WILKES-BARRE – Senior quarterback Xavier Powell (Poughkeepsie, NY/Arlington) captured his form from two years ago to once again defeat cross-town rival King's College in the 28^th Mayor's Cup matchup at McCarthy Stadium on Saturday evening, 43-28, marking the first collegiate head coaching win for David Biever.

King's drew first blood as quarterback Russell Minor-Shaw scored on a five yard touchdown run at 11:28 in the first. On 3^rd and 18, Powell and the Wilkes offense responded with a 51-yard touchdown pass and took the lead with another deep bomb to Juju Fears (Easton, PA/Easton Area) 58 yards to paydirt. With 6:57 to play in the first, Wilkes held a 14-7 lead.

The Monarchs leveled the scoring with a 33-yard touchdown pass to Jayon Hailey with 3:14 left in the first. Powell once again unleased the arm and connected with Zane Grover (East Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) on a 54-yard touchdown to take a 21-14 lead into the second quarter.

The Colonel defense forced a punt out of the Monarchs to start the second quarter, and Elijah Jules (Red Bank, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) got loose on a check down from Powell to put the blue and gold at the two-yard line, and Powell punctuated the quick drive with a touchdown run. A tricky play on the two-point conversion saw linebacker Tyler Wetzel (Sellersville, PA/Pennridge) hit Jack Howell (Bloomsburg, PA/Bloomsburg) in the back corner of the endzone to take a 29-14 lead with 12:30 to play in the half.

A methodical drive put the Monarchs back in the endzone thanks to a catch by Ryan McCombs, making it a 29-21 game with seven minutes to play in the quarter, and that's how the half would end.

Jules found the endzone to open the second half for the Colonels, breaking free up the middle on a 39-yard scamper to put Wilkes up 36-21. The senior's touchdown was the lone score of the quarter in a defensive slugfest, but King's found themselves knocking on the door after a long drive.

Donnell Mackey-Woodson opened the final frame with an emphatic interception in the endzone to keep the Monarchs at bay. With 4:12 left in the game, Powell put the nail in the coffin as he fired his fourth touchdown pass of the game to Devin Higgins (Pennington, NJ/Hopewell Valley) to make it a 43-21 game. The Monarchs scored one more touchdown with 1:03 left in the game, but the Colonels already had one hand on the Cup and made it two hands when the clock read all zeroes.

Powell was named Mayor's Cup MVP after going 11/18 through the air for 283 yards and four touchdowns, adding 65 yards on the ground with another touchdown. Jules was the leading rusher for the team with 84 yards and a touchdown and led in receiving yards with 66 on two catches.

On defense, Tallen Murray (Vineland, NJ/Saint Joseph Academy) and Rob Barbieri (Avoca, PA/Pittston Area) both had a team-high 12 tackles, while Steele Hess (Allentown, PA/Whitehall) had the lone sack of the game.

Minor-Shaw was named King's MVP going 28/35 for 255 yards and three touchdowns, adding 70 yards on the ground and a rushing touchdown of his own. Jayon Hailey led the team in rushing and receiving with 74 yards on the ground and 65 through the air with a receiving touchdown.

The Colonels take the field next week for their home opener against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on Friday, September 13^th at 6:00 p.m.