NOVEMBER 14, 2015
KING'S TURNOVERS COSTLY IN 24-17 LOSS TO WILKES IN 20TH MAYOR'S CUP GAME
WILKES-BARRE — The King's College football team committed five turnovers, three which led directly to 17 Wilkes University first-quarter points and the Monarchs would never recover as the Colonels held on for a 24-17 victory in the 20th Mayor's Cup Game Saturday at McCarthy Stadium.
With the loss, King's finished the season with a 3-7 overall record and a 3-6 mark in the Middle Atlantic Conference while Wilkes snapped a seven-game losing streak to end its season at 2-8 and 2-7. Once again, the rivalry proved that regardless of the team's records, anything can happen and usually does. It also marked the sixth straight year the teams played a closely contested game, regardless of the winner.
Things started out poorly for KIng's on the opening possession of the game when the Monarchs went three-and out. A slow, floating snap from center resulted in a blocked punt by Wilkes' Isaiah Robertson and recovered at the Monarch 12. The King's defense held firm and Wilkes settled for a 25-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead with 12:08 left in the first quarter.
On King's next possession quarterback Tom Hehre was sacked and fumbled and the Colonels recovered at the Monarch 44. Three plays later Brandon Latierno broke free for a 37-yard touchdown run to give the Colonels a 10-0 lead with 9:10 remaining in the opening quarter.
King's would get the ball back but disaster would strike again when Hehre found Tyler Marroni on the right flat for a completion. But Marroni was hit and fumbled the ball and Wilkes' defensive back Jared Powell scooped up the loose ball and raced 48 yards for another Colonel touchdown. The extra-point kick made it a 17-0 game after just 6:17 of play.
The Monarchs finally got on the board with a14-play, 92 yard drive that was aided by a successful fake punt on a fourth-and-five play on a short snap to Ryan Singley. The Monarchs later kept the drive away on a fourth-and-seven play when Hehre found Mike Palmer for 27 yards to the Colonel 19. Fibe plays later Hehre again hooked up with Palmer, this time for a nine-yard scoring strike. Mikhail Kniaziewicz added the extra-point kick to cut the lead to 17-7 with 5:31 left in the half, a score that would stand up going into the break.
In the third quarter the Monarchs came out of the locker room and used a 36-yard kickoff by Justin Burke to begin the drive at their 44. A 16-yard pass to Palmer and a 13-yard hookup to Marroni moved the ball to the Colonel 19. The drive would stall, however, and Kniaziewicz made good on a 33-yard field goal to cut the lead to 17-10 with 11:16 left in the third quarter.
But Wilkes answered with a seven-play, 75 yard drive. The Colonels reached the King's 40 when the Monarchs were flagged for a critical personal foul penalty after a four-yard run, moving the ball to the King's 21. On the next play Dailey faked left and scampered off right tackle for a 21-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 24-10 with 8:05 to go in the third.
But KIng's would not go away easy and on the next possession the Monarchs faced a second-and-five play where Hehre found Demarco for a 63-yard touchdown. The point-after cut the lead to 24-17 with 7:56 remaining in the third quarter.
Early in the fourth quarter the Monarchs suffered a blow when Hehre took off for a four-yard run but was injured on the play when the back of his helmet slammed off the playing surface. Hehre exited the game and would not return.
After back-up Zack Whitehead was picked off at the King's 31, the Monarchs got the ball right back when Chad Curtice recovered a Wilkes fumble one play latter at the Monarch 30.
King's would move to its own 45 and was forced to punt with 7:00 left in the game. With King's needing a defensive stop, the Wilkes offense was able to successfully run the ball and methodically picked up three first downs to keep the time moving and eventually ran out the clock to hold on to the victory.
The final bell tolled for King's season with six turnovers, including the blocked punt on the first possession of the game. While the Monarchs held statistical advantages over Wilkes they mattered little in the game's outcome. King's out-gained Wilkes 319-to-276 in total yards. The Colonels held a 141-132 advantage in rushing yards while King's had 187 passing yards compared to 135 for Wilkes.
Hehre led King's with 41 rushing yards on 16 carries but was sacked five times. He completed 10-of-224 passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns with an interception. Demarco had four catches for 90 yards and one score while Palmer also had four receptions for 57 yards and one touchdown.
Defensively for King's, Bobby Russell led the team with 12 tackles, including eight solo stops. Senior defensive end Michael Martina was named King's game MVP after registering 11 tackles with one quarterback sack. Anthony Martuccio and Chad Curtice added six tackles apiece.
For Wilkes, Ryan Dailey completed 17-of-26 passes for 135 yards. Latierno gained 70 yards on 15 carries with one touchdown while Jacob Brook added 62 yards on 16 attempts. William Deemer posted four catches for 11 yards.
Defensively for Wilkes, Tanner Stengel led the way with 10 tackles while Jason Ugwu added seven stops and a forced fumble.
The game also marked the final contest for King's seniors Alex Boron-Magulick, Chris Boyle, James Burke, Justin Burke, Tyler Cruz, Chad Curtice, Dylan Flayhart, Evan Foster, Tom Hehre, Danny Lynch, Michael Martina, Anthony Martuccio, Tyler Mejasic, Gary Poulson, Ryan Singley, Monroe Sherman, and Mark Vetterlein as well as junior Jay Thomas.
Five Turnovers Prove Costly as King's Football Falls to Wilkes 24-17 in 20th Mayor's Cup Game
/seasons/2015/boxscores/20151114_oym5.xml
2015
Wilkes
24
King's
17
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilkes (2-8) | 17 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
| King's (3-7) | 0 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 17 |
Nov 14, 2015