WILKES-BARRE, PA (November 16, 2019) -- Wilkes University's Cole Jesmer picked off a pass on his own five with less than a minute to go and took it 95 yards to seal the win as visiting Wilkes University won its first Mayor's Cup game in four years with a 24-14 win over the King's College football team in play from McCarthy Stadium Saturday. 

The win for the Colonels (8-2, 6-2 Middle Atlantic Conference) snapped a three-year run by the Monarch football team, which finishes the 2019 season 5-5 overall and 3-5 in MAC play. The contest was dominated by by defensive units, but injuries slowed the Monarchs as King's was playing without eight starters on both sides of the ball at the end of the game. 

Wilkes jumped out on top early in the game thanks to good starting position on both of its first two drives. After fumbling through the end zone on their first drive, Wilkes would make it 7-0 with 7:58 to go in the first quarter as Jose Tabora rushed in from nine yards out. 

The Colonels had the ball deep in King's territory to start the second quarter as well, but Tabora was sacked by junior Cory Wilson, forcing a fumble on 4th and 14 which was recovered by freshman Colin Hazelton. That turnover would give King's some momentum, as the Monarchs put together a 12-play, 73-yard drive over the next 5:02 that ended in a nine-yard touchdown run from senior Jordan Downes. 

Just before halftime, Wilkes would regain the lead at 14-7, as Tabora shook off multiple tacklers and scampered into the end zone from 14-yards out to finish a 6-play, 30-yard drive with 12 seconds left in the second quarter. 

After halftime, the Colonels took 8:29 off the clock thanks to a 17-play, 59-yard drive that culminated on a 23-yard field goal by Justin Pollack to push the WU lead up to 17-7. The two defenses would start to stiffen, as neither team could get much going moving into the fourth quarter. 

Following a punt by the Colonels with 11:34 to go in regulation, King's would cut into its deficit thanks to a 14-play drive over 76 yards that finished in a Downes' three-yard touchdown run. On the march, King's was aided by a pass interference call on 4th-and-12, while junior Brandon Cohen caught three balls on the drive. 

Down just three, King's would get off the field on four plays the next drive, as junior defensive back Elijah Demosthene nearly picked off a 3rd-and-15 to force a punt. The following punt got caught in the wind, and the Monarchs took over at the WIlkes' 40-yard line after a 15-yard kick. 

With the ball in Colonels territory with 4:42 to go in the game, King's would drive down to the 15-yard line after converting a big 4th-and-5 on Moore to Downes completion earlier to keep the drive alive. The biggest play of the game though would come on 2nd and 10 at the 15 with just under a minute to play, as Jesmer stepped in front of a Moore pass intended for Cohen and raced 95 yards to paydirt to clinch the victory. 

It was a bittersweet day for Downes, as the senior tailback finished his career at King's by being named as the Mayor's Cup King's MVP. Downes finished with 56 yards on the ground, scoring twice, while catching four balls for 38 yards.

The Magnolia, DE native eclipsed the 1,000 mark for the second-straight season, finishing the year with 1,016 yards. He also finished his career with 2,793 yards, which moved him into No. 2 on the all-time rushing list at King's. Downes also finished with 24 touchdowns rushing for his career, along with six touchdown catches. 

Junior Tim Costantino posted three catches for 33 yards Saturday, and fellow junior Joel Whitteker got more time offensive due to injury and made two grabs. Moore finished 15-of-24 for 146 yards and two interceptions. 

Wilson filled in nicely at linebacker for King's, making a team-leading 12 stops including one forced fumble. Junior Charles McCall posted eight tackles, and senior Mikal Butler finished the day with seven stops and two pass break ups.

Demosthene defended four passes along with three tackles. and Jassiem Lettsome dominated the line with 1.5 tackles for loss while assisting on two sacks. 

Tabora led the Colonels with 67 rushing yards, while passing for 118 on the day, while Jeremiah Acker posted 37 yards on 10 carries. Jesmer was named Wilkes MVP for the day, posting seven tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack and the clinching pick. 

King's finishes the season 5-5 for the fourth consecutive season. Wilkes will play in a MAC/Centennial Bowl Series next Saturday against an opponent at a time to be located.