WILKES-BARRE, PA (September 27, 2025) -- The King's College football team scored with 42 seconds to play to make it a two-point game, but the visiting Eastern University defense shut the door on a comeback with a stop on the two-point conversion as the Monarchs dropped the 39-37 decision on Homecoming and Family Weekend. With the setback in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) contest, the Monarchs fall to 1-3 overall and 1-2 in the standings, while the Eagles move to 3-1 with a 2-1 conference mark.

It was a thrilling first quarter of MAC football on an overcast Saturday afternoon at McCarthy Stadium as Eastern (3-1, 2-1 MAC) scored on the first play of the game. King's (1-3, 1-2 MAC) answered right away on the fifth play of the ensuing drive as Jaelin Mims connected with Jayon Hailey for a 62-yard Monarch score to tie the game, 7-7, with 12:20 remaining in the quarter.

The teams traded empty trips before the Eagles found the end zone again on a five-play drive, but King's came up big on the kick return as Kival Clarke took it 82 yards to the end zone to tie the game, 14-14, with 3:05 left in the first.

On the following Eastern drive, it was the King's defense to deliver the big play as James Rush forced a strip sack that was recovered by Xander Murray on the Eastern 34-yard line. Thanks to a pass interference call against the Eagles and a great play by Rob Ford, the Monarchs scored yet again on a 19-yard catch from the first year to push the King's edge to 22-14 at the end of the first.

Eastern wasted no time getting back in the scoring column, converting a 27-yard field goal to close within 22-17 with 11:43 on the clock then marching down the field to score on their next possession to take their first lead since the opening play, 25-22, with 7:14 to go in the half. While the King's offense stalled in the remainder of the half, their special teams delivered again as Khalil Holley blocked the 24-yard field goal attempt by Eastern with 54 ticks to play as the Monarchs faced a three-point halftime deficit.

The third quarter was a major shift in the pace of play in the contest as neither team's offense could get much going. The Eagles had possession entering the final frame and found the end zone 2:21 into the fourth as their lead jumped to 32-22 with 12:39 remaining.

King's strung together a quick five-play, 27-yard drive that resulted in a 20-yard field goal from Aaron Losada to cut the deficit to 32-25 with 9:50 to go. Three plays into the next Eastern drive, Jacob Mullery broke up a pass right out of the hands of the Eagles quarterback that was caught by Xander Murray and returned 15 yards for a touchdown, making it a 32-31 game with 8:24 on the clock.

The visitors put one final score on the board in a seven-yard touchdown run with 5:57 left, but the Monarchs would not go away quietly. After 13 plays and 68 yards over 5:07 of game clock, Mims connected with Clarke for 44 consecutive yards resulting in a touchdown with 42 ticks on the clock. The two-point conversion and the on-side kick attempt were both unsuccessful as the Monarchs dropped a heartbreaking 39-37 decision to Eastern on Homecoming and Family Weekend.

Mims threw for 160 yards on 13 completions with three touchdowns, while Brennan Robinson ran for 69 yards on 14 carries. Hailey caught four passes for 79 yards with a score, and Clarke added 60 yards on six catches with a touchdown.

Michael Richino led the defense with 10 total tackles and 0.5 tackle for loss, while Matt Blakemore and Tarylle Stewart each added nine tackles and 0.5 tackle for loss. Murray had a solid game with eight tackles, 0.5 tackle for loss, a fumble recovery, and an interception, and Mustafa Thompson broke up three passes.

Clarke returned one kickoff for 82 yards and a score, marking the first kick return for a touchdown since Tyler Carey in 2022, and Brandon Auguste recorded q125 yards on four kickoff returns. Gavin Wolfe punted six times for 252 yards, and Noah Tapler kicked off six times for 389 yards with five touch backs. Additionally, Joey Rehberg completed a pass on the two-point conversion to highlight a solid outing for the Monarch special teams unit.

Eastern was led by Brett Nabb who completed nine passes for 257 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 164 yards on 18 carries with two touchdowns. Jeremiah Avrilien ran for 133 yards on 16 carries with a score, and Justin Nikolopoulos caught a pair of passes for 99 yards and a touchdown. Gashawn Moody totaled six tackles with 0.5 tackle for loss, and Jason Bateman made six tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss.

King's totaled 100 rushing yards and 160 passing yards for 260 yards of total offense in the contest. The Monarchs limited Eastern to 4-of-11 on third down, while the offense converted on all three trips to the red zone.

The Monarchs will observe their bye week next weekend before returning to play on Friday, October 10 on the road at Stevenson University. Kick off in the MAC contest is set for 7:00 p.m.