WILKES-BARRE, PA (September 7, 2023) -- The King's College football team seeks its second-straight victory on Saturday afternoon as they open their Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) schedule with a short trip up to Misericordia University. The Monarchs enter the game 1-0 after defeating cross-town rival Wilkes University, 27-23, in the 27th annual Mayor's Cup game in comeback fashion. King's returned the Mayor's Cup back to campus by outscoring Wilkes 21-7 in the second half, including an 87-yard touchdown drive to secure the win with 12 seconds left on the clock. The Cougars enter the game 0-1 after dropping a 24-14 home contest to Alfred State last Saturday.

Event Details:
Opponent: at Misericordia University (0-1, 0-0 MAC)
Date: Saturday, September 9, 2023
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Location: Dallas, Pa. - Mangelsdorf Field (Directions)
Tickets: Adults - $5, Seniors (65+) and non-Misericordia Students ($3), MU Students - Free (with valid ID)
Live Coverage: (Live Video) (Live Stats)

Things to Know:
King's vs. Misericordia Game Notes
Misericordia Tailgating Policy



The Coaches: Skyler Fultz opens his first season as the head coach of the Monarchs with Saturday's contest. Fultz spent the last eight seasons in his second stint with King's, serving as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. During his time at King's, the Monarchs have turned into an offensive powerhouse, as his offensive units have produced All-MAC players at all positions while boasting record-setting units during each of his years as offensive coordinator. The 2023 campaign featured quarterback Tyler Moore's record-breaking season, setting four new career passing records and both touchdowns in a game and in a season records under the direction of Fultz. John Davis begins his third season at the head of the Cougars football program, boasting a 6-13 overall record in the last two seasons. The 2022 season saw Davis's team place four on the All-MAC squad, including returners in Eric Glass and Chuck Uwalor.  

Looking at Misericordia: The Cougars enter the weekend looking to pick up their first win in 2023 as well as start the MAC schedule out in the win column. Last weekend, the Cougars committed three costly turnovers and gave up 431 yards of total offense in their 24-14 home loss to Alfred State. Dom Caruso was the driving force in the offensive attack, totaling 124 rushing yards on 19 carries with a touchdown while alos adding one catch for 10 yards. The receivers group was paced by Ryan Krisiak with seven recpetions for 83 yards, while quarterback Connor Beans went 19-for-38 with 176 yards and two interceptions. The defense effort was led by Andrew Lee with nine total tackles, while both Ian Rogers and Eric Glass added eight, with Glass totaling 1.5 tackles foor a loss of three yards. Additionally, Lamontae Wilson broke up two passes and caught an interception with 17 return yards.

Road Gear: King's will appear again in their new road white jerseys in Dallas, Pa. on Saturday afternoon, this time with their gold pants and traditional gold helmets.

Single Digit Tough: The Monarchs award single digits based on merit, leadership and are retained throughout their time at King's. The 2023 roster returned two single-digit members from last year while adding four more ahead of this season. The Monarchs now have six Single Digit Tough players: Jassiem Lettsome (0), Joe Carchio (1), Teone Sherrod (2), Tyler Carey (3), Dallas Solomon (8), and Nate McGlone (73).

Captains This Weekend: This weekend, the offensive unit will be represented at the coin toss by offensive lineman Nate McGlone and half-back Ryan McCombs. The defense will be represented by linebacker Colin Hazelton and safety Joe Carchio.

A Look at the Monarchs: 

• King's will look to replace three All-MAC players in Brandon Cohen (TE), Tyler Moore (QB), and Brendan Mozeleski (LB), but return the remaining five honorees in first teamer Teone Sherrod (CB), second team honorees Tyler Carey (WR/Returner), Dallas Solomon (DL), and Joe Carchio (DB), and honorable mention recipient Amir Gibson (DB).
• Teone Sherrod returns after a breakout campaign in 2022, earning AFCA Division III Coaches' All-America First Team, D3football.com All-America Second Team, and D3football.com All Region 1 First Team honors. Sherrod was also a Cliff Harris Award Finalist and earned a spot on the D3football.com Preseason All-America Third Team. He returns to help lead the Monarchs secondary that lead the MAC in interceptions.
• The Monarchs have no shortage of veteran talent on this year's squad, returning nine players that were listed as seniors in 2022. This week's two-deep features 19 seniors listed, while the defense returns all but three starters from 2022.
• King's enters the season with a total of 12 coaches on staff, and of that group five are King's graduates or so-to-be graduates. (Ben Bakanas, Brandon Cohen, Tommy Gilmore, Brendan Mozeleski, Enzo Poulson).
• King's was picked to finish third in the MAC Preseason Coaches' Poll among the 10 conference schools. Misericordia was slated to finish eighth.
• The Monarchs offense put up the third-most points in the opening weekend in the MAC, second only to Widener and FDU-Florham while ranking second in both total offense and passing offense. King's offensive efficiency placed them third across the conference schools at 138.0.
• King's was strong in their conversions, ranking second with 26 total first downs and tying for first in fourth down conversions, remaining a perfect 4-for-4.
• The red zone was a high point on both sides of the ball in week one for the Monarchs, as the offense ranked fourth in the MAC as they went 3-for-3 and just one of four schools to post a perfect effort. The red-zone defense ranked fourth, holding the Colonels to just one score on their three trips.
• The 2023 Mayor's Cup Most Valuable Player in quarterback Russell Minor-Shaw saw a strong start in the Monarchs backfield, as he ranks fourth among MAC rushers and second among quarterbacks with a 141.3 passing efficiency rating. Overall, the senior was second in the conference in total offense with 342.0 total yards, just behind Widener's Chase Diehl who collected MAC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
• EJ Schreiner exited the opening weekend as the third-best receiver in the MAC, while Mike DiGregorio, Jayon Hailey, and Ryan McCombs also ranked in the top 20 receivers.
• Colin Hazelton and Jamil Thomas tied for third among MAC tacklers with their nine total tackles, with Hazelton also tying for third with his 2.0 tackles for loss in the win.

Up Next: King's will return home to McCarthy Stadium for Homecoming Weekend. The Monarchs' first home foe in 2023 will be Albright College, with kickoff set for 1:00 p.m. in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.