SEASON PREVIEW

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AUGUST 8, 2007 KING'S FOOTBALL PREPPING FOR 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF RETURN TO VARSITY FOOTBALL (Alaimo Back After 2006 Injury, Cirko Move to WR Highlight Start of Training Camp) WILKES-BARRE -- The 2007 season will mark the 15th anniversary of the return of varsity football to King's College. After varsity football ran its course at King's from 1946 through 1963, the sport was discontinued, but reinstated in 1991 as a junior varsity level program. Rich Mannello was hired to resurrect King's football and faced the challenging task of building a program from the ground up. After a two-year building period, the sport was elevated to varsity status in 1993 as the Monarchs officially gained membership in the Middle Atlantic Conference. Mannello, who enters his 17th season at King's, but his 15th officially at the varsity level, owns a 63-81-1 record. He has led King's to the 2002 MAC title and five post-season playoff berths since 2000. King's reached the second round of the NCAA Division III National Playoffs in 2002; won an Eastern College Athletic Conference bowl championship in 2000 and 2001; and finished as an ECAC bowl runner-up in 2003 and 2006. Last season, the King's finished the season with a 6-5 overall record and tied for third place in the Middle Atlantic Conference with a 6-3 mark. Additionally, the Monarchs earned a berth in the ECAC Southeast Bowl. The 2007 Monarchs were picked to finish third according to the MAC Coaches Poll released August 7. Mannello faces the task of molding together a squad that lost 11 starters, including six on offense and five on defense. A number of younger players who saw limited time a year ago will be counted on to step up their level of play and take advantage of the opportunity at hand. The Monarchs do return two starters from the 2005 season who missed the 2006 campaign with injuries. The Monarchs face a brutal schedule in 2007, once again kicking off the season with non-conference foe St. John Fisher, which reached the 2006 NCAA Division III National Playoff semifinals. King's will also play traditional national power Ithaca for the first time since 1963. Top conference opponents include defending MAC champion Wilkes, along with ECAC Bowl participants Widener and Delaware Valley. Tradition-rich Lycoming returns to the Monarch slate after a two-year absence and improving Lebanon Valley, Albright, and FDU-Florham round out the MAC slate King's has also added a traditionally strong Hampden-Sydney (Va.) College squad to its schedule. Hampden-Sydney earned identical 8-2 records in 2004 and 2005, but comes off a 4-6 mark in 2006 after suffering heavy graduation losses from the previous season. Three of the Monarchs victories in 2006 were against teams that are no longer members of the MAC. Moravian (4-6) and Juniata (2-8) departed after the season to join the Centennial Conference, while Susquehanna (2-8) fled to enter the Liberty League. The trio, which finished seventh, 10th, and 11th respectively in the MAC last season, combined for a 8-22 record in 2006. The following is a position-by-position breakdown of the Monarchs as they enter pre-season camp on August 13. THE QUARTERBACKS Offensively, King's returns senior Jeff Searfass (Bethlehem/Freedom/6-3, 225) who started all 11 games for the Monarchs in 2006. In his first year at the helm, Searfass completed 53.2 (117-of-220) percent of his passes for 1,269 yards, seven touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. With a full year under his belt, Searfass figures to be a much more poised signal-caller as a senior. Searfass set King's records in single-season completion percentage and also set the mark of 14-consecutive pass completions in a game in 2006. Looking to challenge Searfass will be sophomores Nick Strom (Rivertown, NJ/Palmyra/6-3, 210) and Corey Lavin (Jackson, NJ/Jackson/6-0, 200) who both played very well as quarterbacks on the Monarch freshmen team a year ago. Strom was the second-string quarterback behind Searfass and saw limited action, completing 5-of-10 passes for 63 yards with one interception. THE RUNNING BACKS The Monarch backfield has traditionally been one of the team's strong points. King's, however, must replace its starting tailback as John Ortiz graduated after compiling 1,980 yards the past two seasons. King's is expected to retain a powerful running game with the return of senior Jeff Field (Scranton/Scranton/5-9, 215) who tallied 605 yards with eight touchdowns backing up Ortiz last season. Field has tallied 1,076 yards in two years as the second-string tailback. Another players looking to see increased time is junior tailback Jeramia Jones (Bristol/Bristol/5-10, 200), who gained 120 yards a year ago and stands as one of the fastest players on the team. Other returning players looking to work their way into the backfield rotation are juniors Gary Bailey (Bethlehem/Bethlehem Catholic/5-7, 170) and Arnell Cozart (Baltimore, MD/Calvert Hall/5-10, 185), along with sophomore John Cataldo (Jamison/C.B/ East/5-7, 170). The Monarchs must replace graduated All-MAC fullback Joe Tassoni, who was a punishing blocker and a capable runner and receiver out of the backfield. Looking to fill the void are senior Dennis Dahms (Haddonfield, NJ/Haddonfield/6-0, 205), the 2006 backup, and sophomore Doug Mucha (Kingston/Wyoming Valley West/6-0, 225), who performed admirably on the freshmen team. THE RECEIVERS King's core of receivers will be counted on for a higher level of production than was seen a year ago. A small group of veteran players return, but the Monarchs also successfully recruited a speedy crop of freshmen who could make an immediate impact. The key to the unit, however, could come from a major positional change. Junior Bob Cirko (Wilkes-Barre/Bishop Hoban/6-1, 185), arguably the Monarchs' best athlete and fastest player, is being moved to wide receiver after starting at cornerback the past two years. The move was validated in King's 2006 regular-season finale against Wilkes when Cirko saw time at split end for the first time in his career and made two spectacular catches of 49 and 36 yards. The Monarch staff are banking that his speed, size, and athletic ability will pay huge dividends on the offensive end. Also returning is senior Chris Maloney (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough/6-3, 225) who moves back to tight end after making a team-high 22 catches for 245 yards and two touchdowns as a wide receiver last year. Junior split end Mike Verbitski (Burlington, NJ/Burlington/6-2, 185) was fifth on the team with 12 receptions for 172 yards and three scores. Senior Kevin Blacketter (Lehighton/Lehighton/6-1, 180) saw time as the second-string receiver while sophomore Miles Hansen (Pleasant Valley, NY/Arlington/5-8, 155) could figure into the mix. THE OFFENSIVE LINE The Monarch offensive line always plays a significant role in the team's success and 2007 will be no different as a veteran cast of four senior starters return. Leading the way is senior Christian Specht (Hunlock Creek/Bishop Hoban/6-4, 290), a returning first-team All-MAC selection a year ago. Specht, who was the team's starting center, will be moved to tackle for his final season. Also back is second-team All-MAC choice Chris Knechel (Quakertown/Quakertown/6-2, 290) who will anchor the other tackle position. Senior Vince DiMedio (Berlin, NJ/Camden Catholic/6-1, 270), is also back for his fourth year at guard while Jason Collins (Norristown/Kennedy-Kenrick/6-2, 295) returns at the other guard position. Sophomore Brandon Cogley (Bethlehem/Freedom/6-2, 290) enters camp as the frontrunner at center, while fellow sophomores Andrew Dalius (Fogelsville/Allentown Central Catholic/6-0, 270) and Zach Dunn (Blackwood, NJ/Washington Twp./6-1, 275) lead the list of returning contenders for playing time. Defensively, King's suffered several key losses, but the return of a pair of 2005 starters who missed the 2006 season because of injuries will return to soften the blow. THE LINEBACKERS King's group of linebackers will serve as the strongest point of the defense. Leading the way for the Monarch defense is fifth-year senior Tore Alaimo (Pittston Twp./Pittston Area/6-0, 240) who returns after missing the entire 2006 season with a shoulder injury. A two-time first-team All-MAC selection and All-Regional performer, Alaimo has enjoyed a brilliant career for the Monarchs and was greatly missed in 2006. In 2005, Alaimo enjoyed an outstanding junior year with 112 total tackles, the second highest total in King's history. His 69 solo stops was also a single-season record at King's while his 15 solo tackles against Moravian stands as the Monarchs' single-game record. He was a 2006 Division III Pre-Season All-American before suffering his injury in a preseason scrimmage. Also back for King's is junior linebacker Tom Tulaney (Clarks Summit/Abington Heights/6-2, 220) who topped the Monarchs last season with 79 total tackles. Junior Matt Rhodes (Shamokin/Shamokin/5-11, 220) is expected to emerge as the third starter after missing part of the 2006 season with an injury and finishing the year with 15 tackles. Sophomore Matt Little (Ballston Spa, NY/Ballston Spa/5-11, 220) is also back after performing admirably as a rookie, making 52 tackles on the year. THE DEFENSIVE LINE The Monarch defensive line will loom as an early question mark due to the graduation of three starters. Junior defensive end Mike Lovett (Bethlehem/Freedom/6-0, 240) lived up to his promise as a sophomore, improving weekly as the season progressed. Lovett finished the year with 54 tackles, including 10.5 tackles for losses and 7.5 quarterback sacks and stood as one of the team's top defensive players by the end of the season. Looking to impact the line is sophomore Clyde Towns (Tobyhanna/Pocono Mt. East/6-1, 220) who played extremely well on the freshmen team in 2006. Junior P.J. Connors (Laflin/Pittston Area/6-2, 250), transferred to King's from St. Lawrence University and brings two years of valuable collegiate experience to the program. Another transfer adds collegiate experience as sophomore Christian Becker (Shoreham, NY/Shoreham West River/6-5, 240) arrives from Hudson Valley Community College. King's secondary will look to overcome the loss of graduated first-team all-American safety Craig Haywood who led all divisions of college football with 12 interceptions last season. With the Monarch coaches moving shutdown cornerback Bob Cirko, a two-year starter, to wide receiver, the secondary will be young and relatively inexperienced. Junior Shane McNamara (Philadelphia/Northeast Catholic/5-10, 175) started at cornerback last season and made 39 tackles with four interceptions but could move to safety. King's also welcomes back junior cornerback Victor Sierra (Pemberton, NJ/Holy Cross/5-11, 175) who missed the entire 2006 season with an injury but maintains sophomore eligibility. Sierra had 44 tackles with seven passes defended and two interceptions in nine contests in 2006. Sophomores Eric Fay (Jamison/C.B. East/5-9, 185), Brian Mitros (Glenside/Bishop McDevitt/5-7, 155), Justin Zlotek (Plymouth/Wyoming Valley West/5-9, 160), and Jay Torres (Lebanon/Lebanon/5-11, 195) will battle for starting berths. THE SPECIAL TEAMS King's special teams will be led by the return of junior Tim Lust (Reading/Reading/6-2, 195) who is back after starting at both kicker and punter last season. As a kicker, Lust has converted on 45-of-53 extra-point kicks in his career while making 8-of-13 field goal attempts. He also had a 34.1 yards per-punt average a year ago, his first as a starter. Sophomore Andrew DeRito (Ridgefield, CT/Ridgefield/5-10, 165), provides depth at both positions. Jeramia Jones is the top return specialist, averaging 17.8 yards in kick returns.                                                                  ###     since 8/8/07

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