Mike Verbitski
Mike Verbitski caught eight passes and had three touchdown catches in the loss to Springfield

Monarch Football Falls to Springfield

9/12/2009 6:28:35 PM

 
 
SEPTEMBER 12, 2009
 
SPRINGFIELD GROUND GAME TOO MUCH FOR KING'S AS MONARCHS FALL 57-30
 
WILKES-BARRE -- As a Springfield College graduate, King's football coach Rich Mannello knows first-hand of the potential of the triple-option offense long utilized by the Pride.  Visiting Springfield gave the Monarchs a full view of its capabilities as the Pride amassed 589 yards  of offense, including 488 on the ground in a 57-30 victory over King's Saturday at McCarthy Stadium.

Springfield struck first on a 10-play, 80-yard drive capped by a one-yard run by Josh Carter. The drive was set up by runs of 24 and 44 yards by Joe Myhren. Ricky Peacock added the point after as the Pride took a 7-0 lead at 11:50.   King's countered with a 10-play drive of its own, but settled for a 25-yard field goal by Andrew DeRito to cut the lead to 7-3 with 7:08 remaining in the opening quarter.

After the teams traded punts, Springfield marched form its own 33, aided by a 33 yard run by Baldwin Cunningham and 23 more yards by Myhren. The Pride would pad its led on a one-yard carry by Carter and Peacock made good on the point after to give Springfield a 14-3 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

Following a King's punt, the Pride moved 63 yards to the King's 17 where its drive would stall. Peacock would connect on a 34-yard field goal to up the Springfield lead to 17-3 with 11:44 left in the first half.

After forcing another Monarch punt, Springfield took over at it sown 45 and eventually scored on a 21-yard scamper by Myhren. Peacock's missed on the extra-point kick but the Pride held a 23-3 lead with 8:57 to play in the second quarter.

King's would gain a level of momentum late in the half when the Monarchs took over at their own 45 following a short Springfield punt. Corey Lavin found Mike Verbitski for a 22-yard gain to the Pride 33. Three plays later the pair hooked up again for 16 yards and a first down at the two. On the next play Claude O'Connor would burrow into the end zone and DeRito added the point after to cut the lead to 23-10 with 4:23 left in the half.
 
The Monarchs would attempt to fight back on the opening possession of the second half when Lavin connected with Bob Lane for 32 yards to ignite the drive. Seven plays later Lavin spotted Verbitski in the end zone for a 10-yard scoring play. DeRito's kick cut the Springfield lead to 23-17 with 10:21 left in the third quarter.

From there the Pride broke the game open when Jared Burrell returned the ensuing kickoff 54 yards to the King's 25. Three plays later Myhren scored from 11 yards out to regain momentum for the Pride. Peacock's extra-point kick was blocked but Springfield held a 29-17 lead with 9:19 remaining in the third quarter.

The Pride would force another King's punt and Burrell would respond with a difference-making 63-yard return to the end zone. Peacock's kick was good as the Pride lead grew to 36-17 with 8:03 left in the third quarter. After the Pride defense forced King's to punt from deep in its own territory, Springfield would take advantage of nine-yard King's punt, assuming possession at the Monarch 32. On the first play of the drive Josh Carter would find Myhren on a swing pass out of the backfield and the Pride halfback raved untouched into the end zone. The point-after was good as the Springfield lead swelled to 43-17 heading into the fourth quarter.

The Monarchs cut into the lead on its next possession when Lavin hit a streaking Verbitski down the right sideline and the Monarchs senior raced 80 yards for a touchdown. The Monarchs missed the point-after and would trail 43-23 with 13:59 left in the contest.

Springfield would put the game away when the Pride recovered a King's onside kick and scored on a 35-yard pass from Carter to Safer to push the lead to 50-23.   Later in the quarter, King's fumbled at its own two-yard line and Springfield recovered. Brian Staub scored on the first play as the Pride lead was extended to 57-23 with 4:23 on the clock.

King's pushed across the final score of the game when Lavin rushed for 26 yards and later throw his third touchdown pass of the day to Verbitski, this time from 32 yards to bring the final score to 57-30.

Springfield out gained King's 589-to-399 in total yards and 48-to-88 on the ground. The Pride totaled 28 first downs compared to 17 for the Monarchs.

Myhren finished the day with 150 yards on just 11 carries while Cunningham added 106 yards on 20 attempts. Carter rushed for 92 yards on 18 carries and completed 5-of-14 passes for 101 yards and two  scores.

King's was led by Verbitski who caught eight passes for 209 yards and three scores.  Lavin completed 19 passes on a school-record 48 attempts for 311 yards and three touchdowns. O'Connor , who rushed for 116 yards a week earlier, led the King's ground game with 36 yards on 15 carries.

P.J. Nivens had a team-high 12 tackles for King's while Ryan Cordingly and Ryan Nelson followed with nine each.

King's returns home Saturday with a 1:00 p.m. contest against William Paterson.
 
 
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