Wilkes University Athletics

EDWARDSVILLE, Pa. – A second half surge by the River Hawks proved to be the difference as the Wilkes University football team fell to No. 21-ranked Susquehanna University 36-15 at Schmidt Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Wilkes falls to 2-4 on the year and 1-2 in Landmark Conference play, while Susquehanna improves to 6-1 overall and remains undefeated in conference at 3-0.
Both defenses made their mark early, as Tyler Wetzel (Sellersville, PA/Pennridge) intercepted the first pass of the day by Tommy Wright to give Wilkes the ball at the Susquehanna 29-yard line. The River Hawk defense responded by forcing a three and out and blocking the Bobby Schoppy (Kulpmont, PA/Mt. Carmel Area) field goal attempt to keep the game scoreless.

Susquehanna got on the board with their next drive, a methodical 11-play effort punctuated by a Matt Surtz three-yard touchdown run. The extra point attempt was no good, giving the visitors a 6-0 lead they took to the end of the quarter. On the first play of the second quarter, Wilkes found the endzone on a 51-yard pass to Daniel Pigga (Dunmore, PA/Dunmore) to tie the game and go ahead 7-6 after the Schoppy point after was true.

The River Hawk offense fired right back at Wilkes with a 46-yard pass to reach the Colonel redzone, but a fourth-down stop by Kevin Hegarty (Plymouth Meeting, PA/Plymouth Whitemarsh) kept the visitors out of the endzone. After more back and forth defense, Susquehanna regained the lead late in the half on a 30-yard touchdown catch to Frankie Mroz. An unsuccessful two-point attempt in the back of the endzone sent the teams into halftime with the score 12-6.

Out of the break, Wilkes was unable to keep up with the Susquehanna offense, as the visitors scored 24 unanswered points to take comfortable control of the game 36-7. Wilkes wouldn't be shut out, however, as Dogmanits found Anthony Theodore (Sparrow Bush, NY/Port Jervis) for a 10-yard touchdown strike on the final drive of the game. A run up the gut by William Smith (Egg Harbor City, NJ/Cedar Creek) converted the two-point attempt, but it was not enough as the Colonels fell 36-15.

Dogmanits led the Colonel offense with 200 yards on 18/29 passing with two touchdowns and two interceptions. The junior signal-caller also led the team on the ground, rushing for a further 45 yards on the afternoon. Pigga led all Colonel receivers with 56 yards, adding 77 return yards for 133 all-purpose yards. Wetzel led all defenders with 13 total tackles (2.5 for loss), 1.5 sacks and an interception. Hegarty followed with nine tackles, a career-high for the sophomore linebacker.

Wright led Susquehanna under center going 16/22 for 243 yards and three touchdowns, while Surtz dominated on the ground with 110 yards and two touchdowns. Ethan Mahan was Wright's top target, hauling in four catches for 100 yards. Brayden Nolan led the team's defensive efforts with 10 tackles.

Wilkes returns to action next Saturday, October 31^st as they travel to our Nation's Capital to face Catholic University at 12:00 p.m.