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In rivalry, Wilkes has won three straight vs. Lycoming, but Warriors have top D in ’11.
If there’s one game Wilkes players get motivated for more than any other game held against an opponent outside of Wilkes-Barre, that game is Lycoming.
That stat has been evident the last few years as the Colonels have won three straight games against the Warriors and are the only team in the MAC that Lycoming fourth-year coach Mike Clark hasn’t defeated. The rivals square off this afternoon at 1:30 in Williamsport.
“Lycoming has great history and our kids understand how big a game Lycoming is,” Wilkes coach Frank Sheptock said. “For the longest time we had a hard time beating them. I think we’ve just played well. We’ve played our style of football and we’ve been fortunate in some instances.”
To extend that streak this year, the Colonels (2-3, 2-2 MAC) may need a little bit of luck because Lycoming boasts a boatload of trouble for Wilkes. The Warriors (4-2, 2-1) enter the game as the second-ranked defense in the country, allowing just 173.6 yards per game. The most yards an opponent has put up against the team this season was when Widener tallied 261 to hand Lyco its only loss. In a Week 2 win over Westminster (3-2), Lycoming allowed a season-low 89 total yards.
A big reason has been the play of the defensive line, which has piled up 12.5 sacks between Anthony Marascio (4), Dwight Hentz (3), Nate Oropollo (3) and Roger Jayne (2.5). The unit has also been an important factor of the team only giving up 54.5 yards per game on the ground, which is good for fourth in the nation.
“They’re a very strong group and it’s not just the starting front four, there’s no drop off when they bring the other unit in,” Sheptock said. “The front four is stopping the run and getting pressure on the passer and that’s a great luxury to have as a defensive coordinator. … As a defensive-minded coach it’s kind of fun to watch them because they get the job done.”
One of the defensive players that have benefitted from the defensive line’s production is D-back Ray Bierbach, a Northwest grad.
Bierbach, who is also a return man for the Warriors, was recruited heavily by Sheptock. He has 16 tackles and an interception this season for the Warriors. The senior has 11 career interceptions, which is tied for the ninth most in school history. He’s also returned 52 punts for 605 yards and one touchdown in his four years. That’s an average of more than 11 yards per punt return. In three games against Wilkes, Bierbach has amassed 13 tackles, 56 punt return yards and 87 kick return yards. He has yet to intercept a pass against the Colonels.
“Ray is the most north and south punt returner I’ve seen in some time,” Sheptock noted. “He’s a first-class, quality young man. Ray was a lot of fun to recruit. He’s a good football player and he’s my kind of guy.”
Coming up: Wilkes is off next week then will prepare for the annual Mayor’s Cup game against King’s on Oct. 29.
Wilkes at Lycoming
When: 1:30 p.m. today at David Person Field, Williamsport
Last meeting: Wilkes defeated the Warriors 31-14 last year.
Matchup to watch: Wilkes running back Zach Tivald, the MAC’s leading rusher averaging 109.20 yards per game, is having a superb season. But he and the Colonels have to go against the Warriors defense, which is fourth in the country giving up just 54.6 yards per game on the ground.
Noteworthy: After running for 148 yards and a TD against Delaware Valley last week, Tivald was named to the MAC Weekly Football Honor Roll.