Steve Finkernagel

Wilkes Football Week Eight Preview vs. No. 21 Susquehanna

10/23/2026 10:00:00 AM

Wilkes Football Week Eight Preview vs. No. 21 Susquehanna

October 24, 2026
12:00 p.m.
Schmidt Stadium – Edwardsville, Pa.

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WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University football team returns to Schmidt Stadium following its bye week for a contest against No. 21 Susquehanna.

Last time out, Wilkes dropped its homecoming game against Lycoming College 17–7 on Oct. 10, falling to 2–3 overall and 1–1 in Landmark Conference play. Saturday's matchup is the Colonels' first against a top-25 opponent this season, and first since they played the River Hawks a season ago.

The Colonels' offense looks to improve after averaging only 37 points in their last three games. Quarterback Trey Dogmanits (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) has thrown for 1,011 yards in five starts, recording five touchdowns and completing just under 61 percent of his passes. Despite being held in check against Lycoming, receiver Juju Fears (Easton, PA/Easton Area) still leads Wilkes with 486 receiving yards, and his 97.2 per contest rank atop the conference. Against Lycoming, receiver Daniel Pigga (Dunmore, PA/Dunmore) recorded a season-high 60 receiving yards. In the run game, Dogmanits paces the Colonels with 200 rushing yards and three touchdowns, and running back Nigel Linton (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) closely follows him with 182 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Running back Chibugo Chigioze-Nwosu also has 77 yards in three games this season.

In Landmark play, Wilkes has held its opponents to just 19 points and 404 total yards in two games, both conference bests. Linebacker Tyler Wetzel (Sellersville, PA/Pennridge) leads Wilkes with 52 tackles, followed by defensive back Ryan Opperman (Lewisburg, PA/Lewisburg) with 31. Defensive lineman Cohen Creswell (Winchester, VA/Millbrook) ranks second in the Landmark with 8.5 tackles for loss, and leads the conference with six sacks. After missing the start of the season, defensive lineman Michael Golay (Scranton, PA/Scranton Prep) has recorded three tackles for loss in his past two games.

Punter Peter Zarafonitis (Staten Island, NY/New Dorp) continues to lead the Landmark averaging 43 yards a punt, including a career-long 64-yard boot against Lycoming. Kicker Bobby Schoppy (Kulpmont, PA/Mt. Carmel Area) made his first start of the season two weeks ago, converting an extra point.

Susquehanna enters the contest ranked No. 21 in both the d3football.com and American Football Coaches Association Poll. The River Hawks sit at 5–1 overall, putting up 70 points last week against Moravian in a 70–10 win, improving to 2–0 in Landmark play.

In Susquehanna's win a week ago, the River Hawks ran for 336 yards, averaging north of 200 yards a game on the season. Running back Matt Surtz leads the Landmark with 642 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, averaging almost seven yards per carry. Surtz also scored three touchdowns against Moravian and rushed for 132 yards on 17 touches in the win. Quarterback Tommy Wright also leads the conference with 1,294 passing yards and 15 touchdowns in six games, completing 59 of his passes. Wright has thrown touchdown passes to seven different receivers, led by tight end Noah Confer with four. Receiver Carter McCauley leads the River Hawks with 17 receptions for 260 yards and two touchdowns.

In addition to its explosive offense, Susquehanna has also limited teams to 17.7 points per game and 261.3 yards per game, both atop the conference. The River Hawks have been disruptive in the backfield, with linebacker Brayden Nolan (nine tackles for loss) and defensive lineman Galen Limantour (7.5 tackles for loss) ranked in the top four in the Landmark. Nolan leads Susquehanna with 44 tackles, followed by linebacker Vin Raniero with 33. In the secondary, Eric Spears has a pair of interceptions, and Marshall Houston had a 51-yard pick-six against Moravian.

The two teams met a season ago on Nov. 8, 2025, in Selinsgrove, where the River Hawks, ranked number 24 at the time, earned a 26–3 win over the Colonels. The River Hawks have won the last five meetings, with Wilkes' last win coming twenty years ago on Nov. 4, 2006.

Next week, the Colonels head to our nation's capital for a Halloween matchup at the Catholic University of America at 12:00 p.m.

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