READING, PA (October 15, 2022) – After the King's College football team's defense forced an unsuccessful field goal attempt in the opening drive of the overtime period, Shemar Ellis ran it in from a yard out to give the Monarchs the 27-21 overtime win over Albright College in their MAC matchup on Saturday afternoon. King's earned the Pretzel Bowl championship trophy, while Tyler Moore earned the King's MVP honors. With the win, the Monarchs remain unbeaten on the road and improve to 5-1 overall and 4-1 in the MAC, while the Lions drop to 0-6 with an 0-5 conference mark.
 
With both teams coming up empty in the first four drives of the game, King's (5-1, 4-1 MAC) broke the scoring drought with a four play, 47-yard drive over 2:02 of play as Tyler Moore found Tyler Carey from 14-yards out for the first touchdown of the game.
 
The game hit a lull again as the defenses forced three consecutive three-and-outs before the Monarchs offense struck again. A 35-yard completion to Tommy Souriyavong was finished with an Albright (0-6, 0-5 MAC) targeting penalty to add 15 yards to the end of the play. Another big gain from Tyler Carey, this time on a rushing attempt, went for 11 yards and was met again by an Albright unsportsmanlike conduct penalty to put King's on the five-yard line. Ellis then delivered the Monarchs' second touchdown of the game with a one-yard run to put King's ahead, 14-0 with 7:41 to go in the half.
 
King's defense forced back-to-back three-play drives from the Lions before tallying their final touchdown of the half in just two plays over 34 seconds of action. A long 38-yard catch from Carey set up a 24-yard reception to Michael DiGregorio as Prescavage connected for his third extra point of the day to see the Monarchs go up, 21-0, heading into the break.
 
Out of the locker room, the Albright offense found its spark as they found the end zone on their second drive of the third behind a three-yard touchdown run from Dahlir Adams. A head's-up defensive play by the Lions set up an Alex Gardsy rushing touchdown as the Lions climbed their way within a score, 21-14, heading into the final quarter of regulation.
 
Albright had possession to start the fourth, but on a big fourth-and-four situation, Dylan White sacked Gardsy to give the preserve the Monarchs lead. Neither team could find a rhythm until the 7:36 mark of the fourth when Gardsy completed a pass to Antonio Bargiel for eight yards to tie the game.
 
Both teams had an opportunity to break the stalemate down the stretch, but the clock expired in regulation and forced the first overtime game of the season for the Monarchs.
 
King's won the coin flip in overtime and elected to send their defense out to start the extra period. The Monarchs defense remained strong and forced a 39-yard field goal attempt for the Lions, and it missed wide left to give the Monarchs a shot to end the game on the ensuing possession.
 
The Monarchs did just that as a 24-yard run from Shemar Ellis set up his one-yard touchdown run to give King's the 27-21 overtime victory at Albright in the MAC matchup.
 
Ellis led the King's run game with 47 yards on 10 carries with two touchdowns, while Jayon Hailey added 38 yards on eight attempts. DiGregorio led the receivers as posted 114 yards on six catches with a touchdown, and Carey added a 52-yard game on two receptions. Tyler Moore was solid in the pocket again, delivering 16 completions on 34 attempts for 255 yards and two touchdowns.
 
King's defensive efforts were led by Mike Karycinski with 10 tackles, including seven solo, with 1.5 tackles for a loss of seven yards, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. Brendan Mozeleski added nine tackles with 1.0 tackles for a two-yard loss, while Jassiem Lettsome matched Karycinski's 1.5 tackles for a loss of two yards. Teone Sherrod collected another interception in the win, while EJ Schreiner also forced a fumble.
 
Albright's offense was led by Alex Gardsy with 99 rushing yards on 15 carries, while Isaiah Shockley led the Lions receivers with 67 yards on seven catches. Alex Gardsy also completed nine passes on 19 attempts for 92 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Defensively, Sam Viera led all tacklers with 12 total tackles, 1.0 sacks for a loss of three yards, while Ryan Rapp posted 3.0 tacks for 19-yards lost.
 
The Monarchs out gained Albright 319-305, while dominating the passing game, 255-95. King's was also extremely efficient in the red zone, converting on all three red-zone chances.
 
King's will return to McCarthy Stadium next weekend for Family and Friends weekend. The Monarchs will host Lebanon Valley College at 12:00 p.m. in the MAC match up in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.