Wilkes Colonels (6-3, 5-3) vs. King's Monarchs (4-5, 3-5)
Saturday, November 13, 2021 - 12:00 p.m.
McCarthy Stadium
 
Game Notes
 
Live Stats
 
Live Video
 
*The game will be televised live by WQMY at:
Comcast Cable: Channel 811 HD
Service Electric W-B: Channel 504 HD
Over the air: 53.1
Satellite: Channel 53
 
THE MATCHUP
Wilkes University concludes its regular season schedule traveling across town for the 25th annual Mayor's Cup game at rival King's College (4-5, 3-5 MAC) at 12:00 p.m. Wilkes (6-3, 5-3 MAC) suffered its third defeat of the year falling 30-0 to No. 10 Delaware Valley University last Saturday in its home finale. King's has lost two straight including a 35-10 defeat at Stevenson University last week.
 
THE HEAD COACHES
Jonathan Drach (Western Michigan '04) was named head coach of the Wilkes University football team on February 8, 2018 becoming the ninth mentor of the program since its inception in 1946. Drach will continue to serve as the offensive coordinator during the 2021 season as well as working with the quarterbacks. Wilkes continued its success under Drach in 2019 when he led the Colonels to an 8-3 overall record, finishing 6-2 in Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) play and earning a postseason berth for the first time since 2010 and the program's first trip to the Centennial-MAC Bowl Series. The eight wins were also the most since 2006 for the program. Drach pioneered one of the biggest turnarounds in Division III football in 2018 when he led the Colonels to a 6-4 record after the team went winless in 2017. Four Colonels were named All-MAC under Drach in 2018 and 2019. Drach came to Wilkes after 11 years at Hobart. As the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, he was instrumental in leading the Statesmen to six Liberty League Conference championships, seven NCAA playoff appearances and three consecutive undefeated regular seasons. Drach coached the Liberty League Offensive Player of the Year in 2007, 2014, 2016 and 2017 and the ECAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2007 and 2016. He also coached seven All-League quarterbacks and a Bill Middleton Memorial Football Award Winner. A native of St. Charles, Ill., Drach earned his bachelor's degree in business finance and economics from Western Michigan University in 2004. A three-year starter, he enjoyed his finest year as a senior, completing a single season record 67 percent of his passes for 1,499 yards and 13 TDs.
 
Jeff Knarr (East Stroudsburg '94) is in the midst of his 12th season at King's where he owns a 37-63 overall record including a 33-48 mark in MAC contests. Knarr came to King's after serving 11 years as an assistant coach at Muhlenberg where he spent the final four years as offensive coordinator. He was instrumental in helping the Mule program to six Centennial Conference championships and five NCAA Division III National Playoff berths. King's offense has continued to evolve under Knarr as the
Monarchs led the Middle Atlantic Conference in 2016 with 414.8 total yards per-game and 287.3 passing yards each contest. Knarr played two seasons at Fordham University as a free safety before transferring to Western Maryland College where he played his final two years as a linebacker before earning his degree from East Stroudsburg in 1994

THE SERIES
This will be the 34th meeting between the two schools, with Wilkes holding a 22-11 advantage in the series. Wilkes posted a 24-14 victory in 2019 in the team's last meeting. Wilkes also holds a 15-9 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 George Brown presiding.
 
UP NEXT
The Colonels will await a possible postseason game, which would be their second-ever Centennial-MAC Bowl Series game.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES OFFENSE (MULTIPLE)
- Wilkes ranks third in the MAC in scoring offense (25.1), third in total offense (369.3), second in rushing offense (160.1), and third in passing offense (209.2).
 
- Wilkes has used a balanced attack on offense reaching the end zone 14 times on the ground and 15 times through the air. The Colonels rank fifth in the MAC in first downs per-game at 19.1 and stay on the field by converting third downs at 38.1 percent (fifth in the MAC).
 
- Senior quarterback Jose Tabora (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/St. Augustine Prep.) became the school's all-time passing yards leader as well as touchdown passes thrown earlier this year. Tabora enters today's game with 7,612 career yards passing. He has 62 career touchdown passes and 617 completions, a record he broke three weeks ago against LVC. Tabora was named the MAC Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season after accounting for all three scores for the Colonels in the win against the Mustangs in week five. He ranks sixth in the conference with 164.9 passing yards per-game and fifth with a 126.0 QB efficiency.
 
- The run game has been strong all season thanks to the duo of sophomore Kamaal Reed (Egg Harbor City, NJ/Cedar Creek) and first year Elijah Jules (Red Bank, NJ/Red Bank Catholic). Reed is the third leading rusher in the MAC averaging 74.3 yards per-game and four touchdowns.  His 6.8 yard per-carry average is also good for fourth best in the conference. Reed was the MAC Offensive Player of the Week in week one following his performance during a 46-7 win over Keystone. Teammate Jules ranks ninth in the MAC in yards per-game (58.6) and sixth in yards per-carry (5.9). The duo has rushed for over 1,000 yards and nine of the Colonels 14 rushing scores on the season. Jules went for a career-high 124 yards on 16 carries and one score against LVC three weeks ago.
 
- Sophomore Nate Whitaker (Upper Darby, PA/Haverford School) has emerged as the Colonels top threat on the outside hauling in 28 catches for 536 yards and five touchdowns on the year. Whitaker was named MAC Offensive Player of the Week following the loss at Lycoming after a seven-catch, 227-yard performance including three touchdowns. It marked the second weekly conference award for Whitaker. Fellow sophomore Jason Schweizerhof (Warninster, PA/William Tennent) follows with 22 receptions for 244 yards and two scores while sophomore Cory Pelzer (Somerset, NJ/The Pennington School) posts 23 catches for 367 yards and three touchdowns. Pelzer recorded his longest score of the season in the loss at Widener when he hauled in a 68-yard pass from Tabora.
 
- Junior tight end Jacob Katz (New City, NY/Clarkson North) has posted 14 catches for 135 yards and one touchdown on the season while first year Devin Higgins (Pennington, NJ/Hopewell Valley) totals eight receptions for 120 yards and one score.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES DEFENSE (4-3-4)
- Wilkes is third in the MAC in scoring defense (19.3), third in total defense (300.0), sixth in rushing defense (143.8), and fourth in passing defense (156.2).
 
- For the season the Colonel defense has intercepted the second most passes in the MAC (12) and recovered four fumbles while posting 23 sacks (third in the MAC).
 
- Sophomore linebacker Dante Gazzola (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) leads the Colonels defensive unit with 64 total tackles, 5.0 tackles-for-loss, 1.5 sacks and two interceptions while breaking up four passes in coverage duties. He is 12th in the MAC in tackles and 14th in tackles per-game (7.1). Twin brother Nick Gazzola (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) follows with 57 total tackles, 9.0 tackles-for-loss, 3.5 sacks and one interception.
 
- Sophomore defensive back Dylan Walck (Hamlin, PA/Western Wayne) posts 62 total tackles anchoring the Colonels secondary. Walck is 11th in the league with 7.8 tackles per-game and recorded a season-high 12 tackles in the loss against DVU. First Year linebacker Oyame Adoga (Clementon, NJ/Highland Regional) enjoyed the best game of his career last week posting a game-high 13 tackles, 2.0 tackles-for-loss and one sack.
 
- Sophomore Adam Piston (Laurys Station, PA/Parkland) has been solid on the Wilkes front four this year adding 42 tackles and a team-high 9.0 tackles-for-loss. First year defensive lineman Steele Hess (Palmerton, PA/Whitehall) adds 37 tackles, 5.0 tackles-for-loss and 2.0 sacks.
 
SCOUTING THE WILKES SPECIAL TEAMS
- Sophomore Nate Whitaker (Upper Darby, PA/Haverford School) was selected the MAC Special Team Player of the Week after taking the opening kickoff of the second half back for a 91-yard touchdown to give Wilkes a 10-0 lead against Alvernia in week four.
 
- Sophomore kicker Justin Pollack (Sloatsburg, NY/Suffern) is 3-for-5 in field goal attempts this year including a season-long of 29 yards against Alvernia. Pollack added a 28-yard field goal in the win against LVC two weeks ago. He is now 22-for-25 on PATs this season.
 
- First year kicker/punter Alex Orlando (Allentown, PA/Emmaus) ranks first in the MAC with a 40.5 yards-per-punt average. He made three punts last week averaging 29.0 yards. Orlando has also handled the kickoff duties with a 52.6 yard per-kick average on 36 attempts.
 
- Jules is averaging 11.3 yards per-punt return on 15 attempts. Whitaker has taken 14 kickoff returns for 383 yards and one touchdown averaging 27.4 yards per-return.
 
 SCOUTING THE KING'S OFFENSE (MULTIPLE)
- King's is ninth in the MAC in scoring offense (17.0), sixth in total offense (311.3), fourth in rushing offense (155.2), and eighth in passing offense (156.1).
 
- Senior quarterback Tyler Moore is eighth in the MAC with 121.2 passing yards-per-game and sixth with a 55.2 completion percentage. He has gone 111-for-201 for 1,091 yards with five touchdowns and six interceptions through nine games.
 
- First year Brennan Robinson is the fifth leading rusher in the league averaging 68.4 yards per-game including 7.7 yards a carry with six touchdowns (third in MAC). Senior quarterback Tekoah Guedes uses his legs when called upon rushing 83 times for 323 yards and three scores.
 
- Senior Gabe Boccella is the top outside threat for the Monarchs hauling in 39 catches (fifth in MAC) for 368 yards and two scores. Senior Tim Costantino adds 21 receptions for 248 yards and one touchdown while senior Brandon Cohen posts 27 catches for 208 yards and one score.
 
SCOUTING THE KING'S DEFENSE (4-3-4)
- King's ranks seventh in the MAC in scoring defense (23.1), seventh in total defense (323.9), fifth in rushing defense (111.6), and ninth in passing defense (212.3).
 
- Senior linebacker Brandon Mozeleski tops the unit with 77 total tackles (4th in MAC), 11.5 tackles-for-loss, 3.0 sacks and one interception. He has posted at least five or more tackles in every game this season.
 
- Junior defensive back Joseph Carchio has a team-high six pass break-ups and two forced fumbles while posting 58 total tackles in nine games.
 
SCOUTING THE KING'S SPECIAL TEAMS
- Junior kicker Kyle Prescavage is 9-for-12 on field goals this season including a season-long of 43 yards. He is also 10-for-12 in PAT's.
 
- Boccella has taken 12 punt returns for 182 yards (15.1 yards per-return) including a long of 43 yards.