September 4^th, 2025
7:00 p.m.
Schmidt Stadium
 
Live Stats
Live Video (Available locally on WQMY-TV, Comcast channel 811, Satellite channel 56.3, check your local listings. Also available on the FOX 56 YouTube channel here.)
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EDWARDSVILLE – The Wilkes University football team gets set to kick off the 2025 campaign this Thursday night with the 29^th edition of the Mayor's Cup, hosting cross-town rival King's College at Schmidt Stadium at 7:00 p.m.

Head coach David Biever begins his second season at the helm of the program and 12th overall following a 2024 season that saw the team go 7-4 overall and 5-1 in Landmark play, returning to the Chesapeake Bowl Challenge for the second consecutive year.

Of the 19 Colonels named to the All-Landmark football team last season, 14 were lost to graduation in the offseason, including key contributors Elijah Jules (Red Bank, NJ/Red Bank Catholic), Angel Ramos (Allentown, PA/Parkland), Donell Mackey-Woodson (Hartford, CT/Southington), and more. Despite the loss of those seniors, Biever is ready to see the roster's young talent step up.

"Losing the senior class that we did, we have to fill a lot of holes," Biever said. "I think with the young recruiting class that came in, we're going to lean on guys like Rob Barbieri (Avoca, PA/Pittston Area) and Luke Baker (Northampton, PA/Northampton Area) our junior captains and have other guys step up in key roles. It's going to be exciting to see those young guys play, especially after having such a veteran group over the last couple of years."

Baker and senior offensive lineman Anthony Messina (Bellmore, NY/Mepham) help anchor a new-look Colonel offensive line that allowed the least number of sacks in the Landmark Conference in 2024.

Following the graduation of Xavier Powell (Poughkeepsie, NY/Arlington), Biever has yet to name a starting quarterback. Senior Cooper King (Northampton, PA/Northampton) has battled junior Anthony Torres Jr. (Philadelphia, PA/Cheltenham) and sophomores William Smith (Egg Harbor City, NJ/Cedar Creek) and Trey Dogmanits (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) for the starting job. King and Torres saw limited game action last season, with King throwing for 106 yards on 11 completions with a touchdown and Torres throwing for 43 yards and rushing for 33.

Also in the backfield, seniors Ben Contella (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Hills) and Leo Egbe Jr. (Gilbertsville, PA/Boyertown Area) lead the running back room with junior Nigel Linton (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) and sophomore Chibugo Chigozie-Nwosu (Hillside, NJ/Hillside).

The wide receiver room remains one of the most experienced on the Colonel offense, returning seniors Justin Moore (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) and Janas Simms (York, PA/William Penn) alongside juniors Juju Fears (Easton, PA/Easton Area) and Rahmel Terry (Bethlehem, PA/Bethlehem Catholic). Moore was second on the team in receiving yards with 389 on 19 catches with two touchdowns. Fears and Simms also had strong production, combining for 453 yards and five touchdowns.

On defense, Wilkes returns senior linebacker Tallen Murray (Vineland, NJ/Saint Joseph Academy) to lead the unit, the team's top tackler for the past two seasons. Last year, the Vineland, N.J. native wrapped up 98 tackles, second most in the Landmark, with six sacks en route to an All-Landmark First Team selection. All-Landmark Honorable Mention Tyler Wetzel (Sellersville, PA/Pennridge) also returns in the linebacker room, breaking out in his sophomore year with 69 total tackles, the second most on the team. Senior Travis Shaver (Massapequa, NY/Plainedge), who was named Landmark Defensive Player of the Week last season, and junior Justin Blake (Jersey City, NJ/Hudson Catholic Regional) lead an experienced second level for the Colonel defense.

The Colonels return another All-Landmark First Team selection in Barbieri to lead the secondary. Barbieri tied Wetzel's mark of 69 total tackles as a sophomore, also grabbing three interceptions and four pass breakups. The Colonels also retain upperclassmen J'Vier Johnson (Easton, PA/Easton Area) and Michael Kevin Cornick III (West Philadelphia, PA/William Penn), who combined for 54 tackles last season. Cornick also had three PBUs and an interception. Sophomores Ryan Opperman (Lewisburg, PA/Lewisburg) and Jamel Clements (Bethlehem, PA/Bethlehem Catholic) saw playing time last season and will look to make an impact on this group in the coming season.

The defensive line sees many fresh faces for the 2025 season, with three All-Landmark selections from the group graduating. Senior Trevor Gitski (Alburtis, PA/Emmaus) and junior Michael Golay (Scranton, PA/Scranton Prep) remain the elder statesmen in the trenches, combining for seven tackles for loss and three sacks. Sophomore Rajan Stevens (Allentown, PA/Central Catholic) saw the field in eight games as a first year, grabbing 18 tackles and one sack. First years Nathan Reuther (Dunmore, PA/Dunmore), Evan Dean (Waymart, PA/Western Wayne), and Shi-Nobi Morffiah (Plymouth Meeting, PA/Plymouth Whitemarsh) are among those looking to make an instant impact in their first year with the program.

On special teams the Colonels return All-Landmark First Team selection Nick Volpone (Delco, PA/Ridley) at kicker, who was second in the Landmark Conference with eight made field goals and a 46/47 record on extra-point kicks. After the graduation of Alex Orlando (Allentown, PA/Emmaus), Wilkes will see a new face at punter to start the season as well.

Terry doubles as a kick return threat for the blue and gold, racking up 400 return yards and one kick return touchdown in the team's victory over Lycoming. Shawn McCullough (Upper Darby, PA/Upper Darby), who was second on the team with 134 return yards, will join Terry to form a dangerous kick return duo.

Schmidt Stadium will play host to the 29^th Mayor's Cup clash, the first time the game has been played on a day other than Saturday, and only the second game to be played at night in the history of the rivalry. Last season the Colonels won on the road 43-28 in Biever's first win as a head coach, and he is excited to open the season with such an important game.

"Being able to play one of the first college football games in the country was why we moved it to Thursday night," Biever explained. "All eyes will be on us… we're focused on that rivalry game and the atmosphere it brings."

"It's been back and forth over the past couple of years and it's going to be a game where you're going to have to play all four quarters, play down to the last minute and you better show up or you will get ran out of the building. The energy is high, the excitement is high, our players are excited about it, we're ready to go Thursday night we just have to show up to play and execute our game plan."