Wilkes Football Bested Under the Lights by Montclair State
EDWARDSVILLE, Pa. – Playing through the elements, the Wilkes University football team were defeated by Montclair State University on Saturday night, falling to the Red Hawks 26-9 in the final non-conference clash of the season.
Wilkes falls to 1-2 with the loss, while Montclair State improves to 2-1.
After forcing a punt on the first Red Hawk drive, the Colonels drove into the redzone threatening to score, but a fumble by
Daniel Pigga (Dunmore, PA/Dunmore) gave the visitors the ball back. Wilkes reached the redzone again on their next possession but were stopped on fourth down to keep the game scoreless after one quarter.
Montclair State put the first points on the board as Brendan McGonigle kicked a 30-yard field goal with 5:07 to play in the half and doubled the lead as time expired with another 30-yard kick following an up-tempo drive to give the Red Hawks a 6-0 lead at the half.
Wilkes came out of the break swinging as
Trey Dogmanits (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) found
Juju Fears (Easton, PA/Easton Area) in stride for a 71-yard catch-and-run to set the Colonels up at the Red Hawk 11-yard line but were unable to find the endzone and gave up a turnover on downs at the five-yard line. After forcing a three and out on defense, Dogmanits once again connected on a deep pass to Pigga for 34-yards. A defensive pass interference call then set Wilkes up inside the ten, with
Sebastian Hess (Glen Mills, DE/Salesianum) putting it through the uprights from 25 yards out to put Wilkes on the board 6-3.
The Red Hawk ground game then took over, marching the ball down the field to start the fourth with the game's first touchdown. After a second Dogmanits interception in the endzone, the visitors found the endzone again to go up 19-3 after a failed two-point conversion.
After a roughing the passer call on Dogmanits set the Colonels up inside the Red Hawk 30-yard line, the offense finally found the endzone as the junior signal caller hit Fears for a 15-yard touchdown pass to make it a 19-9 ballgame after a failed two-point attempt of their own.
Montclair ended the game on the following possession, working the ground game once again and putting a final touchdown on the board with 14 seconds remaining to seal the victory.
Dogmanits had another strong day in defeat, throwing for 200 yards and one touchdown on 13/24 passing despite two interceptions. The Whitehall native also led the team in rushing with 31 yards. His top target was Fears, who had his second-straight 100+ yard game with 120 yards and the team's only touchdown. Sophomore linebacker
Jarius Jones (Stafford, VA/Gar-Field) led the Colonel defense with nine tackles, while Pigga left his mark on special teams with 123 kick return yards.
Red Hawk running back Diante Wilson led all players with 198 rushing yards and a touchdown on 35 carries, followed by quarterback Luke Heinrich with 44 and a touchdown of his own. Heinrich only threw for 70 yards in the rain, with two targets sharing 25 yards each. On defense, Bi'Shay Sanders led the team with seven tackles while Jahmir Beal hauled in both interceptions.
The Colonels now shift their focus to Landmark Conference play, as they travel to face Juniata College on Saturday, October 3
rd at 12:00 p.m.
