GAME NOTES (PDF)
 
Albright (2-3, 1-1) vs. Wilkes (4-0, 3-0)
• When: Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021
• Where: Reading, Pa.
• Stadium: Shirk Stadium (5,000)
• Kickoff: 12 p.m.
• Live Video: VIDEO
• Live Stats: STATS
 
 
SERIES BREAKDOWN
• All-Time Series: Albright leads 26-18
• First Meeting: `1964 – Albright won 48-14
• Last Meeting: Oct. 12, 2019 @ Albright – Wilkes won 42-40
• Streak: Wilkes +2
 
The Albright Lions football team will host Wilkes in the 70th annual Rajah Shrine Pretzel Bowl on Saturday afternoon.
 

The Lions fell 31-20 on the road to Misericordia last Saturday afternoon. Albright was unable to slow down a strong Cougars rushing attack that amassed 241 yards on the ground. Albright took the early 7-0 lead after being set up in the red zone on an interception. However, the Cougars scored 21-straight points to take a 21-7 advantage late in the second quarter. Albright was able to cut the Misericordia lead down to 21-14 before the Cougars added a field goal just before halftime. Misericordia added to its lead in the third quarter and the Lions were only able to score one last touchdown in the fourth quarter to make it a 31-20 game.
 

Meanwhile, the Colonels moved to 4-0 on the season after a 21-14 win over Stevenson at home last Saturday. The two teams were tied at seven at halftime before Wilkes took the lead back in the third quarter with a touchdown to make it 14-7. The Colonels got an insurance touchdown with just 1:41 left in regulation to go up 21-7, and held on from there despite a touchdown from the Mustangs with five seconds remaining. The Colonels out-gained the Mustangs 443-294 overall in yards and held a whopping 37:53 to 22:07 advantage in time of possession.
 

THE LAST MATCHUP
In the teams last meeting in 2019, the Colonels edged the Lions 42-40 behind an interception in the end zone with 1:41 remaining in regulation. The teams went back and forth throughout the high-scoring contest, and the Lions were able to build a 34-21 lead with just over a minute until halftime. A kick return touchdown for the Colonels brought them within 34-28 at the half, and they were able to pull ahead with over five minutes left in the fourth quarter at 42-40. The Lions drove down the field and were set up at the Wilkes 12-yard line looking to get a potential game-winning score before the interception sealed the win for the Colonels.
 

ANNUAL EVENT
For more than 75 years, the Shriners have operated a network of specialized hospitals that treat children with orthopedic problems, burns and spinal cord injuries, up to their 18th birthday, regardless of their ability to pay. The 2021 game marks the 70th version of the Rajah Shrine Pretzel Bowl. All proceeds generated from Saturday's game will be donated to Shriner's Hospitals. Tickets are $5.00. There will be a MVP announced for each team following the game.
 

MOVING UP
Senior quarterback Todd Shelley matched his career-high with three touchdown passes against Misericordia last Saturday afternoon. His trio of touchdown passes ranks him now second in the MAC for touchdown passes. Shelley has thrown for a touchdown pass in all but one game this season, and has three multi-touchdown pass efforts in three games. He also ranks sixth in the conference in yards at 803, and fourth in quarterback efficiency at 125.7. Shelley also still holds the longest touchdown pass this season among MAC quarterbacks with his 77-yard strike to senior wide receiver Kevin Zehner against Alvernia.
 

BALL HAWK
Senior safety Armon Jefferson intercepted Misericordia on the Cougar's opening drive of the game on Saturday afternoon. It was Jefferson's third interception of the season, and his second-straight game with a pick. He has now set a new career-high in interceptions, and is currently tied for second in the conference in interceptions. He also registered a career-high 14 tackles against the Cougars. Jefferson has also recorded an interception in each of the last two contests against Wilkes.
 

RACK EM UP
A pair of Lions senior linebackers recorded 16 tackles against Misericordia last Saturday. Daniel Vital and Sam Viera each registered 16 tackles in the contest, which was the most in a game for a Lions player since Viera himself had 16 in the 2018 season finale against Lebanon Valley. It was a career-high for Vital, who continue to sit 1-2 in the conference in total tackles.
 

HELLO OLD FRIEND
Former Lions standout wide receiver Kyle Dickerson is entering his second year on the Wilkes coaching staff.  Dickerson put forth a stellar playing career at Albright as a wide receiver and returner. Dickerson earned three All-MAC honors, two D3football.com All-Mid-Atlantic Region honors, and two All-ECAC honors. He caught 170 passes for 2170 yards and 21 touchdowns throughout his career at Albright.
 

COOL HAND LUCAS
Junior wide receiver Lucas Roselli played a big role in the Lions passing game against Misericordia. The converted running back caught three passes for a career-high 67 yards and one touchdown. His 67 yards led the team which was the first time that he has ever led the Lions in receiving yards for a single-game. Roselli had two explosive plays (over 20 yards) against the Cougars as well, and matched his season-high in receptions. Roselli ranks third on the team with 149 yards and 10 receptions along with scoring a pair of touchdowns so far this season.
 

ABOUT WILKES
Wilkes is the second-highest scoring team in the MAC at 31.3 points per game, and are yielding the second-fewest points per game at 9.0. The Colonels have the current top rushing attack in the conference at 229.5 yards per game, and rank third in passing offense at 231.0 yards per game. Senior quarterback Jose Tabora is a big part of both aspects of the Colonels offense as he ranks second in the conference with 813 passing yards and a 141.0 QB efficiency. Tabora has also rushed for 232 yards on 48 carries with two touchdowns. Sophomore running back Kamaal Reed spearheads the potent rushing offense with 340 yards on the ground on 49 carries with two scores. He ranks sixth in the MAC in total rushing yards, and is averaging 6.9 yards per carry. On defense, the most points the Colonels have allowed so far this season was 15 against Misericordia, and posted one shutout against Alvernia. Senior defensive lineman Pat Ricci leads the team with 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. Sophomore linebacker Nick Gazzola leads the team with 36 total tackles (12 solo) and ranks just behind Ricci with 5.0 tackles for loss. First-year safety LeRoy Marshall and sophomore cornerback John Washington are tied for the team lead with two interceptions.