READING, Pa. -- Fans of the Albright football team looking for the next big game on the Lions schedule don't have to look very far in the future. That game is on Saturday (Oct. 3) when the Lions travel to Misericordia for a Middle Atlantic Conference contest scheduled for a 1 p.m. kickoff,at Mangelsdorf Field.

Albright head coach John Marzka, and his coaching staff, live in the present. Nothing can be done about a game that is two or three weeks ahead on the schedule and nothing can be done about the three games already played this season. Therefore the focus of the Albright players is squarely on Saturday and the Cougars of Misericordia.

Albright cracked the American Football Coaches Association Top 25 Poll this week as the Lions enter the rankings at No. 25. It marks the Lions first appearance in the poll since the 2009 season when Albright was ranked No. 9 in the final poll.

The Lions improved to 3-0 on the season, and 2-0 in conference play, with a 32-10 victory at Lycoming last Saturday. Albright cranked up its ground attack to wear down the Warriors and post its first victory against Lycoming since 2009.

Junior running back Brian Wickkiser had a career day against the Warriors. He rushed for a career-high 127 yards and also scored a career-best four touchdowns to pace the Lions. Led by Wickkiser, Albright topped 200 yards rushing for the first time this season and the first time since November of last season.

Wickkiser became the first Albright player to score four touchdowns in a game since Josan Holmes had four TD's versus Widener and he became the first back to rush for three touchdowns in a game since Ty Hughes accomplished the feat against Kean in the 2012 season opener.

Freshman quarterback Mike Knight continued his solid play on the season as he was 14-of-21 for 150 yards and a touchdown to compliment the rushing attack. Knight has completed 62.0 percent of his passes in 2015 and has thrown for 546 yards and four scores.

Sophomore Malik Jackson, who had four catches against Lycoming, is the Lions top receiver with 20 catches. Vinny Williams has 15 grabs on the season and leads the squad with two touchdown catches. Ten different Albright players have a reception on the season.

The Albright offensive line of John McKeever, Tyler Wickkiser, Jimmy Cessna, Jonni Cassano and Kensey Davis have paved the way for the Lions to average 27.7 points per game and 285.7 yards of offense per contest.

The Albright defense has been dominant this season and ranks 32nd in the country allowing just 14.3 points per game. The Lions have permitted just 20 points in the last 10 quarters of action.

Senior Jamal Hayden leads the Lions with 23 tackles and ranks 14th in the nation averaging 2.2 tackles for loss per game. Senior linebacker Steve Barroso is second on the team with 20 tackles and is fifth in the nation with two fumble recoveries. Junior linebacker Kevin Mason is tied for second in the nation with three forced fumbles on the year, and junior cornerback Kali Boyce ranks 44th in Division III in passes defended per game.

All-American kicker Daniel Sobolewski has had a brilliant start to the season. He is 4-of-4 on his field goal attempts, which includes a 50 and a 51-yard field goal, and is also averaging 63.3 yards per kickoff and has nine touchbacks. The senior is currently third in the nation averaging 44.9 yards per punt.

Albright owns a 3-0 advantage in the all-time series against Misericordia and have outscored the Cougars 120-33 in the three games played. Last season, the Lions topped the Cougars 30-14 in Shirk Stadium.

Misericordia brings an 0-4 record into the contest and have dropped all three conference games. The Cougars battled Stevenson last week and lost by a 28-13 margin to one of the top teams in the MAC.

Albright play-by-play announcer Bob McCool will provide the commentary for the contest, which can be heard live here.

Albright vs. Misericordia Game Notes