Reading, Pa. (Sept. 2, 2022) - After trailing 24-0 early, Alvernia University (0-1) put up 20 points in the second quarter, but Ursinus College (1-0) would outscore the Golden Wolves 28-7 in the second half as the Bears took a 59-27 win in the 2022 season-opener on Friday night at Alvernia.

Despite the score, Alvernia showed positive points in its first appearance under Head Coach Steve Azzanesi. 

After trailing 24-0, the Golden Wolves fought back in the second quarter, scoring 20 points in the quarter to trail by just 11 going into the break. 

"They didn't give up," said Azzanesi. "We were down and they kept fighting. The outcome wasn't what we hoped for, but we are proud of them. If we continue to do that, we are going to win some football games."

Another positive for the Golden Wolves was first year quarterback Colin Payne, making his first collegiate appearance. Payne smashed Alvernia's passing record, recording 380 yards on 24 completions to better the record by over 150 yards. 

"He's a really special player," added Azzanesi. "He's such a smart young man and such a talented player. The future is going to be really bright [with him]."

Ursinus won the coin toss and elected to receive, and the Bears took advantage. After taking the opening kickoff 35 yards down field, the Bears used three quick plays to pick up 37 yards and enter the redzone. Ursinus needed just three more plays to reach the end zone and take a 7-0 lead after three minutes of action.

Alvernia went three and out on its opening possession, but the Golden Wolves' defense responded by forcing a three and out of their own to keep it a 7-0 game. 

Alvernia's offense struggled to find a rhythm again on its second possession, and gave the ball back to Ursinus on the Alvernia 39 yard line. The Bears needed six plays to pick up  the 39 yards and extend its lead to 14-0.

Ursinus scored once more in the opening frame to take a 21-0 advantage into the second quarter. The Bears then opened the second quarter with a successful field goal following an Alvernia turnover to make it a 24-0 game.

Alvernia's offense came to life in its first full possession of the second quarter. The drive started with an 11 yard completion from Payne to Owen Morton to put Alvernia on its own 24 yard line. Payne then rushed for 17 yards and EJ Lee followed that with a five yard pick up. A sack on Payne briefly stalled the Alvernia offense, but Payne quickly responded with a 37 yard completion to Neeko Scurlock down Alvernia's sideline to put Alvernia on the Ursinus 23 yard line. Back-to-back rushes by Lee put Alvernia on the 11 yard line heading in, and Payne completed the drive with an 11 yard fade pass to Morton in the back left corner of the end zone to put Alvernia on the board. The Golden Wolves missed the PAT and trailed the Bears 24-6 with just over 10 minutes to go in the half.

The Bears responded with a touchdown of their own, but Alvernia fought right back. After picking up small chunks to start the drive, Payne found Lee for a 33 yard completion to set Alvernia up on the Ursinus nine yard line. Lee finished the drive himself with a nine yard rush to make it a 31-13 game.

After trading possessions, Alvernia got the ball back with under a minute to play and went to work. Payne completed a 16 yard pass to Scurlock to start the drive, and immediately followed with a 28 yard pass to Joseph Perkins. A roughing the passer call on the Bears moved Alvernia to the seven yard line, and Payne finished off the drive with a five yard completion to Perkins with 18 seconds left in the half to bring Alvernia within 11, 31-20. 

The Golden Wolves came out of the half and struggled to refind the rhythm it picked up in the second quarter. The Golden Wolves had to punt it away in its opening possession and had a field goal attempt blocked on its second possession of the quarter. 

Alvernia forced a punt on Ursinus' next drive, but Alvernia muffed the return and the Bears got the ball back on the Alvernia 23 yard line.

Alvernia's defense came up strong, winning the tip drill and coming up with an interception that went off multiple defenders and landed in the hands of Antonio Lazar. 

The Alvernia offense could not capitalize on the turnover as Alvernia went three and out and punted away. Ursinus responded with a quick scoring drive to go up 38-20 with 1:33 left in the third frame.

Alvernia was held scoreless the rest of the quarter while Urinsus opened the fourth with a six yard touchdown pass to go up 45-20.

Payne picked apart the Ursinus defense on the ensuing drive, completing four double-digit passes, including a 28-yard completion to Preston Chambers just shy of the end zone to setup Alvernia on the Ursinus two yard line. Tight End Monte McMorris took the direct snap and picked up the two yards for an Alvernia touchdown.

That would be Alvernia's final scoring play of the game, while Ursinus tacked on two more touchdowns for the 59-27 final.

Payne finished the night with 404 yards of total offense and two touchdowns. Lee finished the night with 34 rushing yards and 68 yards receiving. Scurlock finished with six receptions for 92 yards.

On the defensive side of the ball, Tajon Whiten led Alvernia with 10 tackles and one pass breakup. Running back turned linebacker Antonio Lazar finished with five tackles and one interception. 

Alvernia returns to action on Saturday, September 10th in Ohio with a road game against Oberlin. Oberlin was 1-9 in 2021 and open their 2022 campaign on Saturday afternoon against Kalamazoo. 

"We'll meet together on Saturday and go over [Friday's] game, and then this game is put to bed and we move onto Oberlin," said Azzanesi. "It takes a lot of work to win a game. So now the process is 'let's get ready for Oberlin, and all that comes with that."