SCOUTING THE WILKES SPECIAL TEAMS
- First Year kicker Nick Volpone (Delco, PA/Ridley) converted all six PAT's for Wilkes in his first game as a Colonel. Sophomore Brandon Shire (Perkasie, PA/Pennridge) average 49 yards on his six kickoffs for Wilkes.

- Orlando, the sophomore punter for the Colonels, punted twice in the game including a 41 yarder in the fourth quarter.

- Lewis returned two kickoffs including a 29 yarder on the opening kickoff to help setup Wilkes score on their first drive of the game.

SCOUTING WIDENER OFFENSE (MULTIPLE)
- Widener is fifth in scoring offense (25.5), fourth in total yards (346.0), second in rushing yards (175), and sixth in passing yards (171.0). 

- Sophmore quarterback Jeff Chaplin completed 19 of his 32 attempts last week, going for 184 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 42 yards on four attempts. 

- Senior running back Shawn Thompson was named MAC Offensive Player of the Week from week 2 as he recorded 160 rusing yards and two touchdowns, both career-highs for the tailback. He is second in the conference for rushing yards with 213, while he leads the MAC with four rushing touchdowns. Junior running back Bryce Casey had 42 yards on 12 attempts in their last game.

- Graduate student Ty Holbert tied for first on the team with four catches, while he led them in reciving yards with 47, including a 20 yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter to make the game one possesion for Widener. Fifth year Jack Fiucci and senior Matt Kain Jr. also had four catches, with both men getting 40 and 34 yards respectively. 

SCOUTING WIDENER DEFENSE (4-3-4)
- Widener is ninth in the MAC in scoring defense (34.5) and total defense (417), while placing eighth in rushing defense (175.5) and passing defense (241.5).

- Senior linebacker Kevin Davis and junior defensive back Michael Schoenleber both tied for first in tackles for the team with nine last week. Schoenleber also recorded a forced fumble on the day for the Pride. Davis leads the Pride with total tackles with 17, tied for fourth in the MAC.

- Junior defensive linemen Cade Brennan and Dom D'Alessio both recorded 1.5 sacks last week. Brennan added six tackles on the day, while D'Alessio had four.

- First year defensive back Marcus Taylor II had two pass breakups last week in his second game with Widener. He was followed by his fellow teammates, senior linebacker Colin Murt, senior defensive back Demitrius Hansen, and Brennan with one apiece.

SCOUTING WIDENER SPECIAL TEAMS
- Sophomore wide receiver Ryan Pattison converted on all four PATs last week, while hitting a 20 yard field goal in the third quarter. He also did work in kickoff duty, as he hit an average of 44.7 yards on kickoffs last game.

- Holbert had four kickoff returns for the Pride, racking up 95 yards on the day against Hampden-Sydney.

- Sophomore AJ Celona and first year Zak Fischer both spilt time punting on the season, with Celona averaging 35.5 yards a punt while Fischer has averaged 38.00.