WILKES-BARRE, PA — The FDU-Madison Devils managed to cut the Wilkes Colonels lead to 10-7 in the third quarter, but the Colonels came back to score touchdowns with 9:36 left in the game and then again with five seconds on the clock to take 24-7 victory. FDU drops to 1-2 (1-2 MAC) on the year while Wilkes improves to 2-2 (2-1 MAC).

After a 10-0 Wilkes Colonels halftime lead, the Devils came back to make the game 10-7 after Ed Cracchiolo (Marlboro, NJ) ran in a 17-yard TD and Eric Eickhorst (South Bound Brook) made the extra point with 11:58 showing on the clock in the third period. But the Devils hopes faded when, with the score 17-7 in favor of Wilkes, Brian Hosler intercepted FDU quarterback Mike Passero’s pass at the Wilkes 22 yardline with 5:36 left in the game.

Wilkes controlled the ball for the rest of the contest, taking 5:31 to get down the field and score a touchdown to make the final tally 24-7. Mike Melchiore ran it in from 12 yards out for the Colonels with five seconds remaining.

Cracchiolo moved up in the record books again today. His rushing touchdown gave him eight for the year which moves him into a tie with himself (2000) and Rob Lewis (1995) for most rushing touchdowns by and FDU player in a season. John Hogarty leads that category with nine in 1985. Cracchiolo increased his career total of rushing TDs to 18, moving into second place all-time in that category at FDU. Lewis ran for 19 in his career, spanning from 1994-1997.

The Colonels received the opening kickoff and after a 45-yard return by Chris Banyas, drove to the FDU 11 and settled for a 25-yard field goal to go up 3-0 with 9:51 showing on the clock.

Wilkes struck again with 2:04 left in the first period. FDU had the ball on its own 20 yardline and Passero went back to pass. Wilkes’ Matt Schiefen sacked Passero, causing him to fumble. The ball rolled back to the three yardline where Demetri Tzovolos recovered it and ran it in for the touchdown. Will McLaughlin’s extra point kick was good.

Willkes second touchdown came in the fourth period when Mike Lorady caught a five-yard pass from Jeff Marshman with 9:36 left. McLoughlin made the kick to make the score 17-7.

Defensively, Phil Doman (Somerville, NJ) lead the Devils with 13 total stops, five solo. Frank Nolasco (Manalapan, NJ) added 12 tackles, four solo. Ken Freeman (Carteret, NJ) made eight tackles, five for lost yardage totaling nine yards. Freeman, Justin Zaleski (Manalapan, NJ), Mike Biancella (Brick, NJ) all had one sack apiece. Freeman, Steve Butler (Lakewood, NJ), and Eickhorst all had a pass defensed.