WILKES-BARRE, PA (September 5, 2024) -- The opening kickoff of the 2024 season is just two days away, and the King's College football team is prepared to host their cross-town rival Wilkes University in the 28th annual Mayor's Cup game on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. at McCarthy Stadium. The Monarchs have the edge in the last seven games, 5-2, over the Colonels, and are 11-16 all time in the Mayor's Cup match up dating back to 1996. Saturday night's game is also the first time King's will be playing under the lights since hosting Moravian in week one in 2019.

Event Details:
Opponent: vs. Wilkes (0-0, 0-0 Landmark)
Date: Saturday, September 7, 2024
Time: 6:00 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. Wilkes Game Notes
King's vs. Wilkes Flip Card
Tailgating Policy
Pet Policy
Spectator Policy

The Coaches: Mike Cebrosky is in his first season as the head coach of the Monarchs with Saturday's contest. 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. David Biever will also observe his first game on the Colonels' sideline as the head coach. Biever is in his 11th season with Wilkes in 2024 after serving as Associate Head Coach, offensive line coach, and recruiting coordinator. He inherits a program that finished 5-6 overall and 4-2 in the Landmark standings before wrapping up the season with a 35-17 win over Bridgewater College in the Cape Henry Bowl.

Looking at Wilkes: The Colonels concluded their 2023 season 5-6 overall and 4-2 in the Landmark standings before wrapping up the season with a 35-17 win over Bridgewater College in the Cape Henry Bowl. Wilkes was ranked fourth in the Landmark Preseason Coaches' Poll out of the seven programs. In 2023, the Colonels averaged 30.4 points per game while holding opponents to 25.2, out gaining teams 368.2 yards per night opposed to their foes' 344.5 yards per game average. Wilkes was also efficient in the red zone, scoring 25 touchdowns in their 36 trips at a 69% clip. The team also returns Elijah Jules who led the offense with 819 rushing yards and Devin Higgins who totaled 501 receiving yards. On the defensive side of the ball, Angel Ramos posted team-highs of 13.5 tackles for loss and 10.0 sacks.

Home Threads: For their first fits for the 2024 season, the King's College football team will show off their new home red jerseys with their white pants while dawning 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 five Single Digit Tough players: Jake Ruppert (1), Tyler Carey (3), Amir Gibson (4), Jared Reto (5), and Ryan McCombs (7).

Captains this Weekend: King's will send out its single digit tough members as captains at the coin flip in week one of the 2024 season. For the offense, the Monarchs will send out Tyler Carey and Ryan McCombs, and for the defense it will be Jake Ruppert, Amir Gibson, and Jared Reto.

A Look at the Monarchs:

• The Monarchs look to continue their momentum in the 2024 season, coming off back-to-back 8-3 overall records and consecutive appearances in the Centennial-MAC Bowl Championship series as the top seed out of the MAC.
• King's also recognized a program-best 13 All-MAC recipients in 2023, including the program's first MAC Offensive Player of the Year in senior quarterback Russell Minor-Shaw. Alongside Minor-Shaw are honorees Ryan McCombs (TE), Mike DiGregorio (WR), Jared Reto (LB), Amir Gibson (CB), Jayon Hailey (RB), and Liam Carroll (OL).
• They'll look to replace All-Region honorees in Nate McGlone (OL) and Dallas Solomon (DT), the program's second All-American in as many years in Joe Carchio (S), and All-MAC selections in Anthony Prato (P), Jassiem Lettsome (DL), and Colin Hazelton (LB).
• 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. Wilkes was slated to finish fourth in their Landmark poll.
• Last time these two teams met, King's trailed 16-6 at halftime, but a 14-point third quarter brought the game back in reach. With 12 seconds to play, Russell Minor-Shaw found Ryan McCombs open in the end zone for the game-winning score to secure the 27-23 win in the 27th annual Mayor's Cup in Edwardsville. Minor-Shaw was also named the King's MVP in the contest for his efforts.
• In 2023, the Monarchs outscored their opponents by 10 points per game (26.5 - 16.6), posting a 208-155 edge in first downs, 155.7-103.2 advantage in average rushing yards per game, 179-9-127.2 margin in average passing yards per game, and an overall 335.6-230.5 total offense per game average. King's also scored a touchdown in all but 12 (27-39) trips to the red zone last season.
• Russell Minor-Shaw led the offense in both rushing (799 total yards) and passing (1,910 yards), while Mike DiGregorio led a balanced receivers group with 557 yards and as the leading kickoff returner at 21.5 yards per return. Alex Tristan returns as the team's leader in interceptions with four, while EJ Schreiner is the team's top punt returner at an average of 15.8 yards per return.

Up Next: King's will host Misericordia University in their Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) opener next weekend on September 14 as part of their two-game home stand to start the season. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. at McCarthy Stadium.