October 14, 2023
12:00 p.m.
Schmidt Stadium – Edwardsville, Pa.
 
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The Wilkes University football team looks to win their third straight game in Landmark Conference play as they host the Keystone College Giants at Schmidt Stadium at 12:00 p.m.

The Colonels come into this game after a 48-35 victory on the road at Lycoming College. After the teams traded a pair of late turnovers, the Colonel defense held strong on a Lycoming 4^th and 15 to force a turnover on downs and seal the game with a Xavier Powell (Poughkeepsie, NY/Arlington) touchdown run in the last minute of play.

The Wilkes run game was the difference against the Warriors, and sit second in the conference in rushing offense averaging 149.3 rush yards per game. They will look to punish a Keystone rush defense that has allowed a conference-worst 267 rush yards per game. Elijah Jules (Red Bank, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) hit a season-high 125 yards against Lycoming, and leads the Colonel rushing attack with 85 carries for 432 yards, putting him fourth in the Landmark Conference. First year running back JayJay Jordan (Reading, PA/Berks Catholic) continues to impress on offense as well as special teams with 185 yards and four touchdowns on 21 attempts, making him the team's second leading rusher.

Isaiah Rodriguez (Lebanon, PA/Lebanon) has shined for the Colonels under center, throwing for 1085 yards on 86 completions with ten touchdowns through the air and two on the ground. The junior signal-caller is third in the conference in passing yards and fourth in total offense at 1145 yards. Junior wide out Devin Higgins (Pennington, NJ/Hopewell Valley) leads the Colonels in receiving with 23 catches for 306 yards and two touchdowns. The receiving corps has thrived on variety this year as 10 players have caught receiving touchdowns, eclipsing last year's total of nine.

Linebacker Tallen Murray (Vineland, NJ/Saint Joseph Academy) was named the Landmark Conference Defensive Athlete of the Week for the second consecutive week after his three tackle, two interception performance against Lycoming, and continues to be the leader the defense at the second level. The sophomore linebacker leads the team in tackles and interceptions with 54 and two respectively. Murray's impressive totals not only lead the team, but sit him second in the conference in tackles and tied for first in interceptions. Junior Jesse Addesso (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph's by the Sea) leads the secondary with 32 tackles and leads the team with four pass breakups. Angel Ramos (Allentown, PA/Parkland) continues to dominate the Colonel pass rush, leading the team and conference with six sacks. He also leads the team with 7.5 tackles for loss.

On special teams, Jordan made history against Lycoming, breaking the Wilkes single-season record in kick return yards formerly held by Nate Whitaker (Upper Darby, PA/Haverford School) in 2019 (513 yards). He now stands at 545 yards on 24 attempts, and still leads the Landmark Conference that category. Zane Grover (East Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) is second in the conference in punt return yards with 82 yards on nine returns. Punter Alex Orlando (Allentown, PA/Emmaus) leads the conference with an average punt distance of 41.2 yards on 26 kicks.

Keystone come into this game after being blanked by No. 11 Susquehanna 69-0, and are searching for their first win in Landmark play.

Demiko Suggs leads the Giants under center with 65 completions for 449 yards and three touchdowns. The first year quarterback has also proved to be a threat in the run game with 105 rushing yards on 37 attempts. Suggs' top target this season is junior Jayson Nami, who has ten catches for 222 yards and three touchdowns. Nami is also a threat in the return game, threatening Jordan's conference lead with 535 yards on 30 kickoff returns. Keystone's rushing attack boasts two backs that sit in the top ten in the conference in yards, led by junior Mujaheed Muhammad who has 331 yards on 90 carries and four touchdowns. He is complimented by Damir Green, who has 54 carries for 277 yards and four touchdowns of his own.

The Keystone defense sits second in the conference in pass defense, only allowing 190.5 yards per game through the air. That group is led by senior defensive back CJ Riccobono, who leads the team in tackles with 41. He also boasts two pass break-ups and a forced fumble. On the defensive line, Tyler Malanga leads the team with 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.

After this game, the Colonels prepare for a road trip to take on the undefeated Susquehanna University River Hawks on October 21 at 1:00 p.m.