MONARCH FOOTBALL LOOKING TO GET BACK ON TRACK AGAINST WIDENER
(Monarchs Looking To Snap Three-Game Skid Against Defending MAC Champion)
WILKES-BARRE -- The King's College football team will look to get back on the winning track, but the Monarchs will face another major test this week when defending Middle Atlantic Conference champion Widener University invades Robert L. Betzler Fields for a 1:00 p.m. contest.
Tickets are listed at $4 for adults and $2 for students.
King's enters the game looking to snap a three-game losing streak. After winning their first game of the season 34-13 against Randolph-Macon, the Monarchs fell to then-nationally ranked (21st) Ithaca by a 38-28 count. Three weeks ago, King's dropped a 22-6 verdict to unbeaten Hampden-Sydney (5-0), defending Old Dominion Athletic Conference champion currently ranked 24th nationally by D3Football.com.
After a bye week, the Monarchs dropped a 34-19 decision to Delaware Valley College in its MAC opener to fall to 1-3 overall and 0-1 in league play. Against King's will face another quality opponent that won the 2007 MAC championship and was picked to win the title again n the 2008 MAC Pre-Season Coaches Poll.
Widener enters the game with a 2-2 overall record and is also 0-1 in the MAC after a dropping a narrow 21-17 game to 3-1 Lycoming last week. Widener enters the matchup with a two-game winning streak over King's, rallying to win last season's contest 21-17 after trailing the Monarchs 17-7 at the half.
KING'S FOOTBALL ON THE AIR:The game will be web cast live in the Internet by WRKC, 88.5 FM. The game can be accessed by going to the WRKC LIVE link at the following page: http://www.kings.edu/IITS/index.htm
ABOUT THE GAME: The game will stand as Mini Football Day at King's as the Monarchs welcome a number of area mini football teams to the game. This is the second week of MAC competition and will mark the first time the teams play in Wilkes-Barre since the 2005 campaign. Both the 2006 and 2007 contests were played at Widener's Quick Stadium in Chester.
ABOUT THE SERIES: This is the 16th all-time meeting between the programs with Widener holding a 13-2 advantage after wining the last two games of the series. The Pride posted a 21-17 come-from-behind win over King's last season en route to winning the 2007 MAC title and earning a trip to the NCAA Division III national playoffs. In the last game played at Betzler Fields in 2005, King's won the game by a 31-24 count.
THE COACHES: Monarch mentor Rich Mannello, the longest tenured head coach in the MAC, is in his 16th year at King's and owns a current record of 65-93-1 with the Monarchs, including five post-season playoff appearances since 2000, including the 2002 MAC title. Widener is coached by sixth-year mentor David Wood who is 36-21 with the Pride.
LAST WEEK: In last week's opening day of MAC play, King's dropped a 34-19 verdict to Delaware Valley at home. Widener, meanwhile, fell at home to Lycoming 21-17 in the Pride's first MAC game of the season.
KING'S ON OFFENSE: I-FORMATION King's is averaging 299.2 yards of total offense per-game, including 102.2 rushing yards and 197.0 passing yards. Sophomore quarterback Olayinka Soda leads the team with 218.2 yards of total offense per-game. Soda has completed 58.8 (70-119) percent of his passes for 788 yards with six touchdowns and six interceptions thus far this season. Junior wide receiver Mike Verbitski tops the receivers with 21 catches for 310 yards and five touchdowns. Sophomore Bob Lane has 13 receptions for 130 yards while sophomore Rick Ritter checks in with eight receptions for 119 yards. Junior tight end Justin Dalton tallies seven catches for 58 yards. Sophomore Brandon Murray will make his second straight start at tailback having rushed for 37 yards in 15 carries this season. Junior fullback Doug Mucha chips in with 27 yards on five attempts with one touchdown catch.
WIDENER ON OFFENSE: MULTIPLE The Widener offense enters the game averaging 245.5 yards of total offense per-game, including 120.5 rushing yards and 125.0 passing yards. Widener has utilized two players prominently at quarterback thus far. Sophomore Bob Brice has completed 23-of-44 passes for 291 yards without throwing an interception or touchdown. Junior Drew Lagomarsino has completed 19-of-38 passes for 209 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions while rushing for 122 yards on 29 attempts. Senior fullback Ian Decker leads the running game with 184 yards on 58 carries with three touchdowns. Senior back Marc Patricelli has rushed for 89 yards on 13 carries; junior tailback Salah Hawkins adds 78 yards on 25 carries with one touchdown; while senior tailback Steve Cook contributes 54 yards on 22 attempts. Senior Tim Kilkenny tops the receivers with nine catches for 123 yards while freshman Marcus Payton chips in with eight receptions for 142 yards and one touchdown.
KING'S ON DEFENSE: MULTIPLE King's defense has yielded 333.8 yards of total offense per-game, including 138.2 rushing yards and 195.5 passing yards each contest. Senior linebacker Matt Rhodes tops the team with 32 total tackles, including 5.0 tackles for loss. Senior linebacker Tom Tulaney follows with 28 tackles, one interception, and one fumble recovery. Sophomore defensive end Ryan Nelson adds 25 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss. Senior safety Shane McNamara contributes with 19 tackles has broken up five passes. Senior defensive end Mike Lovett has tallied 18 tackles with 4.0 sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss. Junior cornerback Brian Mitros and sophomore defensive tackles Alex Watty and Craig Geibert have registered 17 tackles each. Junior safety Justin Zlotek registers 13 tackles. Sophomore defensive backs Matt Carroll and Edwyn Edwards chip in with 10 tackles and one interception apiece.
WIDENER ON DEFENSE: 3-4 The Pride defense is allowing 345.5 yards of total offense per-game, including 143.2 yards through the air and just 102.2 on the ground. Sophomore linebacker Joe Favinger tops the unit with 34 tackles, including 6.0 tackles for loss, two sacks, and an interception. Senior safety Zach Smith follows with 28 tackles. Sophomore safety Fred Ferro adds 24 tackles with two interceptions. Senior outside linebacker Keith Wilson has made 23 tackles with 2.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries. Sophomore safety Kevin Franklin posts 23 tackles with an interception while junior defensive lineman James Woodley contributes 16 tackles, including 3.0 tackles for loss. Sophomore linebacker Shane Szumski chips in with 15 tackles.
NEXT GAME: The Monarchs schedule will get no easier when King's travels to Reading to face Albright College (3-1 entering Saturday's games) at 1:30 p.m. at Shirk Stadium. Albright was picked to finish second (tied with Delaware Valley) in the 2008 MAC Pre-Season Coaches Poll.
2008 Middle Atlantic Conference Standings
School MAC Overall
Delaware Valley 1-0 3-1
Albright 1-0 3-1
Lycoming 1-0 3-1
Lebanon Valley 1-0 3-1
Widener 0-1 2-2
FDU-Florham 0-1 2-2
King's 0-1 1-3
Wilkes 0-1 0-4
