Sports

By Dave Rosengrant drosengrant@timesleader.com
Sports Reporter

The 14th annual Mayor’s Cup game this afternoon features several key matchups that could decide the outcome.

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Safety Sean Madden has been one of the leaders of the Wilkes defense. The senior is second on the team in tackles and has had interceptions that sealed victories over a pair of MAC opponents.

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King’s wide receiver Mike Verbitski hopes to add to his record-setting career today in his final collegiate football game.

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Perhaps the most interesting situation pits a King’s receiver against a Wilkes defensive back.

That’s when one of the most dominating wide receivers in the MAC, the Monarchs’ Mike Verbitski, is sure to go against the Colonels’ Sean Madden at some point this afternoon.

Verbitski, a senior out of Burlington, N.J., has become an impact player for the Monarchs after blowing out his knee in 2007 and playing in just two games that season.

He already has set the King’s school record for touchdown catches in a season, with 13, and tied the record for three receiving scores in a game when he accomplished the feat earlier this year against Springfield and last year against Ithaca.

His 54 receptions are second in school history in a season and he needs just three today to break the record. He also has 838 receiving yards this season, which is also second in King’s history. A 155-yard performance this afternoon at McCarthy Stadium will tie the record set in 2005.

In addition to those numbers, he tops the MAC in receiving yardage per game, with 93.1, and total scoring, with 80 points. Verbitski is also second in the conference in receptions, just one behind FDU-Florham’s Kyle Bukowiec, as the versatile King’s wideout has drawn several double teams throughout the season.

“He’s a physical specimen. He’s built himself into a tremendous athlete,” King’s coach Rich Mannello said. “When you have a guy line up out there that you know they have to defend – especially when we run the ball – but when you can throw it to him and usually have to have two guys watching him at some point, it opens up a lot more for the offense. He’s a guy that when you call his number more often then not he’s going to come down with it.”

Madden, a Dunmore grad, entered training camp as part of a platoon running back situation for the Colonels. His athleticism and frame at 6-foot-1, 200 pounds prompted coach Frank Sheptock to ask the senior to move into the secondary where he would see more playing time.

After a few days to think about the move, Madden decided to take his coach’s advice.

It has paid immediate dividends.

Not only is he second on the team in tackles, playing from the safety position, but he has had two key interceptions this season to seal victories against FDU-Florham and Widener. He has also become a team leader on and off the field.

“I don’t think it could have worked out better for us,” Sheptock said about Madden’s move to defense. “He has become an impact player. Being that he has seen more time on the field, he became more vocal, talked to the team more. He’s a very quality young man and has a lot to offer, so we’re very pleased that he had done that.”

Madden also has wreaked havoc on opposing offenses by creating opportunities for other defensive backs to work their magic. Kevin Gerhart and Corey Gilroy each have three interceptions this season, and Darnell Corbin has a pair.

“They’re pretty big kids and physical, especially (Madden) and Gilroy,” Mannello said about the Wilkes secondary. “They got big guys back there, and they can tackle well. They are really good open-field tacklers, so that’s a big advantage for them.”

How many times Madden and Verbitski will go up against each other will be dictated by the play of the game, but it seems likely that one of them could have a big impact on which team claims the gold cup at game’s end.