Tom Tulaney
Tom Tulaney is one of 11 senior playing their final home game

Football Hosting Lycoming College

11/6/2008 10:35:10 AM

NOVEMBER 8, 2008
 
KING'S FOOTBALL TEAM HOSTING FIRST-PLACE LYCOMING IN HOME FINALE

WILKES-BARRE -- The King's College football team will look to make the final home game for 11 senior players a memorable one when the Monarchs host Lycoming College Saturday at 1:00 p.m. in a Middle Atlantic Conference contest at McCarthy Stadium in the Robert L. Betzler Athletic Complex.

Tickets are listed at $4 for adults and $2 for senior citizens and students. Children under age six will be admitted free.
King's (1-7, 0-5 MAC) is hoping to close out the season on a high note as a young Monarch squad will look to make the final home game for 11 senior players a memorable one. King's seniors Ryan Arcangeli, Bob Cirko, Chris DiLella, Jeramia Jones, Mike Lovett, Mike Mahon, Shane McNamara, Matt Rhodes, Ross Schwenk, Victor Sierra, and Tom Tulaney will make their final appearance on the turf surface at McCarthy Stadium.

The Monarchs are coming off one of their better efforts of the season in a 21-3 loss at Wilkes a week ago in which King's broke the 100-yard rushing plateau for the first time since the opening game of the 2008 campaign. Ironically, Wilkes handed Lycoming its lone conference loss of the year on October 18 with a 27-13 victory at the Colonels' Ralston Field.

Against Lycoming, King's will face a team that controls its own destiny in the hunt for the MAC championship. The Warriors, who were 3-7 a year ago, are currently in the drivers' seat in the MAC. Lycoming is tied for first place with Albright as both squads own identical 6-2 overall and 4-1 MAC records, but the Warriors posted a 23-13 win over the Lions on October 11 and own the head-to-head tiebreaker should the teams finish the regular-season tied for the league lead. Lycoming and Albright would be declared co-champions, but the Warriors would receive the MAC's automatic berth into the NCAA Division III national playoffs.

The game will also mark Lycoming's first trip to King's since the 2005 season. Prior to Moravian and Susquehanna leaving the MAC for other conferences following the 2006 season, there were 10 football-playing members of the MAC and schools were only required to play eight conference games. The rule created a cycle where one MAC school would not play another for a two-year period. King's and Lycoming did not play during the 2005 and 2006 campaigns due to the scheduling cycle. With the departure of Moravian and Susquehanna, leaving eight MAC teams, King's and Lycoming resumed playing in 2007. The 2006 and 2007 seasons marked the only two times King's and Lycoming have not played one another since varsity football began at King's in 1993.
 
                                                                      
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

The live statistical and play-by-play feed will be available on the Internet at the following link:
http://departments.kings.edu/athletics/men/football/Live_Stats/xlive.htm
 

ABOUT THE GAME:
Today stands as the final home game of the 2008 season and is Football Senior Day at McCarthy Stadium.       
 
ABOUT THE SERIES:   
This is the 17th all-time meeting between the programs with Lycoming holding a 12-4-1 advantage. The Warriors posted a 24-6 victory in the 2007 game played in Williamsport. The teams last played at McCarthy Stadium in 2004 where the Monarchs posted a 31-28 victory.
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 65-97-1 with the Monarchs, including five post-season playoff appearances since 2000, including the 2002 MAC title. Lycoming is coached by first-year head coach Mike Clark, who is 6-2 in his first year at the helm.



LAST WEEK:   
A week ago, King's dropped its seventh straight game with a 21-7 loss at Wilkes University. Lycoming earned a 48-28 win at FDU-Florham. 
                     
 
KING'S ON OFFENSE:    I-FORMATION                     
King's is averaging 254.5 yards of total offense per-game, including 87.5 rushing yards and 167.0 passing yards. Sophomore quarterback Olayinka Soda leads the team with 180.2 yards of total offense per-game. Soda has completed 54.6 (125-229) percent of his passes for 1,336 yards with seven touchdowns and 15 interceptions this season. Junior split end Mike Verbitski tops the receivers with 32 catches for 504 yards and five touchdowns. Sophomore split end Bob Lane has 22 receptions for 223 yards while sophomore receiver Rick Ritter checks in with 12 catches for 173 yards. Freshman receiver Rodney Blango chips in with 12 catches for 60 yards. Junior Claude O'Connor made his first career start a week ago and was solid, rushing for 88 yards on 20 carries. 
 
LYCOMING ON OFFENSE:    MULTIPLE  
The Lycoming offense enters the game averaging 346.0 yards of total offense per-game, including 140.1 rushing yards and 205.9 passing yards. Junior quarterback Colin Dwyer directs the offense, completing 55.9 (114-of-204) percent of his passes for 1,403 yards with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Sophomore tailback Josh Kleinfelter leads the ground game with 875 yards on 170 carries, averaging 109.4 yards per-game and 5.1 yards per-carry with 10 touchdowns. He has also contributed out of the backfield with 20 receptions for 242 yards. Junior Mark Rosa follows with 127 yards on 33 attempts. Junior split end Brad Shellenberger tops the receivers with 32 catches for 559 yards and four touchdowns. Sophomore Ryan Wagaman follows with 28 receptions for 295 yards and four scores. Freshman Nate Robely contributes nine catches for 134 yards.
 
                                                                       
 
KING'S ON DEFENSE:    MULTIPLE   
King's defense has yielded 333.9 yards of total offense per-game, including 174.0 rushing yards and 159.9 passing yards each contest. Senior linebacker Matt Rhodes tops the team with 83 total tackles, including 8.5 tackles for loss. Senior safety Shane McNamara adds 54 tackles with one interception and has broken up six passes. Senior linebacker Tom Tulaney follows with 48 tackles, one interception, and two fumble recoveries. Sophomore defensive tackle Alex Watty has made 45 tackles with 5.0 tackles for loss. Sophomore defensive end Ryan Nelson posts 43 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss. Senior defensive end Mike Lovett has tallied 29 tackles with 4.0 sacks and 8.0 tackles for loss. Sophomore defensive tackle Craig Geibert also has 29 tackles. Sophomore cornerback Edwyn Edwards and junior cornerback Brian Mitros contribute with 25 and 24 tackles respectively. Senior safety Bob Cirko has 23 tackles with an interception since a mid-season position switch from wide receiver.           
 
LYCOMING ON DEFENSE:    4-3 MULTIPLE   
The Warrior defense ranks among the best in the MAC, allowing an average of 269.6 yards per-game. Lycoming has limited opponents to just 86.5 yards on the ground as well as 183.1 yards through the air. Sophomore safety Chuck Bellito tops the unit with 64 tackles and one interceptions. Sophomore linebacker Ben Rosa follows with 61 tackles with 6.0 sacks. Senior safety Nick Reese adds 50 tackles with 4.5 sacks and two interceptions. Junior defensive tackle Ted Geurds has tallied 43 tackles with 9.5 sacks. Junior safety Travis Leonarczyk has posted 31 tackles with two passes broken up. Junior defensive end Kyle Murren registers 30 tackles with 7.0 sacks and a fumble recovery. Senior linebacker Chris Smith checks in with 30 tackles and a fumble recovery. Senior cornerback Scott Kish, sophomore linebacker T.J. Doyle. Sophomore cornerback Jim Daley, and sophomore linebacker Pat McAfee all chip in with 28 tackles each.
 
 
NEXT GAME:
The Monarchs will close out the 2008 campaign Friday, November 14 when King's travels to Madison, N.J. to face FDU-Florham at 7:00 p.m. at Robert T. Field Stadium.
2008 Middle Atlantic Conference Standings
School                       MAC   Overall
Lycoming                    4-1       6-2
Albright                        4-1       6-2
Delaware Valley          3-2       5-3
Lebanon Valley           3-2       5-3
Wilkes                         3-2       3-5
Widener                       2-3       4-4
FDU-Florham              1-4       3-5
King's                         0-5       1-7



2008 King's College Football Schedule (1-7, 0-5 MAC)
September
6          Sat.      Randolph-Macon College       Home Win      34-13
13        Sat.      Ithaca College                       Home Loss     28-38
20        Sat.      Hampden-Sydney College      Away  Loss     6-22
27        Sat.      -- Bye Week --
October
4          Sat.      Delaware Valley College*       Home Loss     19-34
11        Sat.      Widener University*               Home Loss     3-17
18        Sat.      Albright College*                   Away  Loss     0-16
25        Sat.      Lebanon Valley College*#      Home Loss     7-34

November
1          Sat.      Wilkes University*$               Away  Loss     3-21
8          Sat.      Lycoming College*            Home 1:00 p.m.
14        Fri.       FDU-Florham*                       Away  7:00 p.m.
*Middle Atlantic Conference Game
#Homecoming Game   -    $Mayor's Cup Game
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