KING'S FOOTBALL ON THE AIR:
The game will be web cast live on the Internet by Randolph-Macon at:
Audio: http://www.terrysisisky.com/
A video webcast will also take place at the following link:
Video: http://www.collegetvticket.com/schedule.php?=0&type=school&school=Randolph-Macon+College&activity=0&fromDate=08%2F22%2F2009&toDate=10%2F31%2F2009&action=filter
ABOUT THE GAME:
King's is looking to win back-to-back season openers for the first time ever. The Monarchs will be looking for their first win (0-2) in the state of Virginia. King's lost to Bridgewater 19-17 in the 2002 NCAA Division III National Tournament “Sweet 16” before suffering a 22-6 loss at Hampden-Sydney a year ago. Both Bridgewater and HSC are members of the ODAC.
ABOUT THE SERIES:
This is the second all-time meeting between the team as the Monarchs won last season's contest 34-13 at home in the first football game played on the new synthetic turf surface at McCarthy Stadium.
THE COACHES:
Monarch mentor Rich Mannello, the longest tenured head coach in the MAC, is in his 17th year at King's and owns a current record of 67-97-1 with the Monarchs, including five post-season playoff appearances since 2000, including the 2002 MAC title. Randolph-Macon is coached by sixth-year mentor Pedro Arruza who is 21-30 in time with the Yellow Jackets.
KING'S ON OFFENSE: I-FORMATION
Last season King's averaged 265.2 yards per-game, including 111.6 rushing yards and 153.6 passing yards. Those numbers increased over the final games when Corey Lavin took over the helm at quarterback. The senior signal-caller led the Monarchs to victories in the final two games with his steady, mistake-free play. Lavin completed 14-of-45 passes for 200 yards and did not throw an interception. He also rushed for 87 yards on 27 attempts. Senior tailback Claude O'Connor played well following a mid-season change from linebacker to tailback and picked up 153 yards on 34 carries, averaging 4.5 yards per-carry before a season-ending injury against Lycoming in week-nine. His healthy return figures to bolster the ground game.
Also expected to contribute are sophomore Phillip Shaw and junior Brandon Murray. Shaw was the Monarchs short-yardage back last season and rushed for 52 yards on 17 carries with two touchdowns. Murray, meanwhile, was a quality backup as a freshman in 2007 but was hampered by injuries a year ago. The Monarch receivers' feature returning starters Mike Verbitski and Rob Lane. A 6-2 senior, Verbitski led King's with 35 catches for 539 yards and six scores, averaging 15.4 yards per-reception. Lane, a junior, was second on the squad with 24 receptions for 236 yards and one touchdown. Senior Matt Ihlein and sophomore Glenn Ford add depth. At tight end, Justin Dalton is a returning starter who made 10 catches for 95 yards.
RANDOLPH-MACON ON OFFENSE: MULTIPLE I-FORMATION
Last season the Randolph-Macon offense averaged 335.5 total yards per-game, including 160.9 rushing yards and 174.6 passing yards. The offense will, however, benefit from the return of senior quarterback Austin Falkner who completed 152-of-263 passes for 1,747 yards with 17 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Faulkner did not start the 2008 season-opener against King's but did play in the game, completing his only pass for a 16-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Faulkner would eventually become the starter in week-three.
The Yellow Jackets have huge shoes to fill with the graduation of tailback Zak Thornton who tallied over 1,200 yards on the ground each of the past two seasons. The tailback role will be manned by senior Steve Matthews who saw action in 10 games, registering 188 yards on 60 carries with three touchdowns. The Yellow Jackets lost their top three receivers and will be led by junior Earl Peoples who tallied 24 catches for 230 yards a year ago.
KING'S ON DEFENSE: MULTIPLE
King's defense yielded 327.7 yards of total offense last year, including 160.3 rushing yards and 167.4 passing yards. The unit will be led by a defensive front that returns three starters in senior tackle Alex Watty, junior end Ryan Nelson, and junior tackle Craig Geibert. Nelson was fourth on the team with 53 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss. Watty followed 51 tackles and 5.0 stops for loss. Geibert was sixth on the squad with 34 tackles. Other experienced lineman providing quality depth include senior end Clyde Towns, senior tackle Christian Becker, and junior tackle/end Vince Pabst.
The defensive line play will be critical while a young group of linebackers gel. Sophomore P.J. Nivens cracked the starting lineup in week eight but will move from the outside to inside this year. The outside positions will likely see a mixture of players, ranging from senior Eric Fay, sophomores Mike Selby and Tyler Hagan, and freshman Ryan Cordingly. In the secondary, King's suffered a big blow when two-year starter Edwyn Edwards suffered a season-ending leg injury in camp following a move from cornerback to safety. King's does return two other starters as senior cornerback Brian Mitros and safety Justin Zlotek return. Mitros made 31 tackles with an interception while Zlotek posted 17 stops. Sophomores Mike Schifalacqua will get the start at the other cornerback position while fellow sophomore Jim McHugh is expected to get the nod at safety.
RANDOLPH-MACON ON DEFENSE: 4-3 MULTIPLE
Only four starters return from a RMC defense that allowed 366 yards per-game, including 160.6 yards on the ground and 205.5 through the air. Against King's, the Yellow Jacket defense allowed 323 total yards, but the Monarchs amassed 212 rushing yards. Senior linebacker Christian Stahl led the team a year ago with 72 total tackles, including 3.5 sacks. Junior tackle Jayrd Grimsley was sixth on the squad with 42 tackles while junior linebacker Trey Haddon was ninth with 29 stops.
NEXT GAME:
The Monarchs make their home debut Saturday, September 12 against Coach Rich Mannello's alma-mater Springfield College at 1:00 p.m. at McCarthy Stadium.
2009 King's College Football Schedule
September
5 Sat. Randolph-Macon College Away 1:00 p.m.
12 Sat. Springfield College Home 1:00 p.m.
19 Sat. William Paterson University Home 1:00 p.m.
26 Sat. -- Bye Week --
October
3 Sat. Lycoming College*# Home 1:00 p.m.
10 Sat. Widener University* Away 1:00 p.m.
17 Sat. Albright College* Home 1:00 p.m.
24 Sat. Lebanon Valley College* Away 1:00 p.m.
31 Sat. Delaware Valley College* Home 1:00 p.m.
November
7 Sat. FDU-Florham* Away 1:00 p.m.
14 Sat. Wilkes University*$ Away 1:00 p.m.
*Middle Atlantic Conference Game
#Homecoming Game
$Mayor's Cup Game
