READING, PA (September 19, 2026) -- The King's College football team erased a 20-point deficit and surged in front during the fourth quarter, but host Alvernia University scored late to escape with a 28-21 victory in Middle Atlantic Conference action Saturday afternoon at Alvernia Turf Field. The Monarchs fall to 0-2 overall and 0-2 in conference play, while the Golden Wolves improve to 1-2 and 1-1.
Alvernia struck first with an eight-yard touchdown pass on its opening possession before adding another scoring drive late in the first quarter to take a 13-0 lead into the second. The defenses controlled much of the middle portion of the game, as the Monarchs held the Golden Wolves scoreless in the second quarter despite multiple opportunities.
The hosts pushed their advantage to 20-0 just 1:13 into the second half, but King's answered immediately. On the ensuing drive,
Jaelin Mims found
Eric Zebrowski behind the secondary for a 46-yard touchdown with 12:24 remaining in the third quarter. Taking advantage of a defensive miscommunication, Zebrowski slipped free and Mims dropped the pass perfectly into his hands to put the Monarchs on the board.
King's continued to chip away at the deficit late in the quarter with an impressive 10-play, 85-yard march. The drive concluded at the 1:39 mark of the third period with a creative play design, as Zebrowski took a handoff while in motion and raced 11 yards untouched into the end zone, trimming the Alvernia lead to 20-14.
The Monarchs marched back early in the fourth. After taking over at their own 20-yard line, King's needed just three plays to find the end zone. With 10:06 remaining,
Kival Clarke executed his route perfectly, creating separation from his defender before Mims connected with the senior wide receiver for a 61-yard touchdown strike and a 21-20 Monarch lead.
The King's defense responded with one of its biggest moments of the afternoon midway through the fourth quarter. Facing a critical fourth-and-one at the Monarch 28-yard line, the defensive front held its ground and
Jacob Mullery burst through untouched alongside
James Mangine to stop the ballcarrier short of the marker, turning the ball over on downs and preserving the lead.
Alvernia, however, found an answer in the closing minutes. After forcing a punt, the Golden Wolves covered 59 yards in two plays and scored the go-ahead touchdown with 2:55 remaining before converting the two-point attempt for a 28-21 lead.
The Monarchs mounted one final drive in the closing moments, moving inside the Alvernia 10-yard line as time wound down, but the comeback effort came up just short.
Mims finished 19-for-36 passing for 262 yards and two touchdowns while adding 41 rushing yards.
Reynaldo Carter paced the ground game with 74 yards on 15 carries as King's rushed for 152 yards and totaled 414 yards of offense. Clarke hauled in seven receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown, while Zebrowski added four catches for 83 yards and a score to go along with his rushing touchdown.
Defensively, Mullery recorded a game-high 12 tackles.
Xander Murray contributed eight tackles, three tackles for loss, and a sack, while Mangine and
James Rush each added six stops. The Monarchs limited Alvernia to just 72 rushing yards and 2.6 yards per carry on the afternoon.
--MONARCHS--
