November 23, 2024
1:00 p.m.
Salem Stadium - Salem, Va.

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WILKES-BARRE - The Wilkes University football team is getting ready to compete in the second annual Chesapeake Bowl Challenge with the Cape Henry Bowl, looking to defend their crown against the Washington and Lee Generals of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) at Salem Stadium.

The Generals and Colonels will face each other for only the second time in program history on Saturday afternoon, marking their first match up since 2006. Wilkes was a 42-0 winner in that matchup, a first round game in the NCAA Division III playoffs.

The Colonels closed out their regular season against Moravian last weekend, putting up a 47-28 win over the Greyhounds. Wilkes clinched their second consecutive bowl game appearance after a victory over Catholic two weeks ago. With a 7-3 overall record and a 5-1 record in conference play, the Colonels ended the regular season ranked second in the Landmark Conference.

The Colonels ended the regular season scoring 29 touchdowns and averaging 39.70 points per game. Xavier Powell (Poughkeepsie, NY/Arlington) is just shy of 3,000 career passing yards with his 10 completions for 106 yards and one passing touchdown, putting the senior quarterback at a total of 1,908 yards on 129 completions in the regular season with 16 touchdowns through the air and five on the ground. Senior Devin Higgins (Pennington, NJ/Hopewell Valley) led the Colonels in receiving with 30 catches over 415 yards and four touchdowns. Justin Moore (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) followed behind with 19 catches for 389 yards with two touchdowns and Jimmy Johnson (Fallston, MD/Fallston) recorded 20 catches for 274 yards and three touchdowns.

In the run game, Wilkes placed second in the conference with an average of 211.9 yards per game. Elijah Jules (Red Bank, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) led the team and is first in the conference in rushing yards with 1289 yards this season and 20 touchdowns. Powell followed with 565 yards and five touchdowns this season. 

On defense, junior Linebacker Tellen Murray held the Colonel defense strong, leading in tackles with 81, leaving Murray ranked second in the conference in tackles. Angel Ramos (Allentown, PA/Parkland) leads the conference in sacks with eight this season and Donell Mackey-Woodson (Hartford, CT/Southington) leads the team and the conference in interceptions with seven, three of which resulted in touchdowns.

On special teams, Zane Grover (East Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) led the team in punt return yards with 114 yards on 12 returns, finishing the regular season second in the Landmark Conference in that category. Alex Orlando (Allentown, PA/Emmaus) led the conference with an average punt distance of 43.1 yards on 32 kicks. Placekicker Nick Volpone (Delco, PA/Ridley) is 43-44 on PATs this season, matching his program record set last year, and is 8-11 on field goals.

Washington and Lee will enter this game following a 28-21 loss to Shenandoah University, finishing the season with a 6-4 overall record and a 5-2 record in ODAC conference play.

The General have the fourth best offense in the ODAC, averaging 29.2 points per game and 42 touchdowns. 

Sophomore quarterback Ty Collins led the Generals in the regular season with 60 completions for 812 yards and eight touchdowns. Wide receiver Andrew Bland led the team with 16 catches for 251 yards and two touchdowns. Senior running back Jacob Romero led the Generals and the entire ODAC conference in rushing yards with 972 rushing yards for 10 touchdowns. 

On defense, Jalen Todd leads the Generals and the conference in tackles with 115. Connor O'Malley leads the team in interceptions with three and Will Mahmud leads in sacks with 6.

Both these teams featured in last season's Chesapeake Challenge, with Wilkes besting Bridgewater College 35-17 in the Cape Henry Bowl while Washington and Lee fell to Lycoming College 20-17 in the Cape Charles Bowl.