Owings, Mills, Md. (Sept. 17, 2022) – Alvernia University (1-2, 0-1) was held scoreless in the second half as Stevenson University (3-0, 1-0) scored 20 unanswered en route to a 40-18 win over the Golden Wolves in MAC football action on Saturday afternoon at Stevenson.
 
Alvernia trailed by just two, 20-18, going into the half. The Golden Wolves differed the game-opening kickoff and received the ball to open the half. Alvernia turned the ball over on the second play of the half on a sack-fumble by the Mustangs. Stevenson went down and scored on the ensuing short field and carried the momentum with them the rest of the way as the Mustangs came away with the 40-18 win to remain undefeated.  
 
After the Mustangs returned the opening kick to their own 27-yard line, Stevenson put together a five play, 73-yard drive that was capped off by a 30-yard touchdown pass to take an early 7-0 lead.
 
The Golden Wolves answered right back. The Alvernia drive started on its own 23-yard line and quarterback Colin Payne threw for two completions for a first down. After EJ Lee was tackled for a loss to set up a 2nd and 17, Alvernia threw for two nine-yard completions – one by Payne and one by Kevin Washington – to get another first down for the Golden Wolves.
 
The Mustangs then had back-to-back 15-yard penalties to move Alvernia into Mustang territory. Later in the drive, Alvernia faced a 4th and 3 on the Stevenson 22. EJ Lee picked up the first down on a four-yard rush up the Stevenson sideline. An unsportsmanlike on the Mustangs at the end of the play but Alvernia at the Stevenson 9-yardline. A four-yard rush by Lee set Alvernia up for a high fade pass to Dachan Thompson via Payne. The extra point was called no-good as Alvernia trailed by one, 7-6.
 
The Mustangs and Golden Wolves traded possessions before Stevenson took over on the Alvernia 25-yard line with 1:22 remaining in the first quarter after a sack-fumble and 17-yard return by the Mustangs. Stevenson took just over a minute to reach the endzone on the short field, scoring on a one-yard rush by Brandon Walker. Alvernia committed a penalty on a successful PAT by the Mustangs. Instead of declining, Stevenson decided to replay the extra point attempt and go for two. Alvernia was able to make the stop to make it a 13-6 came in favor of Stevenson entering the second quarter.
 
After a 25-yard return by Kyle Stanton, the Golden Wolves opened their next drive on their own 40-yard line. Lee opened the drive with a nine-yard rush up the middle. Payne then found Thompson for a 51-yard touchdown connection on a deep route to bring Alvernia within one, 13-12. Alvernia's game-tying PAT was blocked, allowing Stevenson to hold the one point lead over Alvernia.
 
Later in the quarter, Stevenson took over on its own 28-yard line and got to work. The Mustangs worked their way over to Alvernia's side of the field after four plays. On 3rd and 6, Stevenson QB Ryan Sedgwick threw an interception into the arms of Jyleen Neals. The officiating crew, however, called pass inference on Alvernia and gave the Mustangs a first down. On the next play, Stevenson took advantage of getting the ball back and scored on a 48-yard pass to Stephen Smothers.
 
Alvernia got the ball back with 1:17 left to play in the half, but the Golden Wolves turned it over on an interception on its third play of the drive.
 
Stevenson got the ball back on its 20-yard line, but on the second play of the drive Neals got a redemption interception and returned it to the Stevenson 34.
 
This time around, Alvernia had just 27 seconds to work with. Payne found Joseph Perkins on the second play of the drive for a 20-yard completion to set Alvernia up to spike the ball on the Stevenson 14.  After Alvernia downed the ball, Payne found Lee for a 14-yard completion that Lee took down the Alvernia sideline and into the end zone for an Alvernia touchdown.
 
The Golden Wolves setup for a game-tying two-point conversion, but were unable to convert as Stevenson took the 20-18 lead into the half.
 
Stevenson kicked the second half kickoff into the end zone, and Alvernia took over on its own 25. On just the second play of the drive, the Stevenson pass rush got to Payne for the sack-fumble as the Mustangs took over on the Alvernia 31.
 
On 2nd and 7 on the ensuing Mustang drive, Alvernia's line appeared to cause a sack-fumble of its own, but the officials ruled it an incomplete forward pass. With fresh life, the Mustangs scored on a 7-yard pass on the next play to go up 27-18 on Alvernia.
 
Alvernia turned the ball over on a Payne interception on the next drive, giving Stevenson a short field to work with once again. This time around, the Alvernia defense kept the Mustangs out of the end zone, but Stevenson was able to make a 23-yard field to extend its lead to 30-18.
 
The Mustangs added ten more points in the fourth quarter – on a 42-yard touchdown pass and a 28-yard field goal – to put the game out of reach for the Golden Wolves at 40-18.
 
After the Golden Wolves had 230 yards of offense in the first half, Alvernia's offense produced just four first downs and 79 yards in the second half to Stevenson's 192 yards of offense and 10 first downs.
 
Payne finished the afternoon with 217 yards and three touchdowns on 16 completions. Lee finished with 91 yards rushing on 20 carries and added 35 yards receiving.  On the defensive side, Tajon Whiten tied the Alvernia single-game record with 15 tackles.
 
Stevenson finished with 392 total yards of offense. Sedgwick threw for 239 yards on 19 completions, and got his 500th career completion on his fourth of the game.
 
Alvernia has the bye this Saturday and will return to action on Saturday, October 1st as the Golden Wolves host the Lebanon Valley College Dutchmen at 1:30 PM.