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OCTOBER 1, 2005
BOB ZIADIE
MONARCHS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SUSQUEHANNA TURNOVERS TO POST 56-0
HOMECOMING WIN
WILKES-BARRE -- King's College took advantage of five turnovers to score
a school-record 49-first-half points as the Monarchs posted a 56-0 route
of visiting Susquehanna University on Homecoming Day Saturday at Betzler
Fields.
With the win, King's improved to 2-3 overall and 2-2 in the Middle
Atlantic Conference while Susquehanna slipped to 1-3 and 0-3 in
conference play.
King's would score on the opening possession of the game when Chris
Barnic's 16-yard pass to Joe Tassoni set up a 16-yard scoring run by
John Ortiz to cap a six-play, 50-yard drive. Tim Lust added the
conversion as the Monarchs led 7-0 with 12:18 remaining in the first
quarter.
After the teams traded punts, King's safety Craig Haywood recovered a
fumble by Crusader tailback Anthony Edwards at the Susquehanna 37. After
a 16-yard pass from Barnic to Matt Nicodemus, Jeff Field would score on
a 14-yard touchdown run to extend the King's lead. Lust's kick pushed
the Monarch advantage to 14-0 with 6:57 left in the opening stanza.
On Susquehanna's next possession, Edwards would haul in a short pass
from quarterback Justin Wutti, but coughed up the ball. King's defensive
end George Montras would fall on the fumble at the Monarch 46. Barnic
would find Julian Walker for 35 yards to the Crusader 19 before Ortiz
would score from five yards out four plays later. Lust added the
point-after as King's lead swelled to 21-0 with 3:36 still remaining in
the first period.
The Crusaders would again turn the ball over when the snap from center
went over Wutti's head while in the shotgun formation and King's
linebacker Tore Alaimo recovered at the Susquehanna 25. Ortiz would
eventually score on an eight-yard run and Lust added the point-after as
King's equaled a first-quarter school-record for points in taking a 28-0
lead.
At the start of the second quarter, King's would take over at its own 34
following a Crusader punt. On first down, Barnic found a wide open
Walker downfield for a 66-yard touchdown pass. Lust added the conversion
to increase the Monarch lead to 35-0 with 14:05 left in the half.
On Susquehanna next possession, Brendan Ireton would intercept a pass by
back-up quarterback Dennis Robertson to give King's possession at
midfield. Barnic would connect with Walker for 18 yards to the Crusader
16 before finding tight end Matt Nicodemus for a 14-yard scoring play.
After Lust added his sixth conversion of the half, King's lead swelled
to 42-0 with 11:22 left in the second quarter. The Monarchs first 42
points came over a span of 18:38 in the first half.
Two possessions later the Crusaders would mount their first serious
scoring drive of the half, marching to the King's 18. But Robertson's
pass to Nick Macia was intercepted by Haywood at the King's 10 to end
the threat. Four plays later, Barnic hit Blake Letchford for a 71-yard
strike, the Monarchs' longest scoring play of the year, and Lust kicked
his seventh extra-point of the half as King's took a 49-0 lead with 1:53
left in the half.
In the third period, King's would force Susquehanna to punt on the first
possession of the half and the Monarchs put together its final scoring
drive of the day. Ortiz would cap a seven-play, 58-yard drive with a
three-yard run to give King's a 56-0 lead with 10:58 remaining in the
third period.
Both teams would substitute freely for the remainder of the game as
King's posted its highest point total since a 51-32 victory over
Hartwick in 2000. The Monarchs outgained Susquehanna 532-to-284 in total
yards, averaging 7.7 yards per-play.
Barnic led King's with his best game of the season, completing 10-of-14
passes for 292 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 29.2 yards
per-completed pass. Walker had four catches for 139 yards and one
touchdown while Letchford added two receptions for 102 yards and a
score. Ortiz, who entered the game averaging 156.5 rushing yards
per-game, gained 98 yards on 20 carries and played just the opening
series of the second half. Freshman Jeromia Jones contributed a
season-high 69 yards on 17 carries off the bench while Field totaled 35
yards on five runs.
As a team, Susquehanna turned the ball six times in all. The Crusaders
had three different quarterbacks combine for 18-of-43 for 148 yards and
three interceptions. Robertson was 10-of-21 for 81 yards and two
interceptions while Troy Zimmerman was 6-of-16 for 41 yards and an
interceptions. Nick Friday led the running attack with 46 yards on five
carries while Anthony Edwards gained 34 yards on 12 attempts.
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