Right On Tynes | There haven’t been many jubilant moments in a loss-frequented fifth campaign for Jeff Knarr and King’s Football, but following a somber loss to a top-ranked team, something positive finally came out of a typical day on the turf.
For the first time in five times this season, really in 26 times in four years at this college, there was a good day entrenched in what has become relatively regular for King’s football.
There wasn’t much bounce as the Monarchs exited Betzler Field at McCarthy Stadium on Saturday. This was the opportunity to steal a win from a fabled club, then, the No. 18 team in the nation at this level of collegiate football. But they did what’s become typical of this team, 35 times too typical for Jeff Knarr in five years.
But it wasn’t what they did that should cause commotion – well it should, but alas – it’s how they rebounded, how they’ve reacted when the dust cleared and the cameras turned off.
Monarch Football is oozing confidence en route to another tangle with a top-ranked opponent. And this week, it’s more than necessary.
“It gives them confidence to move forward for the last two games,” Knarr said about last week’s loss during his weekly media availability on Thursday, his hands placed solidly on his wooden desk.
“They all believed it, but then they went out and proved that we were a few plays here and there and we could have got that win. It builds from an excitement standpoint and [gives the] confidence to say ‘hey, we belong on this stage and we can play with these types of teams.’”
But belonging and playing are two different animals. King’s currently doesn’t belong in the same sentence as Widener when it comes to talent, they’ve allowed 223 points to the Pride since their last win against the squad in 2009, losses coming in the forms of 70-0 and 41-6 knockouts at McCarthy and on the road.
And that date was one of three times in the college’s storied history that they’ve beat Widener. In 22 games, the Pride have struck 18 times in victory. Knarr has never beaten the team and new coach Mike Kelly is in his first season with the program and has never lost.
Though the odds may be stacked, King’s is rolling into Saturday’s contest with new life and Knarr seems unbothered with what is against him. The flaws for this team are apparent. But what hasn’t been is a non-tangible element that has surfaced after the typical.
The heart of this club, this year, is unparalleled to any in Knarr’s tenure. They want to win. And they feel like they deserve to. This stout Monarch defense did hold Delaware Valley to their lowest scoring output of the season last week.
“No,” Knarr said emphatically about if there was anything stopping his defense from doing the same to Widener as they did to Del-Val.
“Our kids are playing pretty good on defense. It’s a matter of us giving up a big play where things spiral out of control. We just need to do our job, run to the football, get off blocks and make the quarterback go under some pressure when he has to throw. We need to minimize their explosiveness…that should carry into our confidence that our kids can do that.”
For one day – though angst in the transgressions that come with another loss – there was a lighter step in the long march of King’s season.
Knarr’s five-year rebuilding program took it’s next step since an exciting six-win 2013 season. They pulled their pants up and played with the big dogs and passed all expectations.
And in this upside-down season, you take the upbeat moments as they come and swing that momentum towards anything substantial, victories included. Plus, Saturday isn’t just about beating the Pride. It’s about the seniors as well.
18 men vs. No. 11 Widener, for their final walk down of the season on the emerald turf engulfing Betzler Field two steep miles from O’Connor Park crisscrossing past Lane’s Lane at King’s College.
The loss to Del-Val, though it stung, gave the Monarchs a rare silver lining in a loss filled season. If there was ever a time to beat Widener, to gain redemption in the eyes of their student constituency, now is as ripe as ever.
Saturday is creeping to it’s climax.
“Make them earn what they get,” Knarr said about his defense lining up against an explosive Widener offense. “Do your jobs, do your techniques and then try to limit them from having the ability to make a huge play and get a cheap score. Make them earn it.”
Ice Cube could’t rap it any better. Nappy Roots couldn’t perform it any clearer. Saturday was and will be, at it’s core, a “good day”. And on this occasion, the aforementioned is for Monarch Football.
Tyler R. Tynes is a college senior from Philly studying mass communications. His email address is TylerTynes@Kings.edu. “Right On Tynes” appears every Friday. Follow him on Twitter @TylerRickyTynes