Wilkes Colonels (2-0, 1-0) vs. Lebanon Valley Flying Dutchmen (1-2, 1-0)
Saturday, September 24, 2022 - 1:00 p.m.
Arnold Field
 
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THE MATCHUP
Wilkes University goes on the road this week as they travel to Lebanon Valley College in a Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) matchup with kickoff scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 24 in Annville, Pa. Wilkes (2-0, 1-0 MAC) kept their undefeated record afloat after defeating Widener 44-20. Lebanon Valley (1-2, 1-0 MAC) looks for two straight wins after coming back to win in overtime over FDU-Florham 17-14.

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 Honorable 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.

Joe Buehler (Lebanon Valley '89) enters his seventh year as Lebanon Valley head coach in the fall of 2022 after serving on the staff for 12 years as the program's offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. In 2021, the Dutchmen finished the year with a 5-5 overall mark and 4-4 record in conference play wrapping up the season with two big wins including a 25-2 victory at rival Albright. During that season, four student-athletes earned All-MAC honors. In 2019, Buehler led the Flying Dutchmen to a win over conference rival Widener 41-35. That season, he guided seven Dutchmen to all-conference honors, with two All-Region honors and one landing on D3football.com's All-America List. During LVC's 2013 run to the MAC title, the Dutchmen were led by a two-headed rushing game as the offense racked up six all-MAC awards. The 2009 edition of the Dutchmen, which had a program-best 9-2 record, scored more points than any team in LVC history (349); the 2011 team outdid that squad with 389 points and the best passing attack in program history on the way to the ECAC Southwest Bowl title. As the team's offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, Buehler has helped lead the LVC football program to new heights. His lines have consistently been among the best in the MAC, turning in some of the conference's top-rated rushing offenses and sack protection numbers over the past few seasons.

THE SERIES
This matchup will be the 50th meeting between these two teams, with Wilkes holding the edge 26-23. The Colonels have won the last three meetings including a 30-20 victory over Lebanon Valley last season. The Flying Dutchmen's last win came in 2017 when they traveled to Wilkes and beat the Colonels 36-0.

UP NEXT
The Colonels will return home as they face Albright in MAC action on Saturday, October 1 at 12:00 p.m. for Homecoming. Albright holds the edge in the series 25-19. The Colonels won the last meeting between these two teams 31-28. The Lion's last win came in 2019, where Albright posted a 26-23 victory at home. 

SCOUTING THE WILKES OFFENSE (MULTIPLE)
- Wilkes ranks first in the MAC in scoring offense (46.0), total offense (488.0), passing offense (282.0), and second in rushing offense (206.0).

- Wilkes continued to keep their offense consistent with passing and rushing to outpace Widener to a 44-20 victory. The Colonels passing flourished, as they threw for 341 yards and three touchdowns, while the rushing game continued to perform with 260 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Wilkes ranks second in first down conversions per-game with 21.0. The offensive line was selected to the D3football.com Team of the Week for their performance against Widener. 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) were recognized by the national organization.

- Sophomore quarterback Isaiah Rodriguez (Lebanon, PA/Lebanon) continued his momentum from week 1 heading into week 3 against Widener, as he threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns. He leads the MAC with a 268.0 average yards per game, while finishing second in completion percentage (66.0). Rodriguez has 536 yards and five touchdowns, both third in the MAC, while not throwing an interception.

- Junior running back Elijah Jules (Red Bank, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) led the MAC in rushing yards during week 3, as he had a career high 180 yards, the majority of those yards came from his 72 yard touchdown run in the beginning of the third quarter. Wilkes ran for 260 yards in week 3. Jules sits in fourth for rushing yards in the MAC with 230 yards while leading the division with 11.5 yards per carry and 115.0 yards per game. Senior Xavier Powell (Poughkeepsie, NY/Arlington) ran at the quarterback position and rushed for 54 yards on three carries, including a 30 yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter last week.

- Whitaker, a senior wide receiver, led the team with 126 receiving yards on five receptions and scored twice, including an 88 yard catch and run that gave the Colonels a 14-7 lead in the second quarter last week. Junior wide receiver Cory Pelzer (Somerset, NJ/The Pennington School) had five catches of his own, with 86 receiving yards and a touchdown. Devin Higgins (Pennington, NJ/Hopewell Valley) finished second in receiving with 91 yards on four receptions. Whitaker is second in the MAC in receiving yards with 172 yards through the first two games of the season.

- Junior tight end Jason Dean (Auburn, PA/Blue Mountain) had a 20 yard reception on a 2nd and 14 that help Wilkes get their first touchdown of the game against Widener.

SCOUTING THE WILKES DEFENSE (4-3-4)
- Wilkes is third in total defense (277.0) and rushing defense (98.0) and seventh in scoring defense (20.5) and passing defense (150.0) 

- Wilkes caused two turnovers last game with two interceptions while also forcing a fumble against Widener. Senior defensive back John Washington (Brooklyn, NY/Eagle Academy) picked off a pass with 30 seconds left in the second quarter and returned it for a 67 yard touchdown to extend Wilkes lead heading into halftime. Fellow senior defensive back Jeremie Hernandez (Bronx, NY/Kennedy) got a pick on Widener's second play from scrimmage.

- The Colonels saw multiple players record career highs in tackles last game. Those players include senior Brandon Holcomb (Boynton Beach, FL/Boca Raton) (11), juniors Kellen Redmond (St. Petersburg, FL/Calvary Christian) (10), Nick Troutman (Kulpmont, PA/Mount Carmel) (9), and sophomore De'Von James (Mount Holly Springs, PA/Boiling Springs) (7). Redmond recorded a sack along with fellow defensive linemen Adam Piston (Laurys Station, PA/Parkland) and Elijah Lee (Brooklyn, NY/Erasmus Hall). Holcomb and Ramos also recorded a quarterback hurry with first year linebacker Mike Mastroeni (Hopatcong, NJ/Hopatcong).

- Adding to his interception, Washington had a pass breakup last week along with Piston, Mike Cornick (West Philadelphia, PA/William Penn), Quincy Banks (Bronx, NY/Kennedy), Jake Lengle (Pennington, NJ/Hopewell Valley), and Donell Mackey-Woodson (Hartford, CT/Southington).

SCOUTING THE WILKES SPECIAL TEAMS
- First Year kicker Nick Volpone (Delco, PA/Ridley) was 1-2 in field goal attempts, making a 31 yarder in the fourth quarter. He was also 1-2 in PAT attempts on the day. Fellow first year kicker Igor Rzasa (Lindenhurst, NY/Lindenhurst) converted all four of his PAT attempts.

- Orlando, the sophomore punter for the Colonels, punted three times last week for 125 yards, including a 48 yard punt that put the Pride inside their own 20 in the first quarter. 

SCOUTING LEBANON VALLEY OFFENSE (MULTIPLE)
- Lebanon Valley is sixth in scoring offense (20.7) and rushing yards (175), eigth in total yards (250.0), and tenth in passing yards (119.3). 

- Sophomore quarterback Branden Bohannon completed 9 of his 22 attempts last week, going for 131 yards and a touchdown, while leading his team with 99 rushing yards on 18 attempts to help lift Lebanon Valley over FDU-Florham in an overtime victory. 

- Senior running back Tim Ervey rushed for 47 yards and a touchdown for the Flying Dutchmen. Fellow senior fullback Ian Murhon carried the rock for 16 yards on three carries.

- Sophomore wide receiver Malaki Blair had a 51 yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter to tie the game for Lebanon Valley with 4:29 left in the game. He finished with 61 yards on two catches. Senior wide receiver Jay Sisko leads the team with 120 yards from six catches through the first three games for Delaware Valley. Blair has seven catches for 115 yards and two touchdowns.

SCOUTING LEBANON VALLEY DEFENSE (4-3-4)
- Lebanon Valley 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).

- Sophomore linebacker Jacob Horton led the Flying Dutchmen in tackles for the team with nine last week. Juniors Ryan Enright and Erik Williams tied for second with seven tackles against FDU-Florham. Enright leads Lebanon Valley with 21 tackles on the season, with Horton following suit with 20.

- Enright and fellow junior Cody Shay both recorded 1.5 sacks last week. Shay also had a quarterback hurry.

- Graduate student Ryan Kilgarriff and junior Nick Morder are tied for first with two interceptions for Lebanon Valley. Williams and Enright are behind with one interception apiece. Morder's two interceptions in the win over FDU-Florham helped the Dutchmen win over the Devils and earned him MAC Defensive Player of the Week.

SCOUTING LEBANON VALLEY SPECIAL TEAMS
- Senior kicker Devin Crone earned MAC Special Teams Player of the Week as he kicked a game winning field goal from 36 yards out in overtime to lift Lebanon Valley to their first win of the season. Sophomore kicker Kevin Roberts converted on all two of his PATs during the game, making him 5-6 on PATs this season.

- Jeremy Bours Jr. had 11 punts last week for 348 yards, including a 63 yarder that went into the endzone near the end of the third quarter. 

- Sophomore kicker Garrett MacClay averaged 60 yards on three kickoffs from last week.