BROCKPORT, N.Y. – The Wilkes University football team were defeated on the road Saturday afternoon, as a strong fourth quarter by hosts SUNY Brockport pushed the Golden Eagles past the Colonels 31-17 at Bob Boozer Field.

With the loss, the Colonels fall to 1-2 overall while Brockport improve to 2-1.

Wilkes struck first, taking advantage of a Brockport muffed punt that set them up at the Brockport nine-yard line. Nick Volpone (Delco, PA/Ridley) put the Colonels on the board with a 24-yard field goal to go up 3-0. Both teams then traded punts before Brockport scored on a 40 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ben Gocella to Brian Caldwell Jr. to give the Golden Eagles a 7-3 lead.

Wilkes quarterback Xavier Powell (Poughkeepsie, NY/Arlington) responded with a deep pass of his own, connecting with Juju Fears (Easton, PA/Easton Area) on a 30-yard pass to set the Colonels up on the verge of the Brockport red zone. Into the second quarter, Powell connected with Zane Grover (East Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) on a three-yard touchdown pass to put the blue and gold ahead once again 10-7. Strong defense by both teams saw that score remain unchanged going into the second half. Defensive back J'Vier Johnson (Easton, PA/Easton Area) helped keep the scoreline as it stood with a massive pass breakup in the endzone on a Brockport fourth down.

The Golden Eagles got the ball to start the third quarter, and after another shot at the endzone fell incomplete, Sal Montaperto tied the game at 10 with a field goal. On the following drive, Powell had a pass intercepted at the Brockport 24 yard line, which the Golden Eagles capitalized on to take their second lead of the game 17-10 thanks to an Isaiah Simmons touchdown run.

Powell immediately responded to the turnover on the last drive, opening the fourth quarter with a 40-yard bomb to Justin Moore (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) for another Colonel touchdown to tie the game at 17. Brockport's next drive was kept alive by a Colonel pass interference penalty, and they made the most of it as Gocella hit Daniel Manneh for his second passing touchdown of the day to take a 24-17 lead.

The next two drives saw each defense force a turnover, first Brockport forced Powell to cough up the football after a 43 yard run, immediately followed by an interception by Rob Barbieri (Avoca, PA/Pittston Area). Wilkes turned the ball over again on the next drive and it proved to be the fatal blow, a 93-yard pick six for Brockport's Kyle Haettich to extend their lead to 31-17.

Inside two minutes remaining, Donell Mackey-Woodson (Hartford, CT/Southington) broke up another touchdown pass on fourth down to give Wilkes one more shot at a score, but Cooper King (Northampton, PA/Northampton) was intercepted as well to seal the game for Brockport.

Powell finished the day 14/26 passing with 174 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. The senior signal caller was also the team's leading rusher with 102 yards on the ground. Fears led the Colonel receiving corps with 72 yards on three catches.

Defensively, Mackey-Woodson led the team with nine total tackles, while five Colonels were credited with sacks for a total of four. Last season's sack leader Angel Ramos (Allentown, PA/Parkland) got his first sack of the year in the second quarter.

Gocella finished the day 24/36 under center with 247 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. On the ground, Simmons led the team with 91 total yards and one touchdown. Caldwell Jr. led the Golden Eagles with 88 receiving yards on five catches. Mike Talbert Jr. led the defense with ten tackles.

Wilkes returns home next Saturday, September 28 for their next contest, as they welcome St. John Fisher University to Schmidt Stadium for the Colonels' homecoming game. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.