EDWARDSVILLE – King's defensive back Elijah Demosthene recorded three interceptions, two resulting in touchdowns including a 95-yard return for a score on way to team Most Valuable Player honors as the visiting Monarchs posted a 45-0 Middle Atlantic Conference victory over Wilkes University in the 23^rd annual Mayor's Cup game Saturday afternoon at Schmidt Stadium.
 
Wilkes finished the regular season 5-5 overall and tied with five other teams for fourth place in the MAC at 4-4. King's improved to 5-5 overall and also finished tied for fourth in the MAC. It marked the first time Wilkes has reached five wins in a regular season since the Colonels went 5-5 in 2012.
 
After a Wilkes punt to start the game, King's responded with the first scoring drive of the game. Tommy Klock found receiver Gabe Boccella for 24 yards before a 14-yard rush from Jordan Downes moved the Monarchs inside the Wilkes 5. One play later Klock ran in from four yards away to put the Monarchs ahead. The King's extra point was blocked by Derek Schneider (Spotswood, NJ/Spotswood) as King's settled for a 6-0 advantage with 12:14 left in the first quarter.
 
The teams traded punts on the next nine possessions over a defensive-minded first quarter. Wilkes began a promising drive to start the second quarter as Jose Tabora (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/St. Augustine Prep.) found Juan Salas-Negron (Laurys Station, PA/Parkland) for 25-yards down the sideline moving the Colonels to their own 48 yard line. After a Tabora eight yard run, the Monarch defense came through the a 12-yard sack before Demosthene recorded the first of his three picks hauling in a Tabora miscue and returning the ball to the King's 34. The Wilkes defense rose to the occasion following the turnover forcing a King's three and out as the game remained 6-0 with 10:50 left in the first half.
 
On the Colonels next possession, Tabora was picked off again by Demosthene this time returning the interception 15 yards down to the Wilkes 29 setting up the Monarchs with good field position. Three straight short rushes moved the ball to the Wilkes 25 before Klock connected with Boccella on a fourth and six for 15 yards to move the Monarchs within striking distance at the Wilkes 10. From there Klock called his own number again running in from ten yards out as King's extended its lead to 13-0 with 7:09 left in the half.
 
Wilkes saw itself in King's territory late in the half looking for points, but a six yard loss on a rush, incomplete pass and eight yard sack pushed the Colonels back to the King's 36 resulting in a punt.
 
King's began the second half with another scoring drive highlighted by Downes' 57-yard run to setup the touchdown. Three plays later Klock found Boccella for a six-yard touchdown to push the advantage to 20-0 with 12:54 left in the third quarter.
 
Demosthene came through one more time for King's defensively on the next Wilkes drive picking off a Tabora pass for the third time and returning the ball 95 yards for the score as the Monarch lead swelled to 28-0 with 8:54 remaining in the third.
 
King's added a 25-yard field goal to start the fourth quarter to increase its lead to 31-0 before another Downes rushing touchdown moved the Monarchs ahead 38-0 with under seven minutes left in the game. King's put the finishing touches on the win when Charles McCall forced a Tabora fumble and Myles Shelton scooped up the ball and ran it back 30 yards as the King's lead ballooned to 45-0.
 
The Wilkes offense struggled to find its rhythm throughout as the Colonels did not score for the first time in a game all year. Tabora finished 12-for-21 for 94 yards while facing heavy pressure from the King's defensive line being sacked four times. Jeramiah Acker was the Colonels top rusher finishing with 30 yards on four carries. Salas-Negron posted five receptions for 58 yards.
 
Lukas Wood (Quakertown, PA/Quakertown) topped the Wilkes defensive unit with 11 tackles on way to being named the team Most Valuable Player. Vinnie Werner (Duncannon, PA/Susquenita) followed with 10 tackles.
 
For King's Downes rushed for 183 yards and one score. Klock finished with nine carries for 34 yards and two scores while passing for 99 yards (10-for-13) and one touchdown.
 
Wilkes will now await word on a possible Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) bowl berth which will be announced on Monday.