EDWARDSVILLE, PA (September 6, 2025) -- It was a season opener to remember as the game was postponed on Thursday at the end of the first quarter with the Monarchs leading 3-0 due to inclement weather. In the return to play on Saturday afternoon, the host Wilkes University converted a 38-yard field goal with 1:55 to go as the King's College football team fell, 19-16, in the 29^th annual Mayor's Cup. The Monarchs fall to 0-1 to start the 2025 season while the Colonels move to 1-0.

Despite a 40-yard kickoff return by Kival Clarke to start the game, the King's (0-1) offense could not convert on their opening drive. The Monarchs defense held Wilkes (1-0) on their first outing of the season, but a miscue on special teams gave the Colonels the ball on the King's 23-yard line with 10:57 left in the first. King's held their ground and took advantage of a holding penalty against Wilkes on the first play, forcing a turnover downs thanks to a break up by Bryan Kelly.

King's had their first scoring drive of the season with their next possession on an 11-play, 55-yard drive over 5:46 of action. After marching down the field, Aaron Losada connected for a 29-yard field goal with 3:30 to go in the quarter to put the Monarchs ahead, 3-0. The Wilkes offense went three-and-out on their following drive, and as time expired in the first quarter the inclement weather moved through the area and forced the postponement to Saturday.


The Monarchs had the early momentum as Michael Richino sacked the Colonel quarterback and forced a fumble, recovered at midfield by Nathan Taylor for King's to start their first drive of Saturday afternoon. Neither team could get much going on offense in the next two possessions, but Wilkes got on the scoreboard with 8:24 remaining in the half on a safety to make it a 3-2 game.

After a pair of empty trips by both teams, Wilkes found the end zone with 4:28 left in the second on a 16-yard touchdown grab to take their first lead of the contest, 9-3. Both teams came up shy in their next drives, but King's put together a strong scoring drive in the final 1:06 of the half going 81yards in six plays behind 52 receiving yards, including the 15-yard touchdown grab, from Jayon Hailey to tie the game, 9-9, heading into the half.

It was a defensive standoff out of the locker room as the game saw four scoreless possessions to start the third. Wilkes jumped back ahead with 5:19 remaining in the quarter on a 19-yard touchdown run by Cooper King to hold a 16-9 edge over King's.

Both defenses held their grounds as the game featured another scoreless stretch, but the Monarchs made their move with 7:06 to play in the game. After two short gains, King's capitalized on a pass interference by the Colonels to set up a short connection from Jaelin Mims to Devin Duana who took it 67 yards for the score and tied the game again at 16 a piece.

On their next drive, Wilkes converted a 38-yard field goal with 1:55 to go before their defense forced a turnover on downs on fourth and long from the Monarchs. King's defense forced a three-and-out over the next 29 seconds of game clock, but a costly turnover shut down a comeback effort from the Monarchs as they dropped the season opener, 19-16, to cross-town rival Wilkes in the 29^th annual Mayor's Cup contest.

Mims led the quarterback rotation with 241 yards and two touchdowns on 15 completions, while Brennan Robinson was the top rusher with 28 yards on 13 carries. Hailey was led the receiver group with 95 yards on five catches with a touchdown, while Duana added 82 on three grabs with a score. Tyler Carey also totaled 52 yards on five catches, and Rob Ford made four catches for 34 yards.

Michael Richino was named the King's Mayor's Cup MVP as he led the defensive effort with 10 tackles, 2.0 sacks for a loss of 10 yards, and a forced fumble. Matt Blakemore also added 10 tackles, while James Rush had 10 with 1.5 tackles for loss. Additionally, Zach Hulsizer made nine tackles, and James Mangine pulled in an interception.

On special teams, Gavin Wolfe punted seven times for 212 yards at an average of 30.3 yards per punt with two inside the 20, and Noah Tapler kicked off five times for 322 yards at an average of 64.4 yards per kickoff with three touch backs.

Cooper King paced the Colonels offense with 109 passing yards and 62 rushing yards with two touchdowns while connecting with four different receivers for a pair of catches each. Tyler Wetzel led the defense with 11 tackles and 2.0 sacks, while Cohen Creswell made eight tackles.

As a team, the Monarchs offense out gained the Colonels 321-236, including a 291-109 edge in the pass game. King's was also efficient in the red zone, scoring on two-of-three trips.

King's looks to bounce back in their Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) opener next weekend as they make the trip to Doylestown, Pa. to battle against Delaware Valley at 1:00 p.m.