READING, Pa. – The Albright Lions football team found itself for the second-straight week on the wrong end of a high-scoring affair, as they fell 42-40 to Wilkes in MAC play on Saturday afternoon.
 
With the loss, the Lions drop to 0-5 on the season and 0-3 in MAC play. Meanwhile, the Colonels improve to 5-0 overall and 3-0 in conference play.
 
Senior quarterback Jimmy Lahay went 22-of-34 for 233 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. Sophomore running back Tony Thorpe rushed for a career-high 97 yards on 16 carries and one touchdown to lead the ground game. Sophomore Kevin Zehner caught all three of Lahay's touchdown passes and tallied 106 receiving yards on nine catches. Senior wide receiver Zack Miller caught seven passes for 100 yards.
 
The game started with fireworks as first-year cornerback Chris Holbrook ran the opening kickoff back 91 yards for the touchdown to put the Lions on top 6-0 following a missed extra point. The kickoff return for a touchdown was the first one for the Lions since Kyle Dickerson returned the opening kickoff back for a touchdown against Delaware Valley in 2016. Wilkes came back on the next series to take an 8-6 lead at the 9:56-mark of the first quarter following a two-point conversion. Colonel quarterback Jose Tabora found Nick Yanik on a wheel route to cap a 10-play 60-yard drive. Lahay moved the Lions into Colonel territory behind two passes to Miller, but Albright came up one yard short on fourth down in the red zone to see the drive stall. Junior safety Armon Jefferson picked off a long pass at midfield from Tabora on the first play of the Colonels drive to set the Lions up in good field position. Lahay pushed the Lions deep into the red zone at the Colonels nine-yard line on a long 42-yard completion on 4^th and 8 to Zehner. Two plays later, Zehner made an incredible one-handed grab in the right corner of the end zone to help the Lions take a 14-8 lead following a two-point conversion. The Colonels nearly ran the ensuing kickoff back for a touchdown, but ended up needed just five plays in 30 yards to tie the score at 14 with 42 seconds left in the first quarter. The Colonels missed the extra point following the touchdown.
 
Albright advanced into Colonel territory to begin the second quarter, but again saw the drive end on 4^th down in the red zone after a run from Thorpe came up a yard short. The Lions were able to force a three-and-out on the next Colonel series, and used a nine-play 33-yard drive to take the lead back at 21-14 following a 12-yard reception from Zehner. Zehner also set the Lions up with a good punt return into Wilkes territory. The Colonels responded again to the Lions score with a touchdown of their own to make it a 21-all game with 2:13 left until halftime. Holbrook then made Albright football history on the next kickoff return as he took the Colonels kick back 93 yards for the touchdown to put the Lions up 28-21 for his second kick return touchdown of the game. The Lions continued with momentum as senior cornerback Kamaal Stewart picked off Tabora at midfield and took the return back to the Colonels 17-yard line. Thorpe put the Lions up 34-21 on a one-yard score on 4^th and goal with 19 seconds left in the half. Following a blocked extra point, the Colonels added to the crazy special teams half by running the Lions kick back 85 yards for a touchdown to make it a 34-28 game at halftime.
 
Wilkes got the ball to start the second half, and took the lead back at 35-34 following a 45-yard touchdown reception on 4^th and 2. The Lions struck back with a 10-play 55-yard drive that ended with Zehner grabbing his third touchdown of the game off a 13-yard pass on 4^th and 2. Wilkes looked to respond again, but it was the Lions defense this time that forced a failed 4^th down conversion in Albright territory to take the ball back. The Lions moved into Colonels territory once again until an errant throw on 4^th down ended the drive at the Colonels 32-yard line. Wilkes used a long 17-play 68-yard drive that spanned 8:59 to take the lead back at 42-40 on a two-yard rushing touchdown from Tabora on 3^rd and goal. Albright began to move into Colonels territory again as they reached the 35-yard line. On 4^th and 5, Lahay found Zehner for eight yards, and was followed by a 10-yard run from Thorpe to get to the 12-yard line. Unfortunately for the Lions, Lahay was intercepted in the end zone by Zach Neshiewat at the 1:41-mark of the fourth quarter to end all Lions hopes of a comeback. 
 
Viera led the Lions with a team-high 10 tackles (six solo) and 1.5 TFL, while Jefferson and senior Trevan Harris-Dorman added seven tackles apiece (five solo for both). Stewart posted six tackles (three solo) and 0.5 TFL, while sophomore defensive lineman Ryan Rapp posted six tackles (two solo) and 1.5 TFL.
 
Tabora totaled 276 yards of total offense, and accounted for four touchdowns. He rushed for 91 yards, and went 17-of-29 for 185 yards with three touchdown passes plus two interceptions. Derek Nelson led the Colonels with 82 receiving yards on five catches with one touchdown, and Yanik caught six passes for 65 yards with two scores.
 
The Lions will return to action on Saturday, October 19^th when they will travel to face Stevenson at 1 p.m.