Reading, Pa. (Oct. 30, 2021) - Stevenson University (3-5, 3-3) scored 28 unanswered as the Mustangs topped Alvernia University (0-8, 0-6) 35-6 on Saturday afternoon in MAC football action at Alvernia.

After leading Alvernia by just one point, 7-6, midway through the second quarter, the Mustangs used two quick scores in the second quarter to start its surge ahead to a 35-6 win.

The Golden Wolves received the opening kickoff and started the afternoon with a 5-yard completion from Kevin Washington to Neeko Scurlock. An offsides penalty on the Mustangs gave Alvernia a first down, but three plays later Washington fumbled the ball away on a scramble to give the Mustangs the ball at their own 46 yard line.

The Mustangs worked their way down the field on an eight-play drive that was propelled by a 32-yard completion from Ryan Sedgwick to Cory Jones. A 2-yard rush by Brandon Walker put the Mustangs in the end zone for the first time of the day and the ensuing successful extra point gave them a 7-0 lead.

While Alvernia's offense struggled to get anything going, the Golden Wolves defense held firm and kept the game at 7-0 going into the second quarter with the Mustangs driving down the field. 

Facing a 1st and 15 on the Alvernia 20, Sedgwick threw the ball two yards deep into Alvernia's endzone in the direction of Steven Smothers. Jakeem Jackson, in coverage on Smothers, got a hand on it to deflect the ball-up. Alvernia's Jamel Fleming was able to make the interception and ran it all the way back to Alvernia's 40 yard line to give the Golden Wolves solid field position. 

After a 1-yard rush by Malcolm Carey to start the drive, Washington connected with Owen Morton for a 20 yard gain. Alvernia kept working its way down the field and had themselves in a 2nd and 9 situation on the Stevenson 17. Washington connected with Scurlock for a 17 yard reception to put Alvernia on the board. Alvernia missed the PAT to keep the game at 7-6.

Both teams punted the ball away on their next drives before Stevenson received the ball at its own 33-yard line with 6:12 left in the half. Four of Stevenson's next five plays were receptions by wide receiver Darian Littlejohn that pushed the Mustangs down to the Alvernia 9-yard line. Two plays later, Sedgwick found Brandon Booze for a 10-yard reception and a Mustang touchdown to make it a 14-6 game.

The Golden Wolves could get nothing going on their next drive, and faced a 4th and 24 on their own 21. Alvernia's punt was blocked and recovered by Stevenson on the Alvernia 16 yard line to put the Mustangs in the red zone to start their next drive.

Stevenson needed just two plays to add to its lead, Sedgwick connecting with Littlejohn for an 11-yard touchdown. The successful PAT gave Stevenson a 21-6 lead with 2:15 left in the second quarter.

After Alvernia punted its next possession away, the Golden Wolves seemed to get a momentum swing after Pasquale Savarese had a sack-fumble recovered by Luke Ammarell at the 50-yard line with less than a minute in the first half.

Alvernia failed to pick up a first down on the next drive and trailed the Mustangs 21-6 going into the half.

Coming out of the half, the Mustangs received the opening kickoff and took it 60 yards down to the Alvernia 15 yard line. The Mustangs threw a 14-yard pass to the Alvernia 1-yard line, but offensive pass interference pushed Stevenson back to the Alvernia 30. Facing a 4th and 22 two plays later, the Mustangs elected to go for it but could not convert.

Alvernia's next drive went 3-and-out as the Golden Wolves punted away to the Stevenson 28-yard line.

The Mustangs worked their way down the field and a 21-yard completion on 2nd and 4 put the Mustangs on the Alvernia 3-yard line. The next play, Walker rushed it in for his second of the day to give Stevenson the 28-6 advantage.

Both teams went 3-and-out on their next drives.

Two drives later, Stevenson took over at their own 49-yard line with 1:22 left to play. The Mustangs needed just one play, a 51-yard pass to Littlejohn, to extend its lead to 35-6.

Alvernia's offense continued to struggle in the fourth quarter, picking up just one first down. 

The Mustangs took over with just over seven minutes remaining and ran the clock down on the ensuing drive. Stevensonr rushed the ball on 11 straight plays to wind the clock down to double zeros and come away with the 35-6 win.

Washington finished the day with 96 yards in the air with 12 completions on 18 attempts. Carey finished his day with 32 yards on 13 attempts. Scurlock finished with 45 yards on six receptions and Morton had 32 yards on three receptions.

On the defensive side of the ball, Fleming finished with 11 tackles and an interception. Anthony Hugee finished with nine tackles. Savarese finished with two sacks and a forced fumble.

Sedgwick was 15-for-23 with 266 yards and three touchdowns. Littlejohn finished with 156 yards on eight receptions and two touchdowns.

Alvernia returns to action next week on the road at FDU-Florham.