WILKES-BARRE, PA (September 25, 2025) -- The King's College football team looks to keep the momentum going this weekend as they host Eastern University in Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) play as part of Homecoming and Family Weekend. In their last time out, the Monarchs secured their first win in 2025, 27-21, over FDU-Florham at McCarthy Stadium as Michael Richino produced a strip sack to slam the door on the Devils comeback in the fourth. The Eagles suffered their first loss last weekend in dramatic fashion as Lebanon Valley scored a field goal as time expired to hand Eastern the 24-21 loss.

Event Details:
Opponent: vs. Eastern (2-1, 1-1 MAC)
Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025
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. - CASH ONLY
Live Coverage: (Live Video) (Live Stats)

Things to Know:
King's vs. Eastern Game Notes
Tailgating Policy
Pet Policy
Spectator Policy

The Coaches: Mike Cebrosky is in his second season as the head coach of the Monarchs. Cebrosky led the team to through their historic 2024 season, featuring a 10-2 overall record, perfect 9-0 mark in the MAC, the first outright MAC title in program history, and berth to the NCAA Division III Football Championships. He was named MAC Coach of the Year while also coaching a program-best 20 All-MAC honorees, highlighted by two-time MAC Offensive Player of the Year Russell Minor-Shaw, six D3football.com All-Region players, and Zach Barber as a D3football.com All-American. Billy Crocker returns for his third season with the Eagles after guiding Eastern through its first two varsity seasons. The team saw much growth last season, going from a 2-8 overall record in their inaugural season to a 5-5 mark in 2024. Their last campaign also saw Gashawn Moody become the first player named to the All-MAC teams more than once in their career to highlight 10 All-MAC honorees.

Looking at Eastern: The Eagles are off to a strong start this season despite the heartbreaking loss last weekend on the road at Lebanon Valley. As a team, they're averaging just over 30 points on 374.0 yards of total offense per contest, including 282.0 yards per game on the ground. The defense is holding opponents to 15 points on 254.7 yards of offense per contest and an abysmal 95.3 rushing yards per game. While converting on just 40% of third downs, the Eastern defense has held steady limiting their foes to 34.78% on third down. In the red zone, the Eagles have scored on 9-of-12 trips but have given up scores in all six trips from their opponents. Jeremiah Avrilien is the conference's leading rusher at 136.7 yards per game with five touchdowns, while quarterback Brett Nabb is third at 107.0 rushing yards per game while also throwing for 221 yards and two touchdowns on 16 completions so far this season. Both Justin Nikolopoulos and Eddie Swinton average just over 20 receiving yards per contest with a touchdown grab each. Gashawn Moody Sr. leads the defense with 22 total tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss, while Salif Nikiema adds 3.0 tackles for loss and a sack with two quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery. Both Jamauri James and Tahjere Jackson-Alston have broken up three passes to lead the secondary.

Home Threads: For the second weekend in a row and as part of the Homecoming tradition, the King's football team will sport their red-on-red combination with their traditional gold helmets.

Single Digit Tough: The Monarchs award single digits, and now double digits to offensive linemen, based on merit and leadership and are retained throughout their time at King's. The 2025 roster returned two single-digit members from 2024 in Tyler Carey and Brenann Robinson and have added two so far in 2025. The Monarchs now have four Single Digit Tough players: Tyler Carey (3), Brennan Robinson (6), James Mangine (9), and Kaleb Beers (55).

Captains This Weekend: For the coin toss this weekend, Shemar Ellis and Khalil Blagmon will represent the offense while Nathan Taylor and Zach Hulsizer will represent the defense.

A Look at the Monarchs:

• The Monarchs are on a three-year stretch of post-game appearances and record-breaking numbers and look to continue the trend in 2025.
• King's looks to replace 16 All-MAC honorees from 2025 while returning First Team running back Brennan Robinson, Second Team running back Jayon Hailey and special teamer Jacob Mullery, and Honorable Mention offensive lineman Kaleb Beers. They'll also replace all six D3football.com All Region recipients and D3football.com All-American Zach Barber.
• The staff stands at 15 members, including six alumni in Ben Bakanas, Will Cameron, Mike Karycinski, Sean Lavine, Brendan Mozeleski, and EJ Schreiner.
• King's was tied for first in the MAC Preseason Poll with Delaware Valley among the 10 conference schools. Eastern tied for third with Stevenson and collected one first-place vote.
• The Monarch run game and rushing defense will be key factors this week. Offensively, they are fueled behind Brennan Robinson, who ranks fourth in the MAC at 104.3 yards per game and just surpassed the 2,000 career rushing mark last weekend with his second consecutive 100-plus rushing game. He is joined in the backfield by senior threats in Shemar Ellis and Jayon Hailey.
• Hailey also ranked ninth in the MAC with 50.7 receiving yards per game and is just one of seven players to catch multiple touchdown passes through the first three weekends.
• On special teams, the Monarchs rank second among conference schools with a 33.8 net punting average behind Gavin Wolfe who ranks fourth in the conference with a 38.6 punting yards per attempt.
• James Rush has emerged as one of the top tacklers in the MAC, recording over 10 in each game so far and ranking second with 11.7 tackles per contest. He's joined in the top 10 tackling leaders by Nathan Taylor and Zach Hulsizer who both average 7.7 tackles per game.
• Michael Richino is coming off a big week for the King's defense, earning both MAC Defensive Player of the Week and D3football.com Team of the Week recognition. He is currently tied for third in the conference in tackles for loss at 4.0 and leads the MAC in both sacks per game (1.0) and fumbles forced (2).
• In the secondary, Bryan Kelly tops the MAC standings with his six pass break ups so far this season, and James Mangine, who missed last weekend, sits in third with 1.50 passes defended per game.

Up Next: Next weekend, the MAC football programs will observe their bye weekend. King's returns to action under the lights on Friday, October 10 as they travel to Stevenson University for a 7:00 p.m. kick off.