Chester, Pa. (Oct. 15, 2022) - Alvernia University's defense made a goal line stand that was capped by a Marc Kauffman interception on the goal line to stifle a comeback attempt by Widener University (1-5, 0-4) as Alvernia (2-4, 1-3) came away with a 19-16 win over the Pride on Saturday afternoon in MAC football action at Widener. 

The win marks Alvernia's first MAC win since October 12, 2019 when the Golden Wolves defeated Lycoming College 29-24. With the win, Alvernia improves to 2-4 overall and 1-3 in MAC play.

The Golden Wolves led 13-0 coming out of the half, but the Pride worked their way back in, and with less than a minute to go in the fourth quarter, Widener trailed by three and faced a 1st and 3 on the Alvernia three. The Golden Wolves made two stops to bring up a 3rd and 3 for the Pride. Widener attempted a pass across the middle that was broken up by Alvernia's Jamel Fleming. Kauffman was able to come down with the tipped ball and run it back 27 yards as the clock ticked down to 28 seconds remaining. Alvernia needed to run just one play in victory formation to run out the clock for the 19-16 win. 

"I'm just so proud of the guys," said Head Coach Steve Azzanesi. "We talked about adversity all the time, and we faced about as much adversity as you could at the end. They continued to play the next play and came out on top."

The Golden Wolves and Pride started the game by trading possessions throughout the first quarter. With Widener driving down the field to open the second quarter, Widener quarterback Kevin Mowrey threw a pass down his own sideline that was intercepted by Alvernia's Taron Gale at the Alvernia 25 yard line. The interception stalled Widener, but Alvernia could not turn the turnover into points as Alvernia was forced to punt the ball away.

Alvernia got the ball back with 9:29 to play in the 2nd quarter, but a penalty and rush for a loss put Alvernia in a 2nd and 17 at the Alvernia 13. Alvernia quarterback Monte McMorris completed a five yard connection to Jacob Montalto to make it 3rd and 12, and Alvernia opted to give the ball to EJ Lee. Lee picked up the first down and then some on a 21 yard rush. Alvernia picked up another first down on a seven yard completion to Joseph Perkins followed by a four yard scramble by McMorris. McMorris then rushed for 16 yards to to push Alvernia into Widener territory.

The Golden Wolves stuck with the run game the rest of the drive, and a Lee rush down the left side for 19 yards put Alvernia in the endzone for the first time of the game. Brett Conrad converted the PAT as Alvernia took the 7-0 lead. The drive lasted nearly seven minutes and went 85 yards.

It did not take Alvernia long to find the end zone again. As Widener faced a 3rd and 15, Kauffman read Widener perfectly and was able to intercept a pass along the Widener sideline and return it for a touchdown. Alvernia's PAT went wide right as the Golden Wolves held a 13-0 lead.

Widener ran the clock down to end the half as Alvernia went into the half with the 13-0 lead.

Widener received the opening kickoff of the second half and began to work its way down the field. Facing a 2nd and 11 on the Alvernia 29, Widener quarterback Jeff Chaplain connected deep across the middle to Cole Livingston for a 29 yard touchdown reception to make it a one score game, 13-7.

Alvernia was forced to punt the ball away on its next drive, but the Alvernia defense came up big again. With Widener looking at a 1st and 10 on the Alvernia 35, Jeromy Sayles was able to get to Chaplin and force a fumble on a sack. Antonio Lazar was able to pounce on the ball to give the Golden Wolves offensive a short field.

Following the fumble recovery, Alvernia faced a 3rd and 7 on the 50 yard line. McMorris connected with Montalto on an 11 yard pass to give Alvernia a fresh set of downs. McMorris then found Neeko Scurlock down the right side and completed the 39-yard pass as Scurlock back-pedalted into the end zone to give Alvernia the 19-7 lead. Alvernia then lined up to kick the PAT, but the attempt was blocked by Dom D'Alessio and recovered by Marcus Taylor. Taylor scooped it up and ran the length of the field to pick up two points for the Pride. The two-points for Widener made it a 19-9 game in favor of the Golden Wolves.

The Pride took the momentum from the blocked PAT and got to work. They chipped away and worked their way down to the Alvernia 18 yard line. On a 2nd and 9, Chaplin completed a pass to Ty Holbert, but Gale was able to pop the ball loose and Andrew Luisa recovered the loose ball to stop the Pride.

Alvernia punted the ball away on its next drive as the game entered the fourth quarter.

On the third play of Widener's next drive, Chaplin connected with Isaac Hostetter on a double reverse for a 24 yard reception into the shadows of the end zone to bring the Pride within three with 12:10 to play, 19-16, following the successful PAT.

The Golden Wolves put together a five minute drive that took them to the Widener four yard line, but Alvernia could not find the end zone. The Golden Wolves opted to go for it on fourth down, but McMorris could not find Owen Morton on an open opportunity in the end zone as Widener took over on downs with 7:11 to play.

Alvernia's defense did not allow the Pride to get anything going on the next drive as Widener punted the ball away to Alvernia's 45 yard line with 4:16 to play.

Alvernia forced Widener to use two timeouts, but the Golden Wolves could not get anything going as they went three and out and punted the ball back to Widener with 3:53 to play.

Widener took over on its own 40 yard line and as time ticked away the Pride were able to work their way down the field.

A 13 yard connection from Chaplain to Baxter on the 10th play of the drive put the Pride on the Alvernia 13 yard line with just over a minute to play. Chaplain then rushed up the middle for ten more yard to put the Pride on the Alvernia three yard line with four chances to get on the board. Widener tried to run the ball up the middle on first down, but Fleming made the stop at the line of scrimmage to force a second down. The Pride then went with a fade pass at the left front pylon on 2nd and 3, but Christian Lawton was able to break up the pass and force a third down. Facing third down, Widener opted to try for a pass up the middle right at the goal line. Instead of connecting with his receiver, Chaplain connected off the hands of Fleming who was able to break the pass up. Kauffman was right there to grab the ball out of the air and return it down the sideline to the Alvernia 27 yard line. 

Alvernia needed to run just one play in victory formation to run the final 28 seconds off the clock and come away with the 19-16 win.

Alvernia finished with 181 yards passing and 89 yards rushing. The defense forced four fumbles and recovered two, and also forced three interceptions.

McMorris finished the game going 12-for-22 under center with 181 yards and one touchdown. EJ Lee finished with 52 yards on the ground and 97 yards receiving - including a 49-yard and 50-yard reception.

On the defensive side of the ball, Sayles finished the game with eight tackles and a forced fumble. Kauffman finished with two interceptions and a touchdown, and Gale added a forced fumble and interception. 

"We talked all week about having to earn the win," said Azzanesi. "I really felt like this was our best week [of practices]. The work that we put in was one of the reasons we were in position to win the game."

"[That defensive stand] was pretty awesome," added Azzanesi. "In the timeout that Widener called at the end, you could see our guys were physically exhausted. But, they were still able to give it the best they had out there, and that's how you know they guys care about their team and care about each other. It would be easy to tap out, but they stayed in and kept fighting."

Alvernia is back on the road next week as the Golden Wolves head north to Lycoming College to take on the 2-4, 1-3 Warriors.