WILKES-BARRE, PA (October 31, 2024) -- In a match up of first-year head coaches, the King's College football team looks to remain atop the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) standings as they host Delaware Valley University on Saturday afternoon at McCarthy Stadium. The last time out, the Monarchs held off a late comeback effort in Madison, N.J. as Amir Gibson intercepted a pass in the end zone with 1:15 remaining to defeat FDU-Florham, 42-35. The Aggies are coming off a dominant 28-0 win at home against Albright, scoring all 28 points in the first half.

Event Details:
Opponent: vs. Delaware Valley (6-1, 6-0 MAC)
Date: Saturday, November 2, 2024
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Wilkes-Barre, PA - McCarthy Stadium (Directions)
Tickets: $5 for Adults, $2 for Seniors, $2 for Non-King's Students showing I.D. Free for children age-six and King's showing I.D.
Live Coverage: (Live Video) (Live Stats)

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

The Coaches: Mike Cebrosky spent the previous 13 seasons with the Monarchs, including the last nine as the Defensive Coordinator and last season as Associate Head Coach. He helped build the King's defense into one of the top units in the MAC, finishing in the top three in total defense in 2018, 2019, and 2023, as well as top-ranking marks in third-down percentage, points allowed per game, turnovers per game, and total yardage per game. The defensive efforts made their mark on a national scale as well this past season, as the defense ranked fourth in NCAA Division III in the regular season in passing yards allowed per game and seventh in total defense. Individually, Cebrosky's defense saw two individuals earn All-American status as Teone Sherrod (2022) and Joe Carchio (2023) became the program's first All-Americans since the 2006 campaign. Mike Isgro is in his first season at the helm of his alma mater, earning the head gig in January. He has coached for the Aggies since 2015, working as special teams coordinator, recruiting coordinator, and running backs coach.

Looking at Delaware Valley: This is an important week for Delaware Valley, who picked up a loss earlier in the season at Stevenson. The one-loss Aggies are the top-ranked defense in the MAC, holding teams to a conference-low 10.43 points per game and 229.0 yards per contest. Delaware Valley also converts 40.5% on third down (30-74) while holding teams to a 26.8% clip (25-93), and the Aggies are an efficient 7-for-14 (50%) on fourth down. Additionally, they are 18-for-22 in red zone trips, with all 18 scores being touchdowns. The Delaware Valley run game is led by Jack Fallon with 83.00 yards per contest, while Nahsir Morgan dominates the receivers group with 78.5 yards per game with 10 touchdowns. Louis Barrios IV anchors the back field, throwing for 162.5 yards per game with a 55.7% completion percentage and 11 touchdowns. Defensively, Jeremiah Clark posts a team-leading 66 total tackles, including 31 solo, with three pass break ups and two forced fumbles. Jacquez Mabin a 2024 D3football.com Preseason All-American, adds 46 total tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, and 9.5 sacks with four quarterback hurries and four forced fumbles.

Home Threads: For the fourth time this season, the Monarchs will wear their red jersey and gold pant combination with 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. The 2024 roster returned one single-digit member from last year in senior wide receiver Tyler Carey, while adding four more ahead of this season. The Monarchs now have 10 Single Digit Tough players: Sean Lavine (0), Jake Ruppert (1), EJ Schreiner (2), Mike DiGregorio (3), Tyler Carey (3), Amir Gibson (4), Jared Reto (5), Brennan Robinson (6), Ryan McCombs (7), Liam Carroll (55), and Kenny Monaco (66).

Captains This Weekend: For the coin toss this weekend, the offense will be represented by Ryan McCombs and Russell Minor-Shaw, while the defense will send out Sean Lavine and Jared Reto.

A Look at the Monarchs:

• The Monarchs have no shortage of veteran talent on this year's squad, with just over 30 student-athletes listed as a senior on the roster. This week's two-deep features 24 seniors listed, while the offense returns all but one starter from 2023.
• King's enters the season with a total of 13 coaches on staff, and of that group five are King's graduates or soon-to-be graduates. (Ben Bakanas, Tommy Gilmore, Will Cameron, Mike Karycinski, Brendan Mozeleski).
• King's was picked to finish second in the MAC Preseason Coaches' Poll among the 10 conference schools. Delaware Valley was slated to finish first in the poll.
• This week features a match up of the top scoring and total offense in the Monarchs against the top defensive scoring and total defensive team in the Aggies. King's leads the MAC with 33.9 points per game and 34 touchdowns, total offense at 424.6 yards per game, rushing offense at 245.6 yards per game, and offensive passing efficiency at 179.3%.
• On special teams, King's is second in kickoff returns at 20.9 yards per return, led by Tony Brinson who ranks fifth in the MAC at 22.0 yards per return. The kickoff team is second with 37.3 net kickoff average while remaining as one of three teams in the MAC to remain perfect on extra-point attempts, including the highest total at 33-for-33 with Delaney Hilferty leading the charge at 28-for-28.
• Brennan Robinson remains at the top of the MAC rush leaders at 106.1 yards per game, while Russell Minor-Shaw ranks sixth (76.7 yards per game), and Jayon Hailey is ninth (60.9 yards per game). Minor-Shaw is also tied for second in passing yards per game (179.0) with a conference-leading 19 touchdowns, while Mike DiGregorio posts a conference sixth-best 52.3 yards per contest.
• On defense, Jared Reto and Jake Ruppert continue their one-two punch as the fifth and sixth ranked tacklers, respectively, as Reto posts 63 total tackles and Ruppert adds 61. Osman Kamara remains in the top of the pass rushers, coming in at fourth with 5.5 total sacks.
• Amir Gibson is knocking on the door of the program's bass break-up record, tying Teone Sherrod ('24) for the program-record 34 break ups last weekend at FDU-Florham. He currently leads the MAC in passes defended with 13, while Zach Barber is second with 12. The pair is also tied for third with three interceptions a piece.

Up Next: King's will head out for its final road trip of the 2024 regular season next Saturday, traveling to Reading, Pa. to take on the Lions of Albright College. Kickoff in the MAC match up is set for 12:00 p.m.