WILMINGTON, Ohio – The Wilmington College football team opens the 2022 campaign on the road as the Fightin' Quakers head to Southern Virginia University on Thursday, Sept. 1. Kickoff from Knight Stadium is slated for 7 p.m.
The Teams: Wilmington and Southern Virginia (SVU). The Quakers finished the 2021 fall season with a 2-8 overall record, but enter this contest having won their last two games - 24-21 over Capital University and 37-33 at Otterbein University. The Knights also entered a 2-8 record during last year's campaign.
The Coaches: Corey Fillipovich, who has served as Wilmington's defensive coordinator for the previous four seasons, enters his first full season as acting head coach in 2022. He stepped in to lead the program through the final four games of the 2021 fall campaign which included consecutive victories over Capital University and Otterbein University to end the season. Edwin Mulitalo is in his fourth season as SVU's head coach.
The Offenses: Derek Larimer returns for his junior season having been WC's starting quarterback for the entire 2021 fall season having thrown for over 200 yards per game with 10 touchdowns. His top two targets - Itika Wynn Jr. and Ace Taylor - both return for fifth years as the All-Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) duo hauled in a combined 86 passes for over 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns. The Quakers used a trio of running backs - Ben Hobbs, Dallas Rawlings and Tyreeq Nebbitt - last year, all of whom are back for 2022. SVU doesn't return its primary signal-caller in Davis Pinkston, but Colten Shumway, who appeared in six contests, returns for his junior season. Jake Schenk is the leading returning wideout as the now-senior hauled in 21 passes for 349 yards and three scores in the fall of 2021. In the rushing department, Jacob Wood will look to build upon a strong freshman campaign that saw him carry 120 times for 614 yards and an average of over 64 yards per contest.
The Defenses: Wilmington will need to replace its top tackler from a season ago in Tre'Quez Parks (who's now an assistant coach with the program), but Jarod Lee and Xzerious Stinnett both return having combined for 110 tackles in the fall of 2021. Stinnett had a fumble recovery while Lee, who had 61 tackles during his sophomore season, tallied 5.5 tackles for loss. The Knights will need to replace their top three tacklers from the fall of 2021, though Bishop Apodaca is still with the program as an assistant coach. Andrew Dylan tallied 54 tackles and nine pass breakups as a defensive back last season.
Tale of the Tape (2021 Fall): Points per game – Wilmington 17.4, SVU 21.0, points per game allowed – Wilmington 45.3, SVU 29.8, yards per game – Wilmington 311.1, SVU 328.0, yards per game allowed – Wilmington 490.0, SVU 379.7, passing yards per game – Wilmington 224.1, SVU 199.4, passing yards per game allowed – Wilmington 332.7, SVU 233.9, rushing yards per game – Wilmington 87.0, SVU 128.6, rushing yards per game allowed – Wilmington 157.3, SVU 145.8.
Series History: Wilmington is 0-1 against Southern Virginia since the turn of the century. The Knights overcame a 14-point deficit to earn a 41-34 victory in overtime in the 2021 fall season opener. More information on the series history can be viewed by visiting the link above.
Coverage: Live statistics and live video of the game will be available – visit the links above.
Social Media: Follow Wilmington athletics on social media! The Fightin' Quakers have a presence on Facebook (Wilmington College Athletics) as well as Twitter and Instagram (@DubCQuakers).
Up Next: The Quakers will open Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play at home against Baldwin Wallace University next Saturday. Kickoff from Williams Stadium is slated for 1:30 p.m.
