WILKES-BARRE, PA (November 21, 2024) -- For the first time since 2002, the King's College football team has secured a spot in the NCAA Division III Football Championships. On Saturday afternoon, the Monarchs will kick off their First Round contest at their home turf at McCarthy Stadium at noon against Ursinus College out of the Centennial Conference.

Event Details:
Opponent: vs. Ursinus (9-1, 5-1 Centennial)
Date: Saturday, November 23, 2024
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Location: Wilkes-Barre, PA - McCarthy Stadium (Directions)
Tickets: $10 for Adults, $5 for Seniors and Students, Free for children under age 2  - CASH ONLY
Live Coverage: (Live Video - Requires ESPN+ Subscription) (Live Stats)

Things to Know:
King's vs. Ursinus Game Notes
King's vs. Ursinus Flip Card
NCAA Division III Football Championships - First Round Know-Before-You-Go Page

How They Got Here: King's enters the tournament as the automatic qualifier from the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC), earning the MAC Championship title out right for the first time since 2002. The Monarchs are on a nine-game win streak entering this weekend, the longest in program history, and look to continue this momentum on Saturday. Ursinus earned one of the 12 coveted at-large bids as the second-ranked team in the Centennial Conference. The Bears finished the season 9-1 overall and 5-1 in the conference, dropping their lone contest to then-ranked #20/#23 Johns Hopkins in week eight.

Series History: This will mark the third time the two teams will face off in program history. The first meeting went to the Monarchs, defeating the Bears 45-20 in the ECAC Championship game in 2000. The second match up went to Ursinus, topping King's 24-13 at McCarthy Stadium in the 2022 Centennial-MAC Bowl Series.

The Coaches: Head Coach Mike Cebrosky is in his first season at the head of the King's football program after serving as an assistant for 13 years prior to his appointment. Cebrosky has led the Monarchs to a 9-1 season, including nine straight, and their first out right MAC title since 2002 to earn the MAC's automatic qualifying bid to this year's tournament. He was named the MAC Coach of the Year as voted on by the conference coaches and released on Tuesday morning. Peter Gallagher is in his 24th season at the head of the Ursinus football program, amassing a 131-105 overall record. Since taking over the program in 2001, Gallagher has become the program's all-time leader in coaching wins, guided the Bears to the Centennial Conference title in 2010 and a pair of Centennial–MAC Bowl Series Championships in 2018 and 2022. Gallagher and his staff also collected the Centennial Conference's Coaching Staff of the Year recognition.

Looking at Ursinus: In their last time out, the Bears faced a 6-3 deficit before scoring 21 unanswered points to secure the 24-13 win over Dickinson. Ursinus set a new program record for All-Centennial Conference honorees with 16 as Gallagher and the staff were named Coaching Staff of the Year, and Tony Holden earned Centennial Conference Offensive Player of the Year. As a team, the Bears are scoring 36.6 points on 448.7 yards per contest while limiting their opponents to 14.8 points 261.5 yards per game. The Bears run defense has been unmatched, limiting opponents to 64.3 yards per contest and just 24.09% (33-137) on third down. Inside the red zone, Ursinus has converted 39-of-54 (72%). The offense is led by Centennial Conference Offensive Player of the Year Tony Holden with 125.7 yards per game with 15 touchdowns on 192 carries, while Justin Collier has caught 51 passes for an average of 62.80 yards per game with nine touchdowns. Jalen Bradford has been the go-to at quarterback this season, throwing for 212.0 yards per contest and completing 155-for-279 (55.56%) with 21 touchdowns. On defense, Marc Clayton leads the team with 90 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, five break pus, and two hurries, while Connor Carter posts a team-best 12. 0 sacks for a loss of 80 yards with four hurries, four break ups, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. Ronnie Woods leads the secondary with 10 break ups, and Ryan DiVergilis adds three interceptions.

Home Threads: For their NCAA First Round contest, the Monarchs will wear their traditional home red jerseys and gold helmets, but this weekend they will wear their white pants for just the second time in this combination this season.

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 11 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 Saturday, the offense will send out Delaney Hilferty and Russell Minor-Shaw, while the defense will be represented by Jared Reto and Sean Lavine.

A Look at the Monarchs:

• King's looks to extend its historic season this weekend against the Bears. They come in scoring 32.50 points on 401.4 yards per game while limiting their foes to 19.6 points on 330.6 yards per contest. The Monarchs post a 224.7-134.6 edge in the run game and are an efficient 44.95% (49-109) on third down and 40% (6-15) on fourth down. Inside the red zone, the offense has converted touchdowns on 31-of-39 (79.5%) of their trips.
• The Monarchs placed a record-breaking 20 players on the All-MAC teams this season, led by senior quarterback Russell Minor-Shaw who was named the MAC Offensive Player of the Year became the first player in program history to repeat as an "Of the Year" honoree as well as a First Team honoree. He leads the team with 176.7 passing yards per contest, completing 130-of-195 (66.67%) for 26 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He has also run for 61.6 yards per game with 11 touchdowns on 115 carries.
• Brennan Robinson, also a First Team recipient, leads the team with 101.3 rushing yards per game on 94 carries, while Jayon Hailey, a Second Team honoree, adds 70.6 yards per contest on 114 carries with seven scores. Mike DiGregorio, who collected All-MAC Second Team accolades, leads the receiver group with 52.9 yards per game on 37 catches with four touchdowns.
• On defense, the All-MAC First Team linebacker duo of Jake Ruppert (91 tackles) and Jared Reto (85 tackles) anchor the Monarchs, while the secondary is commanded by First-Team Defensive Backs Zach Barber, with 52 tackles, 10 break ups, and five interceptions, and Amir Gibson with 38 tackles, 13 break ups, and three interceptions. Rounding out the King's defense on the All-MAC First Team was sophomore defensive lineman Osman Kamara with 58 total tackles, 11.0 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, and 11 quarterback hurries with four blocked kicks.
• Delaney Hilferty was efficient this season, converting 33-of-34 extra-point attempts to earn All-MAC Honorable Mention recognition.
• Additionally, five offensive lineman earned All-MAC honors as Liam Carroll was named to the First Team, RJ Dugue and Marko Galetovic earned Second Team recognition, and Kenny Monaco and Kaleb Beers collected Honorable Mention accolades.

Up Next: The winner of this weekend's NCAA Division III Football Championships First Round contest is set to take on Salisbury University next Saturday, November 30th at noon in Sea Gull Stadium.