King’s Seniors Show Heart In 4-overtime Win

By DOUG PAPE [email protected]
Sunday, November 04, 2001 Page: 5C

WILKES-BARRE TWP. – The seniors were playing possibly their last game at
Betzler Fields and it was fittingly – Senior Day.

The sun was setting in their faces and they already played too much
football.
King’s College was faced with a fourth-and-two on the Albright 6-yard-line
in the fourth overtime. Coach Rich Mannello called time out, brought the
offense to the sideline and asked the seniors what they wanted to do.

It was unanimous, “Let’s go for it.”

Senior quarterback Tom Pierantozzi sprinted around left end for the first
down. And a play later, senior tailback Chris Shivery, who eclipsed the

touchdown to give the Monarchs a grueling 35-32 victory.

“With the way we were playing, we knew we could get it” Pierantozzi said.
“Our line was playing great and it just worked out. Emotionally I’m drained.
It was just a great game between two great teams.”

King’s (6-3 overall, 6-2 in the Middle Atlantic Conference) is now in sole
possession of third place in the league behind Lycoming and Widener – a first
for the program. The team also keeps its sights set on the Eastern College
Athletic Conference playoffs and the possibility of hosting a postseason game.
Albright is 6-3, 5-3.

With :08 left in the game and the scored tied 14-14, the Monarchs had a
chance to win, but a 29-yard field goal attempt was wide right.

King’s got the ball first in overtime and Pierantozzi hit Jim Pio, who
stole the ball from an Albright defender for the touchdown. Pio was
Pierantozzi’s prime target – he made 11 catches for 133 yards.

Then it was time for Hazleton Area graduate Mike Strack to show his mettle.
The Albright quarterback was faced with a fourth-and-23 on the King’s 38. He
dropped back to pass and was in the grasp of Monarch defensive end Steven
Wilson when he lofted a desperation pass down the sideline. Receiver Jesse
Dorais made the catch around the 5 and went in for the score.

“Mike Strack is one of the better quarterbacks I’ve ever been around from
the standpoint of making things happen,” said Lion coach E.J. Sandusky, who
has seen some talented quarterbacks from his offensive line days at Penn
State. “It’s almost like he thrives more under pressure and getting hit a few
times than he does by just sitting in there and having all day to throw a
ball. How he threw that pass I have no idea.”

Wilson got revenge in the second overtime with a blocked field goal. King’s
had another opportunity to win the game in the period, but a 34-yard field
goal attempt was wide left.

In the third overtime, Pierantozzi scored on a 1-yard sneak. By rule, after
two overtimes, teams have to go for two and Pierantozzi hit Merritt Carr for
the conversion to give King’s a 29-21 lead. Buck Scarduzio scored on a 1-yard
run for Albright, and Strack followed by hitting Jason Scheerer on a 1-yard
pass to tie the game.

The Monarch defense stiffened in the fourth overtime. A pass breakup by
Sean Frasier forced a 23-yard field goal by Albright’s George Merrill. Frasier
fumbled twice on punt returns during the game, but made up for it on defense
with 12 tackles, four sacks and an interception.

The Monarchs then made their game-winning touchdown march, which was set up
by four carries from freshman Richard Jackson. He led all rushers with 169
yards on 40 attempts with a score.

The King’s victory sets up next week’s battle for Wilkes-Barre supremacy
against Wilkes University. For Mannello, the Albright win was a moment to
reflect on his seniors.

“This is a bittersweet day,” he said. “I was really struggling in
pregame knowing this might be the last time these guys are going to play here.
It’s like they just got here. We knew they were a special group four years
ago.”