WILKES-BARRE -- Visiting Moravian College used a big 54-yard completion to set up Chris Negron's game-winning touchdown run with 0:51 remaining as the Greyhounds posted a 21-17 victory over host King's College in the 2015 season opener for both teams Saturday night in Wilkes-Barre. The Moravian Comeback spoiled King's attempt to win the first-ever night game played at McCarthy Stadium.
King's trailed 14-10 midway through the fourth quarter when the Monarchs scored the go-ahead touchdown. King's took over at the Moravian 46 following a short Greyhound punt. On the fifth play of the drive Tom Hehre found Mike Palmer for 31 yards to the Moravian four. Two plays later Hehre score from two yards out on a quarterback sneak to put the Monarchs ahead 17-14 with 5:45 left.
After the teams traded punts Moravian took over at its own 23 with 1:23 left. After a 17-yard pass from Mike Hayes to Aaron Hudson, the Greyhounds came up big on the next play when Anderson found Justice Anderson for a 54-yard completion to the King's six. Three plays later Negron broke off right tackle and raced into the end zone for the winning score.
The Monarchs would advance to the Moravian 44 but turned over the ball on downs with 0:26 as the Greyhounds ran out the clock.
Moravian scored on its second drive of the game when the Greyhounds marched 65 yards on six plays, capped by a eight-yard run by Redmond. King's tied the game with a 10-play, 73 yards drive which ended on a 10-yard pass from Hehre to Palmer with 0:34 left in the first quarter.
The Greyhounds recaptured the lead on its next possession with a seven-play, 77-yard drive, finished off by a two-yard run by Redmond with 12:37 left in the second quarter. King's later responded with a drive out its own which ended on a 37-yard field goal by Mikhail Kniaziewicz, trimming the score to 14-10 with 5:47 remaining in the half.
After both teams went scoreless for the next 24 minutes, King's took the lead on Hehre's run before Moravian put together the winning drive.
Hehre completed 18-of-32 passes for 206 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Gabe Brown rushed for 45 yards on 19 carries while Hehre piked up 43 yards on 13 attempts. Matt DeMarco posted a team-high six catches while Palmer followed with four and one score.
Bobby Russell led King's with nine tackles while Michael Martina and Anthony Martuccio finished with eight and seven respectively. Russell and Martina also chipped in with one interception apiece.
Moravian held a 327-to-281 advantage in total yards while the Monarchs owned a 16-12 lead in first downs.
The Greyhounds rushed for 131 yards on 365 carries, led by Chris Negron with 87 yards on 14 attempts with one touchdown. Redmond followed with 50 yards on 12 carries with two scores. Hayes completed 18-of-30 passes for 196 yards and two interceptions
King's returns to the field Saturday when the Monarchs travel to Chester to face defending MAC champion Widener University at 1:00 p.m.