FULL GAME NOTES
 
Albright (0-4, 0-2) vs. Wilkes (4-0, 2-0)
• When: Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019
• Where: Reading, Pa.
• Stadium: Shirk Stadium (5,000)
• Kickoff: 1 p.m.
• Live Video: VIDEO
• Live Stats: STATS
 
 
SERIES BREAKDOWN
• All-Time Series: Albright leads 26-17
• First Meeting: 1964 – Albright won 48-14
• Last Meeting: Oct. 6, 2018 @ Albright – FDU-Florham won 48-34
• Streak: Wilkes +1

The Albright Lions football team will continue MAC play by hosting Wilkes at 1 p.m. on Saturday afternoon
 
Albright is coming off a heartbreaking 50-45 loss to FDU-Florham last Saturday that was decided on the last play of the game. The Lions and Devils battled back and forth on offense throughout the game that featured six lead changes. The Lions held a 37-27 lead in the third quarter before the Devils struck back with 17 unanswered points to take a 44-37 lead with just over two minutes left in regulation. Albright miraculously converted a 4th and 18 into a 23-yard touchdown with 19 seconds left, and took the lead on a two-point conversion. However, a short kickoff gave the Devils enough time to get in range for a makeable 31-yard touchdown pass with no time remaining to stun the Lions.
 
Wilkes continued its strong start to the 2019 season with a dominant 45-12 win over Alvernia last Saturday. The Colonels scored two touchdowns in the final minute of the first half to spark a 35-6 point run for the rest of the game. The Colonels are the lone overall unbeaten team in the MAC.
 
LAST SEASON'S MATCHUP
The Lions were dealt a heartbreaking loss to the Colonels last season in Wilkes-Barre by a final of 47-43. The teams traded points back and forth throughout the contest as the game featured nine lead changes. Albright took a 43-40 lead with 1:41 left in regulation on a 32-yard touchdown reception from former Lion Kyle Dickerson, but were unable to stop the Colonels as they took the lead on an 11-yard touchdown reception with 11 seconds left. Albright seemed to have a game-ending interception from senior cornerback Kamaal Stewart, but he was whistled for pass interference to keep the Colonels hopes alive.
 
AIR STRIKE
Senior quarterback Jimmy Lahay had a big afternoon last Saturday at FDU-Florham. The Maryland native matched his career-high with five touchdown passes in addition to going 26-of-46 for 322 yards through the air. The five touchdown passes were the second-most touchdown passes in a single-game in Albright football history, and the second time in his career he threw five touchdown passes in a single-game. The last time he accomplished that feat was against Wilkes one year ago where he also threw for 385 passing yards. Lahay now has four career 300+ yard passing games.
 
IT TAKES TWO
A pair of Albright wide receivers had career days last Saturday against FDU-Florham. Sophomore Kevin Zehner led the Lions with 10 catches for 181 yards and two touchdowns, while senior Zack Miller caught 11 passes for 87 yards and three touchdowns. It is the first time a pair of Lions receivers caught a pair of touchdowns since the Wilkes game last season when Miller and Dickerson accomplished the feat. Miller registered a 150 yards against the Colonels last season on 11 catches.
 
FRESH IMPACT
First-Year cornerback Omar Sesay did a little of everything in the Lions contest against FDU-Florham last Saturday. He registered his first interception of his collegiate career, and blocked an extra point from the Devils. It was the first extra point block for the Lions since last season. The Naples, Florida native has started in all four games for the Lions this season, and ranks fourth on the team with 20 tackles.
 
GROUND ATTACK
Sophomore running back Tony Thorpe ran for a career-high 91 yards on 18 carries, and scored two touchdowns against FDU-Florham last Saturday. The sophomore matched his career touchdown total, and scored his first touchdown since versus King's last October. the 91 yards were also a career-high for Thorpe as he led all Lions rushers. He leads the team with 234 rushing yards and is averaging 58.5 yards per game. Thorpe has started in all four games for Albright.
 
HOLD THE LINE
Senior defensive lineman Tyler Foster, and sophomore defensive lineman Ryan Rapp each had productive Saturday's last weekend against FDU-Florham. Foster recorded his first sack of the season and tallied eight tackles (five solo), 2.0 TFL, and one forced fumble. Rapp also forced a fumble in addition to tallying seven tackles (five solo). Both players have started every game on the defensive line this season for the Lions, and are tied for the second on the team with 2.5 TFL.  
 
NEW FACES
A few new faces made their first collegiate starts against FDU-Florham last Saturday. Freshman Jordan Pumphrey started on the defensive line and tallied three tackles (two solo), while classmate Chris Holbrook started at cornerback. Holbrook made a season-high four tackles, and continues to be one of the Lions primary kickoff returners. Sophomore Daniel Lewis also made his first start at kicker as he was filling in for the injured Chris Knop.
 
ABOUT WILKES
The Colonels 4-0 start is their best start to a season since 2006 when they completed an 11-0 regular season, and won a first-round NCAA Tournament game against Washington & Lee. Wilkes features a balanced offense that currently ranks second in the conference at 438.5 yards per game. The Colonels are the third-highest scoring team in the MAC at 34.3 points per game, and have the second-highest passing attack at 311.0 yards per game.
 
The offense runs through dynamic senior quarterback Jose Tabora, who ranks second in the conference with 303.8 yards per game. Tabora also has the second-highest passing efficiency in the MAC at 155.8, and has thrown seven touchdowns to just two interceptions. He eclipsed the 5,000-yard career passing yard plateau last weekend against Alvernia. Last season against the Lions, Tabora torched the Lions for 479 yards of total offense, and threw six touchdown passes. 368 of those yards came through the air, while 111 came on the ground. His favorite target has been junior wide receiver, Nick Yanik. Yanik ranks second in the conference with 515 receiving yards, and averages 128.8 yards per game. The Colonels also feature a stout defense that ranks fourth in the MAC in yards allowed per game at 202.0, and third in defensive scoring at 18.5 yards per game. Senior linebacker Bud Moyer has been the catalyst for the Wilkes defense over the past few seasons, as he ranks sixth in the MAC with 31 tackles. Moyer has also tallied a pair of interceptions this season to lead the team.