Reading, Pa. (Sept. 1, 2022) - Alvernia University Football will begin its 2022 campaign tomorrow night with a game under the lights as the Golden Wolves host Ursinus College on Friday evening at 7:00 PM on Alvernia's Turf Field.

The game will mark the start of Head Coach Steve Azzanesi's tenure at Alvernia as Coach Azzanesi leads the Golden Wolves onto the field for the first time on Friday night. Coach Azzanesi joined the Alvernia staff at the end of January after two seasons as the Offensive Coordinator at Division I (FCS) Delaware State University, and an 18-year career at Division III Wesley College - one of the top  programs in NCAA Division III history.

The Golden Wolves are entering their fourth season of competition and are carrying an 87-man roster going into game one on Friday night. While Alvernia has 38 first-year players on the roster, the Golden Wolves also return a core group who have been with the program since its first year - including 2021 leading wide receiver Neeko Scurlock, tight end Owen Morton, linebacker Tajon Whiten, and former center turned tight end Lucas Boyle. 

Despite a roster filled with new faces, Coach Azzanesi and his staff have ingrained the word "together" into the team culture. It's evident to anyone that's been around the program in the last few months that that has become the foundation of Alvernia Football - with the team breaking down with it after each session.

Alvernia Players to Watch

Kevin Washington Jr. - Quarterback, Sr.
Washington played in seven games last season for the Golden Wolves, completing 67 passes for 531 yards and three touchdowns. He is a veteran and leader of the Golden Wolves offense.

Lorenzo Green - Running Back, Jr. 
Green split time with Malcolm Carey, who graduated last spring. Green ran the ball 55 times for 152 yards over nine games. He will look to split time with graduate transfer EJ Lee (more on Lee below).

Scott O'Hara - Center, Sr.
O'Hara split time with Boyle at center last season, appearing in seven games. The senior anchors a fairly veteran offensive line for the Golden Wolves.

Owen Morton - Tight End, Sr.
After missing part of the season due to injury in 2021, Morton returns for his final season with the Golden Wolves. A leader on the field and in the locker room for Alvernia, Morton is a physical target for the Golden Wolves who finished the season with nine receptions for 102 yards.

Neeko Scurlock - Wide Receiver, Grad.
A core member of Alvernia football since its first season in 2018, Scurlock has consistently led Alvernia's receivers in all categories. He finished the 2021 season with 50 receptions for 399 yards and started in all 10 games for Alvernia.

Jeromy Sayles - Defensive End, Sr.
Sayles is quick off the snap, leading Alvernia in quarterback hurries in 2021. He finished the season with 29 tackles, including 14 solo takedowns.

Luke Ammarell - Defensive Tackle, Jr.
A strong and physical presence on the line for Alvernia, Ammarell moves inside to defensive tackle for his junior year. Ammarell recorded 25 tackles and had one forced fumble with a recovery in 2021.

Pasquale Savarese - Defensive End, Jr.
Savarese will bookend the defensive line with Sayles for the Golden Wolves. Savarese led Alvernia with 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.

Tajon Whiten - Linebacker, Sr.
Whiten has been a physical presence in Alvernia's secondary since his first year with the Golden Wolves in 2018. The senior recorded 72 tackles in 2021 with two QB hurries, a forced fumble, and 1.5 sacks.

Alvernia Newcomers to Watch

Colin Payne - Quarterback, Fy.
A first year out of Exeter High School, Payne had an excellent camp for the Golden Wolves and saw time under center in Alvernia's scrimmage with Moravian during preseason. He has shown early and strong potential to be an impact player for the Golden Wolves during his four years at Alvernia. Payne was an All-State selection at Exeter and helped lead the Eagles to their first District 3 5A title last fall. 

EJ Lee - Running Back, Grad.
EJ Lee is a proven running back that played for Azzanesi during his time at Wesley. Lee joined the Alvernia team as a graduate transfer and will make an immediate impact for Alvernia. Lee was the 2017 NJAC Offensive Player of the Year and was a 2018 preseason All-American. 

Gunnar Wetzel - Right Tackle, Fy.
Wetzel, who played high school football at Kutztown Area, will play a crucial role in pass and run protection at tackle for Alvernia after checking into camp at 6-5, 305 pounds. 

Brett Conrad - Kicker, Fy.
Conrad is charged with kickoffs and field goals/PATs for the Golden Wolves. Conrad joins Alvernia after playing for Neshaminy in high school. Conrad has had a strong preseason and had several successful attempts in Alvernia's scrimmage with the Greyhounds in August.

McCabe Piavis - Defensive End, Fy.
Piavis is a fast and physical defensive end out of North Caroline in Maryland. Piavis was a first team all-conference defensive end for North Caroline and will look to make the same impact at Alvernia at defensive end.

Scouting Ursinus

Ursinus went 7-4 last year and qualified for the 2021 Centennial-MAC Bowl Series. The Bears were picked to finish fourth in the 2022 Centennial Conference Preseason Poll.  The Bears pack an upperclassmen filled team, with nearly every position showing an upperclassman on their depth chart.

Alvernia and Ursinus met in 2021 to open the season, but the Bears bettered the Golden Wolves 42-6 in the first ever meeting of the two teams.

Ursinus Players to Watch

Jack Psenicska - Quarterback, Sr.
Psenicska threw for 2,853 yards under center for the Bears in 2021. He finished the season with a 58.6 completion percentage and 24 touchdown passes. He got the start against Alvernia in 2021, throwing for 255 yards.

Octavious Carter - Wide Receiver, Sr.
Carter, a 2021 All-Conference selection, returns to Ursinus for his fifth year. He recorded 36 receptions in 2021, including five against Alvernia.

Brett Gross - Linebacker, Sr.
Gross led Ursinus' defense with 75 tackles in 2021 and added two interceptions with three pass break-ups. 

Ethan Belville - Defensive Line, Sr.
Belville was a 2021 All-Conference selection for Ursinus with five sacks and 41 tackles. He also recorded 14 tackles for a loss, including 2.5 against Alvernia.

Game Information
Alvernia opens the season at home for just the second time in program history, and will play at home on a Friday night for the first time in history.

Kickoff is set for 7:00 PM at Alvernia's Turf Field. Tickets will be available for purchase at a tent located between Alvernia's Physical Education Center and Campus Commons. Students are $4 and adults are $6. The stadium opens at 5:30 PM. Live options online are available at auwolves.com/live