After a heartbreaking 24-21 loss at LVC, Eastern University Football travels to Wilkes-Barre on Saturday for a pivotal MAC match-up with defending conference champion King's College. Both programs enter the weekend 1–1 in league play. With four teams sitting at 2–0 and four at 0–2, the winner will join the upper half of the standings while the loser falls into the bottom group.

King's has won both previous meetings in the series. In 2023, the Monarchs posted a 28–18 home win. Last fall the Monarchs dropped the Eagles to 1-4 on the year with a 62-yard touchdown strike on third-and-2 in the final minutes to secure a 35–23 victory at Radnor Street Road. For Eastern, Saturday offers another opportunity to break through against one of the MAC's traditional powers.

Eastern (2–1, 1–1 MAC) continues to be fueled by a dominant rushing attack. Jeremiah Avrilien, already twice named MAC Offensive Player of the Week this fall, has 410 rushing yards and five touchdowns through three games at 7.5 yards per carry. Quarterback Brett Nabb adds 321 yards and two touchdowns on the ground while throwing for 221 yards and two more scores. The Eagles average 282 rushing yards per game, more than double the 110.7 yards per game King's has allowed.

While the Eagles have converted 75 percent of their red-zone chances into points, their challenge on Saturday will be to finish drives. Eastern is minus-3 in turnover margin through three contests, with six interceptions thrown against just three takeaways on defense. The Eagles have thrown a red-zone interception in each of their two MAC games. While the Eagles rely on a downhill running game, they will need to keep the threat of a pass available to keep the box uncluttered. Eddie Swinton, Justin Nikolopolous, Chris Rivera, and Nassik Smith all have the ability to get behind an inattentive defense or to make tough catches in traffic. 

King's (1–2, 1–1 MAC) also brings a run-first offense. Sophomore back Brennan Robinson averages 104 rushing yards per game and erupted for 183 against FDU-Florham. Quarterback Jaelin Mims has thrown for 397 yards and three touchdowns but has been intercepted five times. The Monarchs are averaging just under 300 yards of total offense per outing while converting only 26 percent of third downs.

Defensively, Eastern has been stout against the run, allowing only 95 rushing yards per game and just 3.4 yards per play overall. The Eagles will look to keep Robinson bottled up and pressure Mims into mistakes. King's has yielded 362 yards and nine touchdowns in three games but remains opportunistic, with six interceptions on the year. Both defenses have proven disruptive inside the red zone—Eastern holding opponents to 50 percent conversions, and King's showing the ability to turn turnovers into points.

Special teams could tilt field position. Eastern punter John Westfield is averaging 38.7 yards per punt with a long of 67 and three punts inside the 20. King's counterpart Gavin Wolfe averages 38.6 with eight inside the 20. Both teams have shown the ability to pin opponents deep, meaning long fields could define Saturday's contest.

The stakes are clear: Eastern seeks its first win over King's and a place in the top half of the MAC standings, while the Monarchs aim to defend home turf and climb back toward contention. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at McCarthy Stadium in Wilkes-Barre.


Key Matchups: Eastern at King's College

Ground Game: Jeremiah Avrilien vs. Brennan Robinson
Two of the top producers in the MAC meet head-to-head. Avrilien leads the league and has topped 400 yards in three games with five touchdowns. He posted a program-record 184-yard outing against Alvernia. Robinson, meanwhile, has averaged over 100 yards per game and is fourth in the league in rushing yards. He has big-play ability and already has a 64-yard  run. He had a 183-yard day against FDU. Containing the opposing star runner will be critical.

Quarterback Decisions: Brett Nabb vs. Jaelin Mims
Nabb's dual-threat ability has given Eastern versatility, but turnovers have been costly. Nabb is third in the league in rushing and has accounted for four touchdowns, but he has thrown a pair of interceptions. Mims has thrown three touchdown passes but has five interceptions. The quarterback who limits mistakes will give his team the edge.

Defense in the Red Zone
Eastern has allowed opponents to score on just half of their red zone opportunities, while King's defense has thrived on timely takeaways. Both offenses have moved the ball, but the ability to finish drives—and avoid empty trips—will be decisive.

Field Position
Both teams have consistent punters capable of flipping the field. Eastern's John Westfield has three punts inside the 20 with a 67-yard long, while King's Gavin Wolfe has placed eight inside the 20. With both defenses showing strength near the goal line, the ability to make the opponent drive the length of the field could swing momentum.

The Coaching Connection
Eastern has a pair of coordinators with familiarity to the King's Program. Offensive Coordinator Nate Hinkle coached offensive line and coordinated the run game at King's in 2018. Special Teams Coordinator Tommy Gilmore played at King's and was on the football staff in Wilkes-Barre last year.