Wilkes Colonels (3-6, 3-5 MAC) vs. King's Monarchs (4-5, 4-4 MAC)
Saturday, November 12, 2016 - 12:00 p.m.
Schmidt Stadium
 
Game Notes
 
Live Stats
 
Live Video
 
Live Audio: (ESPN Williamsport: Chris Del Sordo, play-by-play)
 
Live TV: The game will be televised locally on FOX 56, via Comcast Cable channels 5 or 809 HD; Service Electric Cable channels 5 and 505 HD; and DirectTV and Dish Network channel 56. The game will also be web-streamed over the Internet at www.myfoxnepa.com. Bob Ide and Joe DeMelfi will call the action while Erin Dugan will serve as sideline reporter.
 
THE MATCHUP
Wilkes University plays host to the 21st annual Mayor's Cup game against cross-town rival King's College on Senior Day Saturday at 12:00 p.m. at Schmidt Stadium. Wilkes looks to finish the season winning its third straight game after one of the biggest upsets of the year posting a 38-35 win at then unbeaten No. 23 Stevenson University last week. King's stands 4-5 overall and 4-4 in MAC play following its home season finale loss against Widener 30-17 last week.
 
THE HEAD COACHES
Colonels coach Trey Brown (Colorado '93) enters his third year at the helm of the program in 2016. In just two years, Brown has coached fifteen Colonels who earned All-MAC honors including first team tight end Jeremy Hartman in 2014 and Jason Ugwu (Collegeville, PA/Perkiomen Valley) in 2015. Under Brown's guidance, the Colonels offense ranked in the top five in several offensive statistical categories including passing yards and plays per-game. In a game at Delaware Valley in 2014, the Wilkes offense ran 113 plays, a Division III regulation game record. Brown came to Wilkes after four years serving as the quarterbacks and special teams' coordinator at Muhlenberg. In his role with the Mules, Brown was responsible for coaching the quarterbacks, wide receivers, and special teams as well as the installation of the pass game. Prior to his time at Muhlenberg, Brown spent four seasons as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Lehigh University. The Mountain Hawk offense scored 30 or more points 15 times during his tenure and led the Patriot League in scoring in 2006, when its quarterback was named to the All-Patriot League first team.
 
Jeff Knarr (East Stroudsburg '94) enters his seventh season at King's in 2016. Knarr came to King's after serving 11 years as an assistant coach at Muhlenberg where has spent the last four years as offensive coordinator while serving as the program's quarterbacks-receiving coach and recruiting coordinator since 2001. As the offensive coordinator/recruiting coordinator at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Jeff Knarr was instrumental in helping the Mule program to six Centennial Conference championships and five NCAA Division III National Playoff berths, including berths in 2007 and 2008. He joined the Muhlenberg staff in 1999 where he served as the defensive line coach for two seasons. In 2001 he became the Mules' recruiting coordinator, ultimately helping Muhlenberg develop into one of the top programs in the Centennial Conference.
 
THE SERIES
This will be the 30th meeting between the two schools, with Wilkes holding a 21-8 advantage in the series. Wilkes posted a 24-17 win in last season's meeting at McCarthy Stadium. Wilkes also holds a 14-6 lead in Mayor's Cup games since the teams began playing for the cup in 1996. The Mayor's Cup tradition began with former Wilkes-Barre Mayor Thomas McGroarty and has remained intact through today with current Mayor Tony George presiding.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES OFFENSE (SPREAD)
- Rookie Jose Tabora (Richland, NJ/St. Augustine Prep.) will try to continue his success under center in his third career start after posting wins in his first two starts as a Colonel. Tabora set school records in both passing yards (453 yards) and touchdowns (five) in a single game in the upset over Stevenson last week. For his performance in the win over Stevenson, Tabora was named MAC Offensive Player of the Week. A week prior, Tabora received his first start in place of an injured Ryan Dailey (Easton, PA/Wilson) where he accounted for three touchdowns throwing for two scores while running for one. He finished 9-for-17 for 120 yards passing and ran 17 times for another 81 yards on the ground including the opening drive score in a 28-26 victory over Lycoming.
 
- Wilkes' top target has been William Deemer (Washington Township, NJ/Warren Hills) who was named MAC Offensive Player of the Week after a breakout performance against Misericordia in week three. Deemer caught nine passes for 168 yards and two scores in the home win. He followed that performance with his second straight 100+ yard game finishing with nine catches for 126 yards at Widener in a narrow Wilkes defeat in week four. Deemer got back over the 100+ yard receiving mark last week at Stevenson, catching eight passes for 116 yards and one score. For the season, Deemer leads a deep and talented receiving core posting 45 receptions for 587 yards and five touchdowns. He ranks ninth in the MAC with 65.2 yards per-game receiving and ninth in yards receiving.
 
- The Colonel rushing game boasts a balanced and deep attack with four players netting over 100+ yards. Jacob Brook (Layton, NJ/Kittatinny) tops the unit with 434 yards and three touchdowns on 106 carries. Tabora follows with 313 yards and a team-high four scores on 68 attempts, all from designed quarterback runs. Devon Fink (Pottstown, PA/Pottsgrove) has tallied 139 yards on 49 attempts.
 
- Wilkes ranks sixth in the MAC in scoring offense (25.3 ppg), fifth in total offense (380.3 ypg) and fourth in passing offense (251.4).
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES DEFENSE (3-4)
- Tanner Stengel (Allentown, PA/Parkland) remains one of the best tacklers in the MAC standing second in the conference with 104 total stops including 50 solo tackles. Stengel is averaging 11.6 tackles per-game, good for second in the MAC among all defenders. For his play against Lycoming two weeks ago, including a career-high 20 tackles and 1.5 sacks, Stengel was named MAC and ECAC North Defensive Player of the Week.
 
- Jordan Stiles (Camp Hill, PA/Cedar Cliff) and Lukas Wood (Quakertown, PA/Quakertown) have joined Stengel to solidify the middle of the Colonel defense. Stiles has totaled 44 tackles, 3.0 sacks and one interception while Wood has also posted 48 tackles and 4.5 tackles-for-loss. Stiles interception came in a crucial time in the win at Stevenson last week where the sophomore returned it 90 yards setting up a Colonel score one play later.
 
- As a unit, Wilkes is allowing 163.1 yards per-game on the ground (5th in MAC) while giving up 247.9 yards per-game through the air (10th in the MAC).
 
SCOUTING KING'S OFFENSE (PRO I)
- The King's offense is averaging 27.7 points per-game ranking fourth in the MAC. The Monarchs rank eighth in rushing (119.6) while showcasing the best passing offense in the conference throwing for over 286.0 yards per-game through nine games this season. Quarterback Zach Whitehead is the MAC's top passer throwing for 2,533 yards on 221-for-372 and 16 touchdowns.
 
- The Monarchs feature one main back while also running Whitehead out of the backfield on designed runs. Alvonte Thompson has run for 448 yards on 85 carries and two scores. Whitehead posts 412 yards on a team-high 114 attempts and 11 touchdowns, ranking second in the MAC.
 
- King's features a trio of wide receivers who have caught over 40 passes and accumulated over 400+ yards receiving. Tyler Marroni posts 47 receptions for 682 yards and three scores. Mike Palmer has caught 48 passes for 530 yards and a team-high four touchdowns.
 
SCOUTING KING'S DEFENSE (MULTIPLE 3-4)
- King's features the top tackler in the MAC in linebacker Bruce Damon who has posted 117 tackles including 62 solo stops. Damon also adds 12.5 tackles-for-loss and a team-high 8.0 sacks in nine games this year. Fellow linebacker Bobby Russell follows with 78 tackles and two interceptions.