WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – The Catholic football team played its first Landmark Conference game of the season against Wilkes on Saturday afternoon, looking to bounce back after three straight losses. A late touchdown pulled the Cardinals within a score in the final minute of the ballgame, but the Colonels were able to recover the onside kick to pick up a 15-13 victory.

John Manos recovered a muffed punt on the first drive of the game to give the Cardinals possession in Colonels territory at the 48. On third down, Brady McBride connected with Andrew Tabor for an 18 yard pick up to gain the first first down of the game. The drive stalled however when the Cardinals were unable to convert on 4th down from the Wilkes 25.

Wilkes went on a 12 play, 57 yard drive and opened the scoring in the contest with a 34 yard field goal from Nick Volpone to take a 3-0 lead. After forcing a three and out, the Colonels were able to go down the field and score their lone touchdown of the game early in the second quarter on a 14-yard run from Ben Contella to cap off a six play, 85 yard drive to move ahead 9-0.

After the Colonels added another field goal to take a 12-0 lead with just 33 seconds left in the half, Charles Gulbin took over the Cardinals offense and marched the group into the end zone in just five plays to get them on the board going into halftime. Gulbin's only incompletion on the drive was on a spike as he connected with Nole Henry and Cade Chrebet for first downs, before finding Tabor in the end zone on the last play of the half for a 21-yard touchdown. Catholic was unsuccessful on the extra point and the game went into the break at 12-6.

Catholic's defense played soundly in the second half, only allowing another short field goal from Volpone to make the score 15-6. The Cardinals held the Colonels to just 120 total yards in the final two quarters while forcing four punts.

After being stymied by the Colonels defense for most of the second, Gulbin led the offense on another scoring drive with just 1:30 left in the game. After a roughing the passer penalty put the ball at the Catholic 43, Gulbin found Chrebet on back-to-back plays to move the ball just outside the red zone for the Cardinals. Gulbin proceeded to find John Maynes in the end zone for his second passing touchdown of the game with 39 seconds left on the clock to try and recover an onside kick. 

After recovering the kick, Wilkes kneeled the game out to capture a two-point win over Catholic to drop the Cardinals to 1-4 on the season. 

Gulbin finished the game completing 19 of his 27 pass attempts for 229 yards, the most by a Catholic quarterback thus far this season. His two touchdown passes were the first two of his career. Chrebet led the team in receiving with career-highs in both catches (6) and yards (72). Henry also had a career-high in receiving yards with 70 and Tabor notched his sixth career receiving touchdown. Maynes recorded his eighth career receiving touchdown.

Evan Chromy once again led the Cardinals in tackles with eight along with William Cavallaro also adding eight tackles. Chromy, Matt Ragusa and Sean Holt each led the team in TFL's with 1.5. Conor Jennings and Eric Islami also added half a sack in the contest.

The Cardinals next game will be at home for Family Weekend against Juniata on Saturday, October 11. The game will kickoff at 1 pm on Cardinal Stadium.