ONEONTA, NY (September 21, 2019) -- For the first time since reinstating the program in the 1993 season and just the second time in program history, the King's College football team has started the season 2-0, defeating the Hartwick College Hawks this afternoon, 41-19. Senior Jordan Downes helped lead the offense, scoring four of the team's six touchdowns for the game.

After trading empty possessions to start the game, the Monarchs struck first as sophomore Tyler Moore connected with junior Gabe Boccella on the second play of the drive for a 61-yard touchdown reception. A blocked kicked and a 2:03 possession later, Hartwick took their only lead of the game, 7-6, on a two-yard touchdown run by Davien Kuinlan.

The Monarchs then went on to score 21 unanswered points, all thanks to Downes, before the next Hawks score. On a 21-play, 91-yard possession, Downes ran the ball for 22 yards to regain the lead for the Monarchs, 13-7, with 3:28 left in the first quarter.

King's defense made it happen on the following Hartwick drive as junior Elijah Demosthene forced a fumble on their own 38-yard line which was recovered by junior Jaret Horn and returned for 25 yards. Then, thanks to that defensive effort by Demosthene and Horn, Downes struck again with just 36 seconds remaining as he ended a three-play drive with a 36-yard touchdown run. His final score of this stretch came with 10:46 to go in the half as Moore hit Downes from nine yards out for his lone-receiving touchdown of the game, giving the Monarchs a 27-7 lead.

On the following Hartwick drive, Horn brought the defense again, intercepting the Hawks by stripping the ball right from the Hawks' receiver at the two-yard line and returning it for six additional yards. The next Monarchs possession led to Downes' third score of the game as Moore hit Downes for a 14-yard reception to the King's 20-yard line before Downes capped off the possession with a 20-yard run, making the score 34-13.

Just before halftime, the Monarch defense struck again, as junior Yusef Wheeler forced the second fumble for the game which was recovered by junior Charles McCall with one second remaining in the half. A last-chance effort by Moore was unsuccessful as the Monarchs entered the locker room leading Hartwick, 34-13.

The third quarter saw both teams go scoreless on three Hartwick possessions and two Monarchs possessions. Horn stepped up yet again for the Monarchs, making his third stellar defensive play of the game, intercepting a Hawks throw at the nine-yard line and returning it 91 yards for the score for the final King's score of the game, 41-13.

Hartwick made their final scoring drive of the game three possessions later on an 18-yard reception from Grant Harman to Justice Mansfield-Beaulieu to post the final, 41-19.

Moore was excellent again in his second start of the season, completing 20 throws on 29 attempts for 230 yards and two touchdowns. Downes also continued an outstanding senior campaign, going for 159 rushing yards and 33 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Boccella capped off the offensive leaders, going for 119 yard and one touchdown for the game. As a team, the Monarchs offense totaled 24 first downs, 163 rushing yards, 230 passing yards, for a total of 393 offensive yards in the game.

The Monarchs are back in action next Saturday, September 28 for their homecoming game and conference opener against Lycoming College starting at 1:00 pm in McCarthy Stadium.