READING, PA (October 20, 2018) – The King's College football team earned its first back-to-back wins of the season Saturday, defeating Albright College for the first time since 2006 with a 37-26 victory from Gene Shirk Stadium in Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) play. The win was also the first time King's has won in Shirk Stadium, and the first win in Reading since 2002.

The offensive unit was balanced as always for the Monarchs (4-3, 3-2 MAC), throwing for 279 yards while rushing for 251 yards to accumulate 530 yards of total offense. King's averaged 4.7 yards per carry on the day, while accumulating a season-best 32 first downs. The Monarchs also averaged 12.7 yards per completion, running 85 total plays to just the 58 of Albright. King's also won the time of possession battle 37:16-22:44.

The Monarchs got on the board early in the game but on a strange way, as freshman Brandon Mozeleski broke through the punt block team untouched and sent the kick back through the endzone to put King's up 2-0.

On the ensuing drive after a free kick, the Monarchs marched 10 plays over 64 yards, converting two third downs while finishing the drive on a 11-yard touchdown catch by D'Andre Harvey from Tommy Klock with 3:52 to play in the opening quarter. For Harvey, it was his first collegiate touchdown reception, as he hauled in a pair of receptions in the opening half.

Albright would respond with its first score as Tony Thorpe pushed in from two yards out with 12:42 to play in the first half to cut the King's lead to 9-7. Just under three minutes later, King's answered right back with a touchdown as Klock connected on a 32-yard touchdown down the middle of the seam to an unguarded Tim Costantino. Costantino was excellent in the first half, grabbing six balls for 104 yards.

The Lions wouldn't go away as Malik Bootman scored on a 13-yard carry for his collegiate touchdown run at 8:57 to make the score 16-13. For the second straight series though, King's managed to respond with a touchdown of its own, as Klock made four players miss on a run from 14 yards out, diving for the goal line to make the score 23-13 with 4:09 to play in the half.

Late in the second quarter it looked like Albright would get some points, but its drive was halted thanks to the third interception of the season for sophomore safety Tommy Gilmore. That's how the half would end, as Albright was able to keep King's out of the end zone before the intermission. Klock threw for 156 yards on 11 of 17 passing, rushing for 54 yards as well.

After the break, Albright pulled to within four at 23-19 as Jimmy Lehay pushed in from the 1-yard line to finish a nine-play drive at 4:48 of the third quarter. On the next drive for King's and facing a 3-and-10, Klock rolled right and scrambled 55 yards to Albright 20-yard line. On the next play, junior Jordan Downes got great blocks on the right side and scampered into the end zone for a 20-yard TD rush and a King's 30-19 lead.

After the King's defense forced a punt, the Monarchs embarked on the longest drive of the game, going 16 plays to travel 76 yards over 6:37. The drive would end in pay dirt after two big plays, as Harvey converted a 4^th-and-12 with a 12-yard catch, and Downes followed with a 14-yard touchdown run to make the score 37-19.

The Lions wouldn't go away, finishing a seven-play march with a five-yard reception from Lahay to Kyle Dickerson to make the score 37-26. That's how the game would end though, as Elijah Demosthene picked off Lahay on Albright's next possession with 2:56 to play and King's ran out the clock to secure the win.

Klock finished 22-of-32 for 279 yards and three total scores, adding 114 yards on the ground. Downes added another 100-yard rushing afternoon, leading all players with 128 yards on 27 carries, scoring twice. After the big first half, Costantino chalked up a career-highs of seven catches for 116 yards and a score.

Sophomore Gabe Boccella added six catches for 63 yards including a 30-yard reception in the second half, and Harvey had a career-high five catches for 60 yards. On the defensive side of the ball, junior Mikal Butler was the tackle leader with eight including seven solo stops, and Yusef Wheeler chalked up seven tackles.

Senior defensive end Devrin Baynard, now sporting No. 9, continued to play well with five tackles, three for loss and two more sacks to up his total to 8.5 for the season. Tommy Gilmore also added an interception, his team-best third of the year.

The Lions saw Lahay go 15-for-28 for 172 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions, while Dickerson hauled in eight catches for 98 yards and a score. Tony Thorpe led Albright on the ground with 51 yards on 13 carries.

The win sets up a huge home MAC contest on Saturday, October 27 in McCarthy Stadium against local rival Misericordia University (6-1, 5-0 MAC) next week. King's currently sits tied for fourth in the conference at 3-2 with Lycoming College and Widener University.