Football

Wilkes University 27, Delaware Valley College 24

DOYLESTOWN (PA) - Senior quarterback Al Karaffa threw for a career-high 322 yards and two touchdowns and also scored on a one-yard run to lift Wilkes University to a 27-24 win over Delaware Valley College on Saturday afternoon at James Work Memorial Stadium.

The victory improved the Colonels to 4-5 overall and 4-2 in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) heading into their season finale at home against Widener University next Saturday. Delaware Valley, who slipped to 4-5 overall and 4-2 in conference play, will end their season next week when it visits Albright College.

Wilkes took the opening kickoff and put together a 16-play, 89 yard drive that took more than eight minutes off the clock. Karaffa threw nine passes during the drive and completed eight of them for 85 yards. His last pass on the drive was a six-yard completion to Drew Letcavage that made it fourth-and goal from the Aggie one. Karaffa called his own number and bulled into the end zone for a touchdown with 6:51 left in the period. The extra point attempt by Mario Della Fortuna was blocked by Zach McCann, leaving the score at 6-0.

Later in the first quarter, Delaware Valley put together its first scoring drive. After taking over on their own 40 following a Colonels' punt, Mike Isgro sandwiched passes of five and 13 yards to Joel Foreman around a 24-yard Matt Mariano run to set up a first-and-10 from the Wilkes 18. The drive stalled there and Shane Toohey converted a 35-yard field goal with 1:44 left in the stanza to cut the Colonel lead to 6-3.

The score would stay that way until the second quarter when Wilkes added to their lead. This time, the Colonels marched 80 yards in seven plays to reach paydirt. The last 52 yards came on a third-and-nine as Karaffa hit Sean Madden on a screen pass and Madden was able to outrace the Aggie defenders for the touchdown with 8:22 remaining in the half. Della Fortuna tacked on the PAT to up the Wilkes lead to 13-3.

Delaware Valley came up with a big play on special teams when Kyle Mancuso broke through and blocked a Wilkes punt to give the Aggies possession at the Wilkes 12-yard line with 5:46 left in the half. It took Delaware Valley three plays to cover the distance, with the pay off coming on a 10-yard TD pass from Isgro to Foreman with 4:55 showing on the clock. Toohey's extra point was good and the Aggies had pulled to within 13-10.

On the Colonels next possession, the Delaware Valley defense got in on the scoring. Facing a third-and-nine from their own 26, Karaffa stepped back to pass and was hit by John Pursell as he attempted to throw. The pass found the hands of Greg Rissinger and the defensive lineman returned it 16 yards for a score. Toohey's extra point gave the Aggies' their first lead, 17-13, with 3:54 left before halftime.

Wilkes would get a special teams play of its own to help regain the lead prior to the intermission. The play came when F.J. Campbell broke through to get a piece of a Delaware Valley punt that allowed the Colonels to take over possession on the Aggies' 46. A 19-yard pass play from Karaffa to Jason Prushinski and an Aggie personal foul penalty advanced the ball to the Delaware Valley 14. On third-and-ten from that same position, Karaffa and Letcavage hooked up on a screen pass that Letcavage was able to carry into the end zone with 43 seconds left in the half. Della Fortuna's PAT was successful and Wilkes held a 20-17 lead at intermission.

Delaware Valley College Valley went back on top late in the third quarter by putting together an eight-play, 72-yard drive following a Wilkes punt. The Aggies' converted a pair of third down plays to keep their drive alive. The first came on third-and-13 from the Delaware Valley 25 when Isgro found Jimmy Smith for an 18-yard gain. After a 29-yard pass from Isgro to Foreman placed the ball inside Wilkes territory at the 28, the Colonels defense stiffened. However, on third-and-six from the 24, Isgro found Dan Heiland for a 16-yard pickup to make it first and goal from the eight. Matt Cook would do the rest, going eight yards for a score with 1:06 left in the third. The extra point by Toohey put Delaware Valley ahead, 24-20.

The Colonels responded on their ensuing drive to once again take the lead. A 13-yard pass from Karaffa to Prushinski on a third-and-six moved the ball to the Aggies 46. On the very next play the duo hooked up again, this time for a 31-yard gain that gave the Colonels a first down at the Delaware Valley 15-yard line. Three plays later Karaffa handed the ball to Alex Pearson and the freshman went six yards for a touchdown with 13:22 left in the game. Della Fortuna's extra point gave Wilkes a 27-24 lead.

Delaware Valley had a chance to tie the game on their next trip down the field. The Aggies marched to the Wilkes 21, but Toohey's attempt at a 38-yard field goal sailed wide left leaving the Colonels with a three-point lead. The Aggies had three more possessions in the game, but the Wilkes defense rose to the occasion each time to pick up the conference win.

Karaffa finished the afternoon 28-of-47 through the air to help Wilkes amass 394 yards in total offense. Prushinski had seven catches for 100 yards and Madden ended the game with five catches for 81 yards. Pearson was the leading rusher for the Colonels with 57 yards on 25 carries. The Wilkes defense was paced by Kyle Follweiler, who had 11 tackles and a pair of sacks

Isgro hit on 23-of-44 pass attempts for 227 yards and one score for Delaware Valley, which finished with 285 yards in total offense. Foreman had seven catches for 101 yards and Heiland pulled down five passes for 42 yards. Jake Sheffield led the Aggies on the ground with six carries for 28 yards.

Pursell was the leading tackler for Delaware Valley with 10 stops. Mancuso had nine tackles and the blocked punt, while Kyle Reuter also had nine tackles.