WILKES-BARRE, PA (November 5, 2022) -- In their final home game and Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) match up of the 2022 regular season, the King's College football team saw big performances out of its seniors on their senior day as they posted a 14-0 shutout win over Misericordia University in McCarthy Stadium. The Monarchs improve to 8-1 overall with a 7-1 conference mark, while the Cougars drop their sixth straight and fall to 2-7 and 1-6 in the MAC.
 
After honoring their 14 graduating seniors prior to kickoff, the game got off to a chaotic start. Zach Barber intercepted a pass from the Cougars Dallas Engel and returned the ball eight yards just five plays into the game. King's (8-1, 7-1 MAC) then saw their first miscue of the game as the Cougars recovered the fumble and took the ball back just two plays later. It was the King's defense to deliver again as they stopped a driving Misericordia (2-7, 1-6 MAC) on a big fourth and short opportunity to get the ball back with 10:40 to go in the quarter.
 
The two teams traded empty possessions before the Monarchs put the first points of the board. On the third play of the Cougars drive, Joseph Carchio rushed the quarterback from the left side of the line, knocked the ball lose, and Matthew Evans scooped it up and ran the ball into the end zone from 18-yards out, untouched, to give the Monarchs the early 7-0 lead with 3:43 left in the opening period.
 
Barber tacked on his second pick of the game three plays into the next Misericordia possession as the Monarchs finished the first quarter with the ball and the 7-0 lead. Neither team could find a rhythm offensively in the second quarter as the teams entered the halftime locker rooms with the Monarchs maintaining their 7-0 advantage.
 
Both the Cougars and the Monarchs saw their defenses step up in the third and limit any big opportunities for the other's offense to see the game head into the fourth quarter with King's still holding the 7-0 lead.
 
Misericordia punted the ball to cap off their opening drive of the fourth quarter, and a beneficial bounce saw King's take over on their own 46-yard line. Four runs for gain from Shemar Ellis set up a 2^nd-and-9 from the Misericordia 29 where Tyler Moore found Joe Herman open in the end zone for a Monarchs touchdown. Alyssa Accordino came on to tack on the extra point, her third of her career, as King's led 14-0 with 11:31 to play in the game.
 
Just four plays later, Misericordia punted the ball away to give the Monarchs possession with 10:41 left, and King's ate up a lengthy stretch of the game clock to eat away at a chance for a Cougars comeback. The visitors saw two more chances to put points on the board, but an empty drive on their first attempt and an interception from Teone Sherrod shut the door on a late surge to preserve the 14-0 shutout in their MAC finale at McCarthy Stadium.
 
Tyler Moore completed 13 passes for 196 yards and a touchdown, while Tyler Carey led the receivers with 84 yards on four catches. Joe Herman added 41 yards on three receptions with a touchdown, and Michael DiGregorio and Brandon Cohen rounded out the top receivers in the game with 36 and 27 yards, respectively. Shemar Ellis led the run game with 71 yards on 15 carries, while Jayon Hailey added 57 on 18 attempts.
 
The Monarchs defense was led by Joseph Carchio with seven tackles, including a sack for a loss of four yards and a forced fumble, and Teone Sherrod with seven tackles, an interception, and a pass break up. Dylan White had a strong game with five tackles, while Jassiem Lettsome led King's with 2.5 tackles for a loss of 13 yards and a solo sack for a 12-yard loss.
 
Misericordia saw Dallas Engel complete six passes for 48 yards with three interceptions, while Michael Gawlik ran for 120 yards on 19 carries. Justin Moreno led the Cougars defense with 12 tackles, including 3.5 for a loss of 13 yards and a solo sack for an eight-yard loss.
 
As a team, the Monarchs totaled 306 yards of offense, including 110 on the ground and 196 in the pass game. King's also earned 21 first downs to just nine from Misericordia, while the defense held the Cougars to just 48 passing yards and 178 total yards on offense.
 
The Monarchs will be back in action next Saturday for the 26^th annual Mayor's Cup at Schmidt Stadium as they take on their cross-town rivals Wilkes University at noon.