Box Score

The Wilkes University football team (6-4, 3-4) took a short trip across town to take on the King's College Monarchs (3-7, 2-5) on Saturday in search for its seventh consecutive Mayor's Cup victory. This game was also the last regular season contest for the Colonels as they continue their hunt for an ECAC bid.

The first quarter saw plenty of offense, but the Monarchs were able to sustain a successful running game and shutdown the Colonels later in the game, ultimately defeating Wilkes 33-16.

The game opened with a five play, 69 yard dive by the Monarchs that saw multiple runs by King's senior running back Claude O'Conner. O'Conner capped the drive with a 35 yard scamper, and after the botched extra point the Monarchs were up 6-0 under three minutes into the game.

Because of a penalty on the ensuing kickoff, Wilkes began its first drive at its own 45 yard line. The Colonels pieced together a seven play, 55 yard drive that was completed by a 22 yard Zach Tivald (Edison, NJ/Edison) touchdown run to put Wilkes up 7-6.

On the ensuing possession King's marched down to the Wilkes 31, and was unable to convert on a fourth and five, giving the ball back to the Colonels with six minutes left in the first quarter.

Wilkes capitalized on the turnover with another long drive, including a 31 yard completion from Rob Johnson (Bridegwater, N.J./Bridgewater) to Anthony Dorunda (New Milford/Susqehanna) to the King's 17 yard line. After 15 yard penalties by both teams, Tivald found the end zone once again on an eleven yard run, and after a missed extra point Wilkes led 13-6 with 1:44 left in the first quarter.

In the King's ensuing possession, quarterback Corey Lavin found Mike Verbitski for a 45 yard connection, putting the Monarchs in prime scoring position at the Wilkes seven yard line. Two plays later O'Conner walked into the end zone on a three yard run, tying the game at 13 early in the second quarter.

Sean Madden (Dunmore, Pa./Bishop O'hara) returned the King's kickoff to the Wilkes 42 yard line, once again giving the Colonels prime field position, but a sack by Craig Geibert set Wilkes back 12 yards, disrupting the Colonel's momentum. The Monarchs would run one offensive play on their next drive before Wilkes linebacker Ryan Clifford (Raritan, NJ/Bridgewater) stripped O'Conner and recovered the fumble on the King's 35 yard line. Wilkes would advance to the 18 where Chris Horn (New Tripoli/Northwestern Lehigh) attempted and connected on a 35 yard field goal, making the score 16-13 with 10:43 left in the half.

King's would start its next drive on its own 36, and a 45 yard run by Verbitiski put the Monarchs in scoring position on the first play of the drive. After reaching the Wilkes two yard line, the Colonels executed a three play defensive stand, forcing the Monarch's to a field goal that was blocked by Corey Gilroy (Dunmore, Pa./Dunmore), keeping the score 16-13 and giving Wilkes the ball on its own 20 yard line.

After a three and out, King's gathered the ball with just over five minutes left and traveled 60 yards in 13 plays before Lavin ran in a one yard touchdown. The extra point was blocked by Clifford, making the score 19-16 going into the break.

Wilkes was unsuccessful on its opening drive of the second half but pinned the Monarchs back to their own six yard line on a punt by Nick Genuardi (Sparta, N.J./Sparta). After holding King's to a three and out, the Colonels started their next drive at the Monarch 40 yard line. Wilkes would run seven plays before Alex Watty intercepted Johnson on a screen pass, giving the Monarchs the ball on their own 33 yard line.

King's would then put together another scoring drive, highlighted by a 46 yard scamper by Lavin to the Wilkes nine yard line. Three plays later Lavin found Matt Ihlein for a touchdown and after the extra point King's extended its lead to 10 points with 5:42 left in the third quarter.

After a three and out by the Colonels, King's started its next drive on its own 19 yard line when Phillip Shaw had two runs for 32 yards, moving the Monarchs into Wilkes territory. The Colonels would stop King's there, and start their next drive on their own 15 yard line.

Upon forcing another Colonel punt, the Monarchs started their next drive on their own 18 yard line and rode O'Conner into Wilkes territory with most of his yardage coming on a 26 yard run to the Colonel 47 yard line. Eight plays later King's would punch in another score on an O'Conner one yard run, making the score 33-16 with just over nine minutes left.

Wilkes started its next drive at its own 38 yard line and quickly moved the ball into Monarch territory. On a fourth and 10 from the King's 37 Johnson was sacked by Watty and Vince Pabst, giving the Monarchs the ball with eight minutes remaining in the contest.

Wilkes held King's to a three and out, but on the first play of its next drive quarterback Marc Persing (Coal Township/Shamonkin) was intercepted by Mike Schifalacqua, handing the ball back over to the Monarchs on the Colonel 22 yard line.

Wilkes would be unable to put together another scoring drive, as the game would end with King's winning back the Mayor's Cup for the first time in seven years, 33-16.

The MVP for Wilkes was sophomore running back Zach Tivald (Edison, NJ/Edison) who accumulated 78 yards on 13 carries including the only two touchdowns for the Colonels.

For King's Corey Lavin was honored with the MVP award. Lavin was 6-12 for 101 yards and a touchdown through the air while also rushing for 145 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

On the day Wilkes had 209 total yards of offense, while surrendering 518 yards to the Monarchs, 396 of which came on the ground.

With the loss the Colonels fall to 6-4 on the season, 3-4 in MAC play.