Reading, Pa. (Sept. 15, 2018) - FDU-Florham (3-0, 1-0) scored 21 second-half points and started the season 3-0 for the first time in over 20 years with a 49-14 win over Alvernia University (1-1, 0-1) Saturday afternoon in Middle Atlantic Conference football action at Alvernia.
Alvernia scored the final touchdown of the first half to hit the break trailing 28-14, but the Devils forced three turnovers in the second half and kept the Golden Wolves off the board.

"They hit us with some plays and we battled back," said Coach Clark.  "It's growing pains. You have a great effort in week one then you have a bye week and you're faced with adversity in week three."

The decisive moment came midway through the third quarter.  With Alvernia still trailing 28-14, the Wolves defense stiffened inside the red zone and forced a field goal attempt, but a roughing the kicker penalty gave the Devils new life and Jagger Green hit Mike Panzarino on a 6-yard pass to the corner.

Moses Ulysse had a pair of brilliant defensive efforts on 2nd and 3rd downs knocking away back to back fade passes intended for the 6-6 Damarqius Price in the corner, but after the penalty Panzarino laid out for the score on first and goal.

"We hold them to a field goal which is a win," said Clark.  "Then we get the roughing the kicker and that kinda seals the deal for us emotionally.  You could see the energy leave our guys."

Panzarino caught a 9-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter and Alnazir Blackman capped the scoring with a 30-yard run with 8:50 to play.

"We came out and battled in the third quarter," said Clark.  "We came out with a three and out. We came out with great energy.  We have to learn how to keep throwing those punches."

Malcolm Carey led the Alvernia ground attack with 64 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries, and Jordan Day had a team-high 44 receiving yards on three catches with a touchdown.  

The Devils scored on their opening drive then recovered an onside kick and scored again to go up 14-0 with five minutes left in the first quarter.

Green hit Price on the opener then lofted one to Connor Perez for a 53-yard connection on the first play after the onside kick.  Green threw for 291 yards and five scores for the Devils.

Alvernia put together a drive on its third possession going 75 yards on nine plays with Carey rumbling in from 18 yards for his third touchdown of the season.  Jake Dilcher hit Day for a 22-yard play on 3rd and 8 to keep the drive alive. Carey rushed three times on the last five plays of the drive for 36 yards including the 18-yard score.

FDU ran a reverse on the ensuing kickoff with Josh Rainey taking the ball 46 yards to the Alvernia 37.  Five plays later the Devils hit paydirt again with Green connecting with Dermot Egan for a 26-yard score.

Dilcher hit Day on a 10-yard strike with under a minute left in the first half to set the 28-14 score at the break.

Alvernia hits the road for the first time next Saturday for a game at Delaware Valley.

FDU-Florham 49, Alvernia 14