Mike Verbitski
Mike Verbitski and the Monarchs look to get back on track Saturday against Widener

Monarch Football Looking to Return to Win Column With Road Game at Widener, View LiveStats

10/10/2009 9:20:15 AM

OCTOBER 10, 2009
 
KING'S FOOTBALL LOOKING TO GET BACK IN THE WIN COLUMN AT WIDENER

WILKES-BARRE – A week ago, the King's College football team came away just short in its hopes to start off the Middle Atlantic Conference schedule on the right foot as the Monarchs dropped a last-minute 24-21 loss to defending MAC tri-champion Lycoming College. This week, King's continues its MAC schedule with another major challenge as the Monarchs travel to Chester to face traditional conference contender Widener University. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. at Leslie C. Quick Stadium.

King's (1-3, 0-1 MAC) will be looking to snap a three-game losing streak since a season-opening win at Randolph-Macon College.  The Monarchs will also look to put an end to a current three-game losing streak at the hands of Widener. The Pride (3-1, 1-0 MAC) has won its last two games following a 41-17 loss to Ithaca College on September 19, defeating their last two opponents by a combined score of 76-30.


KING'S FOOTBALL ON THE AIR:
Fans can follow the action on LiveStats, an online statistical program that displays live play-by-play and statistics at the following link: http://www.muse.widener.edu/~dacrudel/xlive.htm

WRKC Radio will not be at the game.

ABOUT THE GAME:
King's will look to ingrain itself in the MAC race with a win over Widener. At 1-3 overall and 0-1 in the MAC, the Monarchs can get back in the race with a victory while a loss would put King's in an uphill climb. Widener (3-1), meanwhile, is looking to improve to 2-0 in the MAC.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES:
This is the 17th all-time meeting between the programs with holding a 14-2 advantage after posting a 17-3 win over King's last season in Wilkes-Barre. The Monarchs' last win over Widener came during a 31-24 triumph in 2005.  The Monarchs then made two straight trips to Chester where King's dropped two close contests, including a 25-20 loss in 2006 and a 21-17 setback in 2007. The Monarchs are 0-8 all-time at Widener.
                                    
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 68-100-1 with the Monarchs, five post-season playoff appearances since 2000, and the 2002 MAC title. Widener coach Tim Wood is in his seventh year with the Pride and owns a current 41-26 mark.
 
LAST WEEK:
King's dropped a heartbreaking 24-21 decision to Lycoming following two Warrior touchdowns in the final 5:39 of the game. Widener went on the road and routed FDU-Florham 41-14.
 
KING'S ON OFFENSE:  I-FORMATION
After four games, the Monarch offense is averaging 303.8 yards per-game of total offense, including 146.8 rushing yards and 157.0 passing yards. Senior quarterback Corey Lavin has completed 51-of-111 passes for 628 yards with eight touchdowns and six interceptions, while rushing for 139 yards on 3 attempts. Senior tailback Claude O'Connor tops the ground game, with 296 yards and two touchdowns on 62 carries, averaging 4.8 yards per-carry. O'Connor also ranks second in the MAC with a 98.7 yards per-game average. Sophomore Phil Shaw follows with 139 yards on 30 carries, averaging 4.6 each per-rush. Senior wide receiver Mike Verbitski has a team-high 17 catches for 335 yards and six touchdowns, including a 19.7 yards per-reception average. Rob Lane follows with 13 receptions for 156 yards. Sophomore Glenn Ford has made five catches for 46 yards while senior tight end Justin Dalton has registered four catches for 21 yards.
 
WIDENER ON OFFENSE:  MULTIPLE
The Widener offense enters the game averaging 383.8 yards of total offense per-game, including 173.2 rushing yards and 210.5 passing yards. Freshman quarterback Chris Haupt is directing the offense, completing 64-of-126 passes for 831 yards with five touchdowns and five interceptions. The ground game is led the tailback combination of junior Adam Smith and senior Ian Decker. Smith tops the squad with 170 yards on 36 caries with five touchdowns while Decker adds 152 yards on 54 carries with two scores while making seven catches out of the backfield for 30 yards and an additional touchdown. Sophomore Justin Horning who has a team-high 22 catches for 355 yards and two touchdowns leads the receiving corp. Fellow sophomore Cedrick Clayton follows with 10 receptions for 98 yards and one score. Senior Marc Bandola chips in with eight catches for 114 yards.
 
KING'S ON DEFENSE: MULTIPLE
King's defense yielded an average of 373.0 yards of total offense per-game, including 184.0 yards on the ground and 189.0 through the air. Freshman linebacker Ryan Cordingly has tallied a team-high 42 tackles, including 22 solo stops. Sophomore linebacker P.J. Nivens follows with 28 tackles, including 17 solo hits. Junior defensive end Ryan Nelson adds 27 tackles with 5.0 tackles for losses on 18 yards, including 2.0 sacks. Senior linebacker Eric Fay has registered 24 tackles while senior cornerback Brian Mitros contributes 21 tackles and a fumble recovery. Sophomore cornerback Mike Schifalacqua has made 20 tackles while junior safety John Cuiffo posts 18 tackles. Junior defensive tackle Craig Geibert  has made 17 tackles with 3.0 tackles for loss and three fumble recoveries. Junior defensive end Vince Pabst has registered 14 tackles with one quarterback sack while senior defensive lineman Christian Becker has made 13 stops with 3.0 tackles for loss. Senior safety Justin Zlotek chips in with 13 tackles and two pass break-ups.
 
WIDENER ON DEFENSE: 3-4
The Pride defense is allowing opponents 332.5 yards of total offense per-game, including a mere 98.0 rushing yards and 234.5 passing yards.  Junior linebacker Joe Favinger, one of the premier defensive players in the MAC, tops the squad with 25 tackles, including 7.0 tackles for 19 yards in losses and three sacks. Junior linebacker Shane Szumski follows with 23 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and 2.0 sacks. Junior cornerback Kevin Franklin adds 22 tackles and four passes broken up. Senior nose-guard James Woodley has 21 tackles with 5.0 tackles for 29 lost yards and two sacks for 18 yards. Senior safety Brian Kastor also contributes 21 tackles while junior linebacker Jon Natter chips in with 14 tackles.

NEXT WEEK:
The Monarchs return home to McCarthy Stadium where King's MAC schedule gets no easier. The Monarchs host 2008 MAC tri-champion Albright at 1:00 p.m.
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