November 18, 2023
12:00 p.m.
Schmidt Stadium – Edwardsville, Pa.
 
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The Wilkes University football team gets ready to compete in the first annual Chesapeake Bowl Challenge with the Cape Henry Bowl, hosting the Bridgewater College Eagles of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) at Schmidt Stadium.

Admission to the game is $15 for adults and $10 for minors (10-17). Children nine and under, and students, faculty, and staff from the Landmark and ODAC member institutions are free with school ID.

Fans attending the game can purchase tickets in advance through the Landmark's ticket partner Hometown Ticketing. No cash sales will be accepted at the gate.

The Colonels last contest was a dominant defensive display, forcing four turnovers as they beat the Moravian University Greyhounds 41-6 on the road to clinch second place in the Landmark Conference and a home bowl game.

The Colonels finished the regular season with the second best offense in the conference, scoring 42 touchdowns and averaging 30.0 points per game. Isaiah Rodriguez (Lebanon, PA/Lebanon) eclipsed 3,000 career passing yards with his 12 completions for 198 yards and three touchdowns, putting the junior signal-caller at a total of 1,684 yards on 130 completions in the regular season with 17 touchdowns through the air and two on the ground. He also finished fourth in the conference in total offense at 1,720 yards. Junior wide out Devin Higgins (Pennington, NJ/Hopewell Valley) led the Colonels receiver corps in the regular season with 31 catches for 430 yards and three touchdowns. Jimmy Johnson (Fallston, MD/Fallston) was not far behind with 414 yards and two touchdowns on 32 catches.

The explosive Wilkes run game finished the regular season with the best yards per-carry average in the conference at 5.7, and sit second averaging 173.5 yards per game. Elijah Jules (Red Bank, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) led the way with 766 yards this season, the fourth-most in the Landmark Conference, with three touchdowns. He is complimented in the backfield by first year JayJay Jordan (Reading, PA/Berks Catholic) with 456 yards and six touchdowns on the year. The first-year running back had a fantastic first season at the collegiate level, leading the team in all-purpose yards with 1,224 total yards, the third highest mark in the conference.

On defense, sophomore Linebacker Tallen Murray (Vineland, NJ/Saint Joseph Academy) anchored the Colonels at the second level. The Vineland, N.J. native led the team in tackles and interceptions with 91 and two respectively. Murray's impressive tackling totals not only led the team, but put him second in the Landmark Conference in the regular season. Senior John Washington (Brooklyn, NY/Eagle Academy) led the secondary with 52 tackles, and junior Jesse Addesso (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph's by the Sea) led the team with five pass breakups and tied for the team-high in interceptions with two of his own. Angel Ramos (Allentown, PA/Parkland) continued to terrorize opposing quarterbacks as he matched his sack total last year with a team-leading 10 sacks this season. He also leads the team with 12.5 tackles for loss.

On special teams, Jordan led the team in kick return yards with 714 yards on 34 returns, finishing the regular season second in the Landmark Conference in that category. Zane Grover (East Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) led the Colonels in punt return yards with 94 yards on 14 returns. Punter Alex Orlando (Allentown, PA/Emmaus) led the conference with an average punt distance of 41.9 yards on 41 kicks, and was second in the conference in punts over 50 yards with seven.

Bridgewater College comes into this game following a 47-15 victory over Guilford, finishing the season with a 7-3 overall record and a 5-2 record in ODAC play.

Much like the Colonels, Bridgewater put together the second best offense in the ODAC with a 33.0 points per game average and 43 touchdowns.

Fifth year quarterback Malcolm Anderson led the Eagles in the regular season with 66 completions for 812 yards and eight touchdowns. Junior wide receiver Cedric Drumgoole led the team with 18 catches for 321 yards and a touchdown. A majority of the Eagles' offensive production came from a breakout season for junior running back Kennedy Fauntleroy. Fauntleroy led the Eagles and the entire ODAC in rushing yards with 1,328 rushing yards on 212 carries for 17 touchdowns, just two off tying the all-time program record. Kennedy also led the conference in all-purpose yards with 1,402.

On defense, Bridgewater College is led by linebacker Aaron Nice, who registered team-highs in tackles (103), tackles for loss (19.5), and sacks (5.5). Senior Aaron Moore led the secondary with 65 total tackles and three interceptions, while Noah Hines led the team in pass breakups with 17. In the trenches, Bridgewater are led by a trio of Jalen Cunningham, Demarco Fleming, and Eli Rucker who have combined for 67 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and 8.5 sacks.