Wilkes Tops Football, 31-16

MADISON, N.J. (October 12, 2018) - The FDU-Florham football team was topped by Wilkes 31-16 Friday evening. The loss drops the Devils to 4-2, 2-2 in the Middle Atlantic Conference. Wilkes improves to 4-3, 3-2 in the conference. The Colonels went down the field on their first possession, as Jose Tabora hit Juan Salas-Negron for a 49 yard touchdown. The play capped off an 8 play, 88 yard drive. Senior Mike Panzarino had two catches for 24 yards on the Devils first series, but senior Jagger Green's pass on third down was intercepted at the 38 yard line. Wilkes took advantage of the short field, with Tabora notching a 20 yard TD pass to Jeff Steeber, putting the Colonels up 14-0. After an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, FDU set up with the ball at their own 43. Seven plays later, Green hit junior Khrystan Camillo for a 19 yard strike on fourth and six, cutting the lead in half. The Colonels tallied touchdowns on their first two drives of the second quarter, before converting a 31 yard field goal with just six seconds left in the half. The Devils maintained the ball for just over four minutes in the second stanza, as Wilkes put up 17 points to head into the half with a 31-7 lead. FDU punted on their first series of the second half, but a bit of a break on the Wilkes opening possession. As the Colonels were in punt formation, the snap was fumbled. The punter fell on the ball in the end-zone, resulting in a Devils safety. With new life, the Devils took the next drive for a touchdown. Facing a third and goal from the five, Panzarino lined up as the quarterback. He bucked forward, and jump passed to Jose Caceres, who made a spectacular sliding grab in the end-zone. The Devils defense buckled down in the third, as Tabora failed to lead the offense to any yards on the final series in the frame. Raj Gulati made a big stop on third down, swatting a pass down. After a 16 yard punt gave FDU the ball at the Wilkes 35, FDU tried some trickery, but a Josh Rainey pass was picked off at the two yard line. FDU was unable to get any closer, as an interception late in the game allowed Wilkes to run the clock out. Green was 20-of-32 for 169 yards and a score, while Rainey led the team with 44 yards receiving. Senior Isaiah Turner had 15 tackles, while classmate Robert Planter had seven stops and fumble recovery. FDU hits the road next Saturday, taking on Misericordia for a 1 p.m. kickoff.