WILKES-BARRE, PA (November 10, 2018) -- The King's College football team set out to finish the season with a victory over its crosstown rival and it accomplished just that, winning the 23rd annual Mayor's Cup game over Wilkes University 45-0 in Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) play from Schmidt Stadium Saturday. The shutout win over Wilkes was the second for King's in the history of the rivalry, while the shutout Saturday was the first for the Monarchs since defeating Lebanon Valley 10-0 back in 2006. 

King's, winners of the last two contests with their rivals from three blocks away, picked up the victory thanks to stifling defense which forced four turnovers including two that ended in scores. It marked only the third time in program history that King's has posted three straight wins over Wilkes, equaling the string of wins from 2000-02. The Monarchs have also now won five of the last six meetings against Wilkes. The Monarchs finished 5-5 on the season, going 4-4 in the conference and tying for fourth in the conference with four other teams. 

The Monarchs dominance started from the opening kickoff, as King's forced a three-and-out on the opening possession after deferring the victory of the coin toss. On its first offensive series, King's drove 42 yards over three plays highlight by a 24-yard completion to Gabe Boccella from Tommy Klock. Two plays later, Klock rumbled in from four yards away to make the score 6-0. 

After the teams exchanged punts on the next six drives, Wilkes (5-5, 4-4 MAC) drove down to the 39-yard line of the Monarchs with 13:06 to play in the first half but Elijah Demosthene picked off Jose Tabora for his first of three interceptions on the day to stop the surge for WU. 

The next offensive possession for Wilkes ended like its previous one, as Demosthene picked off Tabora and returned the interception back to the Wilkes 29-yard line. Five plays later, Klock pushed in on a 10-yard rush to make the score 13-0 in favor of the visitors. That's how the half would end, as King's forced two more punts before halftime. 

After intermission, the Monarchs took the second-half kickoff and traveled 67 yards over four plays, spurred by a 57-yard rush on the opening play from scrimmage in the second half by junior running back Jordan Downes. Two plays later, Klock connected with Boccella in the back right corner of the end-zone and Boccella made a phenomenal effort to get his feet in for the score. 

The next possession, the Colonels moved the ball down to the King's 14 but Demosthene made another huge play as he intercepted Tabora and returned the pick 95 yards for a touchdown. It was King's second defensive score of the season, and first since the second game of the season against Hartwick College. 

The Monarchs, holding a 28-0 edge at the end of the third quarter, forced yet another three-and-out and followed that with a 13-play, 73-yard drive that ended in a 25-yard field goal from freshman Jack Barreras to extend the lead to 31-0. The field goal make was the 10th of the season, tying the school record for makes in a season with Ryan Cain in 2010. 

King's then turned its attention to preserving the shutout, and the Monarchs did just that and more. After a Downes' touchdown made the score 38-0, sophomore Myles Shelton put a bow on the game as he recovered a forced fumble by Charles McCall and returned the loose ball 30 yards for the touchdown. 

The Monarchs forced one more punt, and finished in victory formation featuring all eight seniors to cap the shutout win. King's out-gained its rival 316-178 on the contest, rushing for 217 yards over 40 attempts.

Downes finished with 183 yards on 26 carries, scoring once while going over 1,000 yards for the season. The tailback because the first King's running back to go over the 1,000-yard barrier since John Ortiz accomplished the feat in 2005 with 1,238 yards. Downes' 183-yards was a season-best, while finishing the year with 1,029 on the campaign. 

Klock posted 34 yards on the ground, adding two touchdowns while going 10-for-13 for 99 yards and a score. Boccella finished with five catches on 76 yards, while Downes chalked up three catches for 16 yards. 

Defensively, Demosthene was the big star for the Monarchs as he tied the school record for interceptions with three. His 95-yard touchdown return off the pick was a new school best, four yards longer than the 91-yard return by Anthony Martuccio against FDU-Florham in 2014. The 114 return yards was a school record as well for Demosthene, who posted four tackles as well. The sophomore was named as the Mayor's Cup Most Valuable Player for King's College. 

McCall chalked up a team-best 13 tackles, adding 1.5 sacks and forced forced fumble, and junior Mikal Butler finished with seven tackles as well. Sophomore middle linebacker Mando Sallavanti had 1.5 sacks and five stops, and Shelton posted five tackles, 1.5 sacks and the touchdown return. 

In all, King's forced Wilkes into 2-of-13 on third downs on the day while inducing eight punts by the host Colonels. The Monarchs also posted five total sacks, and also posted a season-low three penalties. 

Wilkes' Lukas Wood was tabbed as the Colonel Most Valuable Player, making 11 tackles including three solo stops and eight assisted tackles. 

Going into the day, the Monarchs needed wins by Delaware Valley, Stevenson and Misericordia to qualify for the final spot in the MAC-Centennial Conference Bowl Series. Unfortunately for King's, Misericordia was defeated by Lycoming to finish the year for the Monarchs.