September 30, 2023
12:00 p.m.
Schmidt Stadium – Edwardsville, Pa.
 
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The Wilkes University football team competes in the first ever Landmark Conference football game this weekend as they host Juniata College at 12:00 p.m. at Schmidt Stadium in this year's Homecoming game.

The Colonels enter the game still searching for their first win, sitting at 0-4 on the year after losing a close contest at St. John Fisher last Saturday 29-20. The Colonels took a 20-17 lead into the fourth quarter, but were unable to put points on the board in the final frame and the Cardinals came back to take the win.

Wilkes had over 100 rushing yards last week, a return to form after being held to only 47 yards on the ground by Brockport the week before. Elijah Jules (Red Bank, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) leads the way with 218 yards on 58 carries, while quarterback Isaiah Rodriguez (Lebanon, PA/Lebanon) has shown his ability to run with 115 yards on 29 attempts with two touchdowns so far this season. Through the air, Rodriguez has thrown for 545 yards on 53 completions with four touchdowns. The junior signal-caller sits fourth in the conference with 624 total yards of offense. Jimmy Johnson (Fallston, MD/Fallston) leads the Colonel receiving corps with 11 catches for 169 yards and a touchdown.

Linebacker Tallen Murray (Vineland, NJ/Saint Joseph Academy) continues to anchor the defense with a team-high 37 tackles, the second most in the Landmark Conference. Junior Jesse Addesso (Staten Island, NY/St. Joseph's by the Sea) leads the secondary with 25 tackles and leads the team with four pass breakups. Angel Ramos (Allentown, PA/Parkland) and Lance Priestas (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) have teamed up to wreak havoc on opposing backfields, combining for 5.5 sacks, 8.5 tackles for loss, and 38 total tackles.

First year JayJay Jordan (Reading, PA/Berks Catholic) leads the entire Landmark Conference in kick return yards, with 458 yards on 20 returns. He only needs 56 yards to break the Colonels single-season record held by Nate Whitaker (Upper Darby, PA/Haverford School) in 2019. Zane Grover (East Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) is second in the conference in punt return yards with 72 yards on six returns.

Juniata enters this game with a 1-3 record after a tough loss at Shenandoah 48-7 and are winless on the road this season. Noah Wright and Calvin German split time under center, and Wright leads the duo with 287 yards on 29 completions with a touchdown.

The Eagles have a formidable ground game averaging 137.8 rushing yards per game, with two backs in the top ten in rushing yards across the Landmark Conference. Junior Hunter Wolfley sits fourth in the conference and leads the team with 250 yards on 63 attempts with four touchdowns, while Joey Menke ranks ninth in the conference with 193 yards on 31 attempts and a touchdown. Quintin Stephens leads the aerial assault with 10 receptions for 125 yards and a touchdown.

Juniata's defense comes into this contest allowing 35.8 points per game and an average of 421 yards of offense per game. Ethan Shank has been a bright spot for the unit, leading the team and the Landmark Conference with 38 tackles, only one more than Colonel linebacker Murray. Senior Dontey Rogan leads the team with 3.5 sacks.

After this matchup, the Colonels march to Williamsport for a battle with the Lycoming College Warriors at 12:00 p.m.