WILKES-BARRE, PA (October 6, 2022) -- After a two-game road stretch, the King's College football team returns to McCarthy Stadium this weekend with the hopes of picking up their first home win of the 2022 season on Saturday afternoon against Stevenson University. The Monarchs are coming off a thrilling 28-23 win over Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pa. behind three first-half touchdowns and a strong defensive performance. The Mustangs enter the weekend after picking up their first loss of the 2022 season, 26-7, to top-ranked Delaware Valley on their home turf in Owings Mills, Md.

Event Details:
Opponent: vs. Stevenson (4-1, 2-1 MAC)
Date: Saturday, October 8, 2022
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Location: Wilkes-Barre, Pa. - McCarthy Stadium (Directions)
Tickets: Adults - $5, Seniors & Non-King's Students - $2, King's Students & Children 6 and Under - Free
Live Coverage: (Live Video)(Live Stats)

Things to Know:
King's vs. Stevenson Game Notes
King's vs. Stevenson Flip Card
Tailgating Policy
Pet Policy
Spectator Policy



The Coaches: Jeff Knarr is in his 13th season (12th with a season) with the Monarchs, as he is only the second coach of King's College football since 1991. Knarr took over for Rich Mannello, who was the head coach since football was reinstated at King's in 1993. Today is the 115th game that Knarr has been the head coach of the Monarchs. Ed Hottle is in his 12th season at the head of the Mustangs football program and has led Stevenson to a 66-47 overall record. Hottle has helped the Mustangs reach seven straight postseason games to go along with six consecutive winning seasons from 2014 to 2020. Additionally, the 2016 season saw the Mustangs earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament to help Hottle earn ECAC Division III South and MAC Coach of the Year accolades.

Looking at Stevenson: The Mustangs are coming off a tough 26-7 loss to #15 Delaware Valley as they were handed their first loss of the 2022 season. Stevenson finally put points on the board in the fourth quarter as they salvaged the shutout in the MAC contest. As a team, the Mustangs are averaging 27.40 points per game on an average of 297.2 yards of offense per contest. The offense is led by 189.80 passing yards and 107.4 rushing yards, while their defense has limited its opponents to 165.2 yards of passing offense per game. Individually, the Mustangs run game is led by Brandon Walker with 48.0 yards per game on 63 attempts with four touchdowns, while the receivers are paced by Steven Smothers wit his 352 yards on 36 catches for an average of 70.40 yards per contest with three touchdowns. Ryan Sedgwick is back to lead the offense as the starting quarterback, posting 945 yards for an average of 189.00 yards per game with 91 completions on 137 attempts for eight touchdowns. The defense is led by Tom Zatlava with 38.0 total sacks, including 29 solo and 3.5 tackles for a loss of five yards and a forced fumble. Demetrius Salley is also posting solid numbers with 28.0 total tackles with 4.0 tackles for a loss of 25 yards and 3.0 sacks for a loss of 23 yards.

Weekend Threads: King's will be dawning their red on red uniforms for their return to McCarthy Stadium. The Monarchs will be wearing red jerseys with red pants while sporting their traditional gold helmets.

Single Digit Tough: The Monarchs award single digits based on merit, leadership and are retained throughout their time at King's. King's returned two single digit members from the 2021 season and added two more this past spring. Two weeks ago, the King's football program was proud to announce its most recent addition to the member of the Single Digit Tough group as they named senior defensive lineman Dallas Solomon as a Single Digit Tough Monarch. The Monarchs now have five Single Digit Tough players: Mike Karycinski (0), Joseph Carchio (1), Brendan Mozeleski (3), Dallas Solomon (8), and Brandon Cohen (9).

Captains This Weekend: This week marks the first appearance at the coin flip for all four captains. Representing the Monarchs offense will by Ryan McCombs and Nate McGlone, while Teone Sherrod and Jassiem Lettsome will be representing the defense.

A Look at the Monarchs:

• King's returns a core of leaders and role players on both sides of the football in 2022. For the offense, the Monarchs return All-MAC Second Team honoree in Brandon Cohen as he ranked as one of the top tight ends in the MAC, posting 28 catches for 213 yards and two touchdowns for an average of 21.30 yards per game. The defensive unit returns All-MAC First Team selection in Brendan Mozeleski as he ranked fifth in the conference with 83 total tackles for an average of 8.3 per contest. His 1.20 tackles for loss also ranked ninth in the MAC last season.
• The Monarchs return 28 seniors on their roster, including seven who have returned for their fifth year of collegiate eligibility. Sixteen of those 28 are listed on this week's two-deep, including 13 projected as starters.
• King's comes into this year's season with a total of 11 coaches on staff, and of that group three are King's graduates (Ben Bakanas, Joe Damiano, Tommy Gilmore). 
• King's was picked to finish eighth in the MAC Preseason Coaches Poll among the 11 conference schools. Stevenson was slated second.
• The Monarchs defense ranks third in the MAC as they are holding teams to just 82.5 rushing yards per game while ranking second in defensive passing efficiency with a rating fo 104.6. Additionally, King's has tied for the most interceptions so far this season with seven and a conference-best 99 return yards and a touchdown.
• King's passing game ranks third in the MAC as the Monarchs are averaging 201.8 receiving yards per contest for a conference-third best offensive efficiency of 134.2.
• The Monarchs special teams punt return team ranks fourth among conference opponents as they are averaging 9.8 yards per return.
• Graduate student quarterback Tyler Moore ranks third among MAC quarterbacks as he is averaging 201.8 yards per game with 64 completions on 107 attempts for six touchdowns and a completion percentage of 59.8%.
• Senior Tyler Carey enters this weekend as the top receiver in the MAC, averaging 91.8 yards per game on 16 receptions for 367 yards at 22.9 yards per catch with five touchdowns. He also ties for the conference best 7.5 points per game.
• Sophomore Michael DiGregorio is among the top kick and punt returners in the MAC, ranking fourth in kick off returns with 23.0 yards per return and third in punt returns at 9.8 yards per attempt.
• Senior Kyle Prescavage continues to shine as one of the best kickers in the MAC, currently tied for second with 0.8 field goals per game, converting on 3-of-5 attempts. His 42-yard field goal against Delaware Valley still stands as the second-longest in the MAC so far this season.

Up Next: King's will head back on the road next weekend as they travel to Albright College for a noon kickoff in Reading, Pa.