Wilkes Colonels (2-1, 1-1) vs. Albright Lions (0-4, 0-2)
Saturday, October 1, 2022 - 12:00 p.m.
Schmidt Stadium
 
Game Notes
 
Live Stats
 
Live Video

THE MATCHUP
Wilkes University returns home as they celebrate Homecoming with a Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) matchup against Albright College, with kickoff scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 24 in Annville, Pa. Wilkes (2-1, 1-1 MAC) suffered their first loss on the road as they were unable to pass Lebanon Valley 24-19. Albright (0-4, 0-2 MAC) looks to get their first win of the season as they got blanked by Lycoming 45-0.

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.

Isaac Collins (Rochester '94) enters his first year as Albright head coach in the fall of 2022. Collins brings over 25 years of coaching experience with him to the Albright football program. Prior to joining the Lions, Collins served as the defensive coordinator, special teams coordinator and secondary coach at Bucknell University from 2019-2022. In the spring of 2021 he led a Bucknell defense that saw five All-Patriot League honorees. Prior to his time at Bucknell, Collins was Head Football Coach for nine years, first at Widener University and then at Seton Hill University. Collins spent three seasons at the helm of the Widener football program from 2010-2012 where they posted a record of 25-8. In the 2012 season, he led the Pride to a Middle Atlantic Conference title while also guiding them to the NCAA Division III quarterfinals for the first time since 2001. As a result of their success, Collins was named the MAC Commonwealth Coach of the Year, the D3Football.com East Region Coach of the Year and the Maxwell Touchdown Club's Tri State Coach of the Year. In the previous season, Widener's offense led the nation by averaging 47.1 points per game as they accumulated a 9-2 record and claimed the ECAC Atlantic South Bowl Championship. Collins served as the head coach at Seton Hill for six years where he helped the Griffins tie their best overall record since 2008 in 2016. The Griffins lead the nation in passing offense in Division II during that season. During the 2015 season, Collins led the Griffins to upset No. 14 Slippery Rock, a team that reached the NCAA quarterfinals that year.

THE SERIES
Albright holds the edge in the series 25-19. The Colonels won the last meeting between these two teams 31-28 last season. Wilkes won the previous two meetings by a combined total of six points. The Lion's last win came in 2017, where Albright posted a 26-23 victory at home to cap off a seven-game win streak against the Colonels.

UP NEXT
The Colonels will travel on the road as they play Alvernia in MAC action on Saturday, October 8 at 12:00 p.m. Wilkes holds a 3-0 series lead over Alvernia. The Colonels won last season at Schmidt Stadium 23-0. Wilkes won 45-12 at home in 2019 and won 34-14 in the first-ever meeting between the programs during 2018 at FirstEnergy Stadium at Reading, Pa. 

SCOUTING THE WILKES OFFENSE (MULTIPLE)
- Wilkes ranks first in the MAC in scoring offense (37.0) and total offense (398.0) and second in passing offense (238.7) and rushing offense (206.0).

- Wilkes took a step back on the offensive side of the ball last week, as they were only able to produce 218 yards of total offense. The Colonels look to get their offense back into a routine that has two of the MAC's three top scoring games this season, with 48 points from week 1 against Keystone and 44 points in week 3 against Widener. 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) has completed 43 of his 75 passing attempts for seven touchdowns, which is tied for second in the MAC, while not throwing an interception this season. He averages 229.3 yards per game, also second in the MAC. He leads the conference with a quarterback efficiency of 165.2 on the year. His play this year has led him to earn MAC Offensive Player of the Week recognition in week 1 against Keystone. 

- Junior running back Elijah Jules (Red Bank, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) ranks six in the MAC with 285 rushing yards and 9.2 yards per carry through three games this season. He leads the MAC with 95.0 yards per game. Jules still holds the most rushing yards in a single game in the MAC, with his 180 yard performance against Widener in week 3. 

- Junior wide receiver Zane Grover (East Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) led the Colonels last week with three catches for 110 yards, including a 56 yard touchdown pass to get the Colonels on the scoreboard in the second quarter. Fellow junior receiver Jimmy Johnson (Fallston, MD/Fallston) caught his only pass in the game last week for a 17 yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to make it a one score game. Whitaker is fourth in the MAC with 181 receiving yards, 20.1 yards per catch, and 60.3 yards per game. 

SCOUTING THE WILKES DEFENSE (4-3-4)
- Wilkes is fifth in total defense (305.3) and rushing defense (128.3) and sixth in scoring defense (21.7) and passing defense (177.0) 

- Brandon Holcomb (Boynton Beach, FL/Boca Raton) continues to keep having career-high in tackles each week, as he recorded 15 this week, which led all the Colonels. Steele Hess (Allentown, PA/Whitehall) also had a career-high with 10 tackles last week. Holcomb is tied for third in tackles on the season for the MAC with 33. Leroy Marshall (Cambria Heights, NY/Christ the King), Angel Ramos (Allentown, PA/Parkland), and Tallen Murray (Cedarville, NJ/Saint Joseph Academy) all tied for third on the team with seven tackles. Ramos is tied for ninth in the MAC with 2 sacks, with 1.5 coming from week 1 win over Keystone that earned him MAC Defensive Player of the Week honors

- John Washington (Brooklyn, NY/Eagle Academy) had a pass breakup last week, which helped him tie for fifth in the MAC with breakups and interceptions. Washington still has the longest interception on the season with his 67 yard pick-six against Widener.

SCOUTING THE WILKES SPECIAL TEAMS
- First Year kicker Nick Volpone (Delco, PA/Ridley) made 1-2 PATs last week for the Colonels. Volpone is 8-10 on the season with PATs and 1-2 in field goals.

- Orlando, the sophomore punter for the Colonels, punted four times last week for 164 yards, averaging 41.0 yards per punt. He ranks fourth in the conference with a 38.6 punting average on the season.

- Walter Lewis (Sicklerville, NJ/Timber Creek) had two kickoff returns for 45 yards, including a 34 yarder in the first quarter. Washington had a blocked field goal to deny Lebanon Valley from extending their lead in the second quarter.

SCOUTING ALBRIGHT OFFENSE (MULTIPLE)
- Albright is eleventh in scoring offense (8.8) total offense (202.0), passing offense (79.8), and eighth in rushing offense (122.3). 

- First year quarterback Jarren Rutter leads the Lions with 185 passing yards on 11 completions from 26 passing attempts. Albright has also played sophomore Alex Gardsy, who is 17 of 43 for 134 passing yards.

- Junior running back Isaiah Shockley leads Albright with 183 rushing yards, which ranks him ninth in the MAC. He also has five receptions with 76 receiving yards in four games for the Lions. First year running back Dahlir Adams has 84 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown this season.

- Graduate student tight end Michael Starkey has 91 receiving yards on the year from five receptions. Senior wide receiver Lucas Roselli leads Albright with six catches, recording 51 yards and a touchdown through four games.

SCOUTING ALBRIGHT DEFENSE (4-3-4)
- Albright is second in passing defense (143.8), ninth in total defense (400.8), tenth in the MAC in scoring defense (37.3), and eleventh in rushing defense (257.0).

- Senior linebacker Sam Viera recorded a season-high 16 tackles on the season last week against Lycoming. He leads the MAC with 54 total tackles through four games, with fellow senior linebacker Daniel Vital following behind him with 44 total tackles. 

- Viera and senior defensive end Ryan Rapp both had a sack in week 2 against Western Conneticut State.

- Viera and junior cornerback Taylor Heflin both recorded an interception this season in week 3 against Misericordia. Heflin's 43 yard interception helped lead the Lions to a touchdown to cut the Courgars lead 21-14 in the third quarter.

SCOUTING ALBRIGHT SPECIAL TEAMS
- Senior kicker Daniel Lewis is five for five on the season in PAT's. Lewis averages 53.7 yards on kickoffs this season.

- Junior punter Keil Heineman has 25 punts on the year, with 835 yards punted on the season. He averages 33.4 yards a punt this year through four games.

- Roselli has 226 kickoff return yards this season, averaging 18.83 yards per return.