Wilkes, Pa. (September 25, 2021) - Alvernia University (0-4, 0-2) turned the ball over five times as the Golden Wolves were shutout by Wilkes University (3-0, 2-0) in a 23-0 decision on Saturday afternoon in MAC football action at Wilkes.
Alvernia appeared to be off to a fast start on the opening drive of the game. The Golden Wolves converted a 3rd and 3 on their own 19 after a seven yard completion to Owen Morton. On the next play, Alvernia's Malcolm Carey broke off for a 57 yard run, but Carey lost the ball on the Wilkes 15 yard line. In a close call the officials rules that Wilkes gained possession before the ball went out of bounds, halting Alvernia's opening drive and giving the Colonels the ball on their own 15.
Alvernia's defense held strong though, forcing a punt on the Wilkes 46, and giving Alvernia the ball on its own 13.
The Golden Wolves and Colonels traded possessions for the remainder of the first quarter and entered the second frame in a 0-0 tie.
Wilkes took over the ball on its own 39 yard line to open the second quarter. The Colonels worked their way down the field and had a 1st and 10 on Alvernia's 16 yard line. The Golden Wolves defense dug in and forced a field goal attempt by the Colonels. The attempt snuck just inside the uprights as Wilkes took a 3-0 lead with just over ten minutes remaining in the second quarter.
With Alvernia's Andrew Luisa taking over at quarterback after Nick Rosahac moved back to tight end earlier in the game, Alvernia got to work on its own 23. After a connection between Luisa and Rosahac to start off the drive, Carey broke off for a 13 yard rush on second down to give Alvernia a fresh set of downs on its own 43. Wilkes would ultimately put a halt to the drive and forced a punt at Alvernia's own 47.
Alvernia's defense kept Wilkes from making much of the next drive, and Alvernia's offense retook the field pinned at its own five yard line with just over four minute left in the half.
The Golden Wolves used their ground game to chip away to their own 40 yard line. Facing a 3rd and 8, Luisa attempted a pass that was intercepted by the Colonels on their own 38 and returned to near midfield.
Alvernia returned the favor just two plays later with Jamel Fleming picking the ball off on Alvernia's two yard line to keep the Colonels out of the end zone.
Carey broke off for a 47 yard yard run on Alvernia's next drive, but theGolden Wolves would be unable to take advantage after Luisa turned the ball over with an interception on Wilkes' 15 yard line.
Alvernia kept Wilkes out of the end zone to close out the second quarter as the Colonels went into the break leading 3-0. Despite trailing at the half, Alvernia led the Colonels in total yards (209 to 152), rushing yards (157 to 76), and third down conversions (4 of 8 to 2 of 6).
Wilkes wasted no time getting to work in the second half. On the opening kickoff of the second half, Wilkes' Whitaker took the kick return 91 yards for a Colonels touchdown to give Wilkes the 10-0 advantage.
On just the third play of Alvernia's opening drive of the second half, Luisa threw his third interception of the game while trying to connect with Cameron Fetrow.
While Alvernia was able to keep Wilkes from scoring following the first two interceptions, Wilkes would convert following the third. After working their way down the field on four straight runs, Wilkes completed a 15 yard pass to setup a 1st and goal on Alvernia's one yard line. Wilkes needed just one try to find the end zone, with a one yard rush by Elijah Jules giving Wilkes a 16-0 advantage. Wilkes missed the PAT to keep it 16-0.
After Alvernia was unable to get anything going on the next drive, the Golden Wolves turned the ball over on downs on the Wilkes 49. The Colonels picked up 26 yards over the first two plays of the drive, and were making another push for the endzone. But, Fleming made another goal-line interception - this time at the Alvernia 1-yard line - to halt the Colonels. Fleming returned the ball for 33 yards putting Alvernia at its own 34.
Any momentum Alvernia gained off the interception was lost when Luisa was picked off at his own 42 yard line. This time the Wilkes defense took it all the way back as the Colonels returned the pick for a touchdown to go up 22-0. The PAT would be good as Wilkes held the 23-0 advantage with three minutes left in the 3rd quarter.
Rosahac returned to quarterback for Alvernia on its next drive, but the Golden Wolves couldn't get anything going.
Alvernia's defense kept Wilkes out of the end zone for the entirety of the fourth quarter, but Wilkes defense stepped up too to keep the Golden Wolves at bay.
Alvernia did not possess the ball in Wilkes territory the rest of the game as Wilkes came away with the 23-0 shutout win.
Luisa finished 7-for-18 for 56 yards. Rosahac went 5-for-5 for 28 yards.
Carey finished the afternoon with 15 rushes for 154 yards. Neeko Scurlock led the receiving corp with seven receptions for 49 yards.
On the defensive side, Fleming came away with two interceptions. Luke Ammarell had a forced fumble for the Golden Wolves. Tyzhir Morris led the defense with 10 tackles.
Alvernia will return to Wilkes-Barre next weekend to take on King's College.
