WILKES-BARRE, PA (November 10, 2022) -- With the regular-season finale in just two short days, the King's College football team prepares for the 26th annual Mayor's Cup game hosted by Wilkes University at noon in Schmidt Stadium. The Monarchs are coming off a 14-0 shutout win over Misericordia on senior day in McCarthy Stadium to finish their Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) schedule 7-1 overall, and they enter today's non-conference match up with an 8-1 overall record. The Colonels faced a tough road test at Stevenson last weekend where they fell 28-0 in Owings Mills, Md., and they enter this weekend 6-3 overall with a 5-3 MAC record.

Event Details:
Opponent: vs. Wilkes University (6-3, 5-3 MAC)
Date: Saturday, November 12, 2022
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Location: Edwardsville, PA - Scmidt Stadium (Directions)
Tickets: Adults - $5, Seniors & Non-Wilkes' Students - $2, Students & Children 6 and under - Free
Live Coverage: (Live Video) (Live Stats)

Things to Know:
King's vs. Wilkes Game Notes
Spectator Policy
Tailgating 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 120th game that Knarr has been the head coach of the Monarchs. Knarr also recently picked up his 50th career win in the Monarchs' 14-0 win over Misericordia on November 5, 2022. Jonathan Drach is in his fourth active season with the Colonels, as he has guided Wilkes to an impressive 26-14 record in his time at the head of the program. Drach has produced 13 All-MAC selections and led Wilkes to its first post-season berth since 2010 in the 2019 campaign.

Looking at Wilkes: The Colonels gave up a touchdown in each quarter as they fell, 28-0, to Stevenson on the road last Saturday. As a team, the Colonels are out gaining their opponents as they average 357.6 yards of total offense a game while holding their foes to 266.1 yards. Quarterback Jay Mazuera is listed at the top of the depth chart this week, as he enters the weekend with 29 yards on four passes. The Colonels run game is led by Elijah Jules with an average of 96.11 yards per game, totaling 12 touchdowns on 135 attempts, while the receiving group is paced by Nate Whitaker with 45.89 yards per contest on 23 catches with five touchdowns. The Wilkes defensive efforts are led by Brandon Holcomb with 82.0 total tackles, including 44 solo, with 4.5 tackles for loss, three hurries, two break ups, an interception, and a forced fumble. Angel Ramos posts a team-best 11.5 tackles for a loss of 51 yards, 6.0 sacks for 42-yards lost, and two forced fumbles. Additionally, both Leroy Marshall and Jeremie Hernandez have totaled team-highs of three interceptions.

Travel Gear: For their regular-season finale, the King's College football team will be wearing their traditional road white jerseys with gold pants on Saturday in the 26th annual Mayor's Cup. The Monarchs, as always, will wear their gold helmets with red lettering.

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: King's will send out their Single Digit Tough members for the coin flip this Saturday. Senior Brandon Cohen will represent the offense, while seniors Mike Karycinski, Joseph Carchio, Brendan Mozeleski, and Dallas Solomon will represent 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. Wilkes was slated 5th.
• Tyler Moore leads the MAC as he averages 236.2 yards per game, completing 149 passes on 261 attempts for a 57.1 completion percentage with 15 touchdowns.
• Jayon Hailey is making a name for himself as one of the top rushers in his first collegiate season. He has now moved into the top-10 rushers in the conference as he ranks seventh with 54.0 yards per game. He is joined by sophomore Shemar Ellis as the running back ranks 11th with 43.1 yards per contest.
• As a team, the Monarchs rank fourth in the MAC in scoring offense with 23.8 points per game. After last two weekends of impressive performance, King's now ranks third in the MAC with 333.7 yards of total offense a contest and leads the MAC in passing offense at 236.2 yards per contest with a conference second best offensive efficiency rating of 138.6.
• The King's defense has remained strong all season as they currently rank third in the conference in defending the run game, holding teams to just 103.3 rushing yards per game. The Monarchs are also first in interceptions with 16 while adding 197 return yards for an average of 12.3 per game. Additionally, the defensive line have posted 20 sacks for a loss of 141 yards which ranks fourth in the MAC.
• Tyler Carey leads the MAC receivers with 79.3 yards per game, totaling 32 catches and seven touchdowns. Michael DiGregorio is not far behind as he ranks sixth at 43.8 yards per contest with 29 catches and a touchdown, while Joe Herman ranks 12th at 35.4 yards with 27 receptions and two touchdowns.
• Brandon Cohen ranks at the top of the tight ends in the MAC and ninth of all receivers, averaging 39.0 yards per game off 351 receiving yards on 22 catches.
• Joseph Carchio currently sits at 10th in the MAC with an average of 7.1 tackles per game. He is joined by Brendan Mozeleski (5.9) and Dylan White (5.8) who also rank in the top-20 in the conference in tackles per contest.
• The duo of Jassiem Lettsome (1.11) and Dallas Solomon (.94) fall in the top-15 in the MAC in tackles for loss per game.
• The Monarchs secondary has proven to be some of the best in the conference as Teone Sherrod and Amir Gibson are two of the top five pass defenders, with Sherrod ranking first and Gibson ranking fifth. Sherrod also leads the MAC in interceptions with six and a conference-leading 134 return yards for a touchdown.
• The name of the game is fumbles, and Brendan Mozeleski and Dallas Solomon are tied for second among MAC competitors as they have both forced two so far this season.

Up Next: The Monarchs have clinched at least a berth in the 2022 Centennial-MAC Bowl Series as the top three seeds in the MAC that do not qualify for the NCAA Division III Championships will participate in the annual match up. Opponent, time, and location will all be released at a later date.