Sunday, September 22, 2013

WIDENER DEFENSE HOLDS WILKES IN CHECK IN 21-0 WIN IN MAC PLAY

Patrick Ingulli rushed for 102 yards against Widener
EDWARDSVILLE – Host Wilkes University totaled just 165 yards of total offense and No. 24 Widener University used a timely interception return for a touchdown to post a 21-0 victory over the Colonels in Middle Atlantic Conference play Saturday afternoon at Schmidt Stadium.

Wilkes slips to 1-2 overall and 0-2 in MAC play. Widener improves to 2-1 on the year and remains unbeaten at 2-0 in league games.


Both offenses struggled early. The Wilkes defense made the game’s first big play when Michael Fitz strip-sacked Widener quarterback Seth Klein at the Widener 48. The ball was recovered by Michael Paskas setting up the Colonel offense in Pride territory. With starting signal-caller Tyler Berntsen on the bench after suffering an injury on Wilkes’ first drive, Dan Van Mater took over as the Colonels moved to the Widener 37 on a nine-yard pass from Van Mater to Ryan Behrmann. Following a sack and subsequent incomplete pass on fourth down, Widener took over at their own 36.

The Pride marched down the field using a 12-play, 59-yard drive capped off by a Richard Brown two-yard touchdown run to take a 7-0 lead with 1:28 on the first quarter clock.

The teams went scoreless in the second frame as the Wilkes defense kept the high-powered Widener offense in check throughout.

With Wilkes still trailing 7-0 in the third, Van Mater would be picked off by Colin Masterson at the Widener 41 taking the pick all 59 yards for the Pride touchdown to push the advantage to 14-0. Widener added one more score in the fourth (three-yard rushing touchdown) before icing the clock on its next possession.

Wilkes was unable to manage much offense in the game rushing for 107 yards on 47 attempts. Patrick Ingulli led the charge on the ground, being used early and often, finishing with 29 carries for 102 yards. Berntsen only played one possession before suffering the apparent arm injury. Van Mater finished 2-of-9 from the air for 19 yards. Taylor Young entered in relief of Van Mater throwing for 28 yards on 2-for-7 passing.

Tate Moore-Jacobs led the Wilkes defense with a career-high 17 tackles, including four for a loss. He added one sack playing all over the field for Wilkes. DJ Shuttleworth added seven stops. The Colonel defense picked off Klein three times as Matt Briskie, Dylan Mohring and Jared Powell all posted interceptions.

Klein finished 27-for-35 through the air for 203 yards. Terrant Morrison was the Pride top rushers with 70 yards.

Wilkes travels to Misericordia University (0-3, 0-2 MAC) next Saturday looking for its first MAC win of 2013 in the teams’ second-ever meeting and first in Dallas, Pa. Kickoff is slated for 1:00 p.m.