Reading, Pa. (Oct. 13, 2023) - After a close loss to #24 Delaware Valley last week, Alvernia is set to welcome Stevenson University to Reading, Pa on Saturday afternoon.
The game is the first of a Homecoming and Family Weekend Saturday triple-header, with kickoff set for 1:00 PM.
Alvernia is looking to pick up its first win of the season after an 0-5 start. The Golden Wolves are also looking for their first home win since 2019 when the Golden Wolves defeated Lycoming College on Homecoming.
The Mustangs are off to a 4-1 start to the season and are coming off a 38-0 win against Albright College last weekend. Stevenson's only loss of the season was a 45-38 loss to Lebanon Valley after the game was called with about six minutes left due to weather.
Stevenson is coached by Ed Hottle, who is in his 13th season leading the Mustangs. Hottle is 74-50 at Stevenson.
Inside the Series:
The Golden Wolves and Mustangs have met just two times prior to this weekend's contest. Alvernia is 0-2 against the Mustangs. The last meeting between the two last season saw Alvernia trailing by just two points at the half before Stevenson scored 20 unanswered in the second half for a 40-18 win.
Scouting the Golden Wolves
Despite the final score, Alvernia put together its most complete team performance last week against the nationally ranked Aggies. Alvernia held Delaware Valley to just one touchdown in the first half, and stayed within one score for a majority of the game. The offense out-produced Delaware Valley with 313 yards of total offense, and the defense had three takeaways.
Alvernia is averaging 12.6 points per game, while its defense allows 37.6 points per game. The 28 points given up to the Aggies last week was the least amount of points Alvernia has allowed since November 5th of last season in a win over Albright.
Alvernia's offense is eighth in the MAC with 236.2 yards of offense per game. Alvernia is third in the MAC in passing yards per game with 202.2 yards per game in the air. Alvernia's defense is ninth in the MAC with 389.6 yards allowed per game and 5.9 yards per play allowed.
For the fourth game in a row, weather will likely be a factor again on Saturday with rain in the forecast. Alvernia thrived in the poor conditions last week, and will need to do the same against the high-powered Mustangs.
Alvernia Keys to the Game
Limit the Penalties: Alvernia had 17 penalties for 181 yards last week against the Aggies. In a close game, that will be the difference maker. The Golden Wolves will need to clean it up this week against Stevenson and not give the Mustangs any extra help.
Pressure the Backfield: Alvernia did an excellent job last week pressuring Delaware Valley's quarterback, and getting an early touch on the running back in the backfield. Like Delaware Valley, Stevenson has a talented and experienced offensive line that Alvernia will need to break through. But, if the Golden Wolves can make their presence known behind the line of scrimmage, look for the first-year Stevenson quarterback to make some mistakes, especially if the rain starts to fall.
Take Advantage of the Turnover: The Mustangs have nine turnovers on the year - seven of which are interceptions. The Golden Wolves scored one touchdown off a takeaway last week against the Aggies. Alvernia will need to once again find ways to score off of turnovers to take advantage of any Mustang mistakes.
Time of Possession: Stevenson is the highest scoring team in the MAC entering this week. Delaware Valley put up a nearly eight minute long possession last week against Alvernia that led to the only touchdown of the first half and gave Alvernia a limited clock to respond before the break. The Golden Wolves will need to prevent that against Stevenson and limit how much time the Mustangs have the ball and limit the big plays. Alvernia will also need to establish time of possession on offensive to give the defensive some time to regroup.
Alvernia Players to Watch
Dachan Thompson - Thompson's size will once again be a big factor for Alvernia against the Mustangs. Stevenson tends to play man-coverage, and Thompson has a minimum of five inches on each of the four members of the Stevenson secondary listed as starters. Thompson and Payne have developed their chemistry well since week one. If Payne has time to find him, look for Thompson to have a big game for Alvernia.
Joseph Perkins - Perkins put up a career-high 117 yards receiving on Saturday against Delaware Valley and accounted for nearly half of Payne's passing yards. Perkins speed will be essential if Payne is under pressure as a quick find for the quarterback.
Colin Payne - Payne settled in well against the Aggies last week and led Alvernia on some well established drives to give the defense valuable time to rest. Stevenson does not pressure as much as the Aggies do on paper. So, if Payne has time to operate, look for him to have a big game with targets like Thompson and Perkins.
Jamel Fleming - Fleming is coming off a career-high 11 tackles last week against the Aggies. He also had a tackle for a loss and a pass break-up. Look for Fleming to ride that momentum into this week against the Mustangs.
McCabe Piavis - Piavis posted 1.5 tackles for a loss, including a sack, and five tackles last week. Piavis is Alvernia's quickest defensive lineman and will be a huge factor in Alvernia's efforts to break through the Stevenson offensive line.
Scouting the Mustangs
Stevenson leads the MAC with an average of 33.8 points per game, and is fourth in the MAC in points allowed with 18. The Mustangs are coming off a shutout performance against Albright that saw the Mustangs limit the Lions to under 100 yards of offensive output. Stevenson ran the ball for 276 yards against the Lions and possessed the ball for nearly 42 minutes.
The Mustangs are a very balanced offensive output. They have passed for 1,085 yards and rushed for 1,002. They tend to run slightly more running plays per game, but will average nearly eight yards per completion in the passing game.
Stevenson Players to Watch
Nyaire Wilson - The junior quarterback is in his first year in the starting role for the Mustangs. Stevenson has a well established passing game coming into game six, and Wilson is second in the MAC with 217 passing yards per game. Wilson is also a scrambling threat with 37 carries on the year and one rushing touchdown.
Elijah Marquez - The sophomore running back is coming off a 116 yard, three touchdown performance last week at Albright that earned him MAC Offensive Player of the Week. However, Marquez has only appeared in three games this season for the Mustangs, and last week's showing was his first time in a game since week two at Lebanon Valley. Despite the missed time, Marquez has seven touchdowns on the season so far for the Mustangs.
Clarence Travis - The junior linebacker is the leading tackler for the Mustangs coming into Saturday. He has 36 tackles on the season, including 5.5 tackles for a loss. He also has one interception along with a pass break-up. He did well against Alvernia last season, finishing the game with eight tackles.
Tashan Fitzgerald: The junior defensive end leads the Mustangs 6.5 tackles for a loss and two sacks. He has 20 total tackles on the season and one fumble recovery.
Game Information
Kickoff for Saturday's contest is slated for 1:00 PM. Gates will open at 11:30 AM. Due to the forecast, tickets will be for sale inside the Physical Education Center instead of outside the stadium. Tickets are $5 per person.
Live coverage will be available at auwolves.com/live. Alvernia will be broadcasting the game live to auwolves.com/watch with Dane Sabarese and Billy Fisher on the call.
