Reading, Pa. (Oct. 6, 2023) - After a bye week last week, Alvernia returns to action on Saturday hosting #24 Delaware Valley University in a MAC football matchup on Saturday afternoon with kickoff slated for 1:00 PM.
Alvernia is looking to pick up its first win of the season after an 0-4 start. Delaware Valley enters the game 3-1, having won three straight.
Delaware Valley has been a powerhouse of the MAC since Alvernia began football. The Aggies have won the last five regular season MAC titles and have not lost a conference game since 2017.
Delaware Valley is led by Head Coach Duke Greco, who is in his tenth season with Delaware Valley. Greco has an 85-14 overall record with the Aggies.
Inside the Series:
The Golden Wolves and Aggies have met only twice since Alvernia's first season in 2018. The Golden Wolves are 0-2 against Delaware Valley since their first meeting in 2018. Alvernia dropped a 41-10 decision on the road against the Aggies in 2018, and lost to them at home, 44-0, in 2019.
Scouting the Golden Wolves
Alvernia is coming off its bye week, but dropped a 35-15 game to Misericordia on the road on September 23rd. The Golden Wolves put up a strong second half against the Cougars, but Misericordia's fast start in the first half was too much for Alvernia to overcome.
Alvernia is averaging 12.8 points per game, while its defense is giving up an average of 40 points per game. Alvernia's offense is ninth in the MAC with an average of 217 yards per game, while its defense is also ninth with 418 yards allowed per game.
All four of Alvernia's games so far this season have shown pieces of what this young team can do. However, Alvernia has not yet put together a complete or full game on either side of the ball. The Golden Wolves will need to put together their best performance yet against the Aggies.
Alvernia Keys to the Game
Time of Possession - Alvernia's defense has gotten out to solid starts in all four of its games so far this season. But, quick possession by the Alvernia offense has resulted in limited rest for the Alvernia defense. Alvernia's defense will need to keep Delaware Valley possessions short, while the Alvernia offense needs to find a way to extend drives and win the time of possession battle.
Stay on Schedule - Alvernia has frequently faced third and long situations due to tackles for a loss or penalties. The Golden Wolves will need to stay on schedule with small chunks of yards and first and second down to make third down conversions more achievable.
Stack the Positives - Alvernia has shown many positives this year despite the 0-4 start, but they are frequently overshadowed by penalties or other mental mistakes that do not allow Alvernia to capitalize on big plays. Alvernia will get a defensive turnover only to turn it over on offense on the next possession, or put up a quick three and out. Or, the Golden Wolves will pick up a nice offensive gain only to have the ball pushed right back due to a penalty or a sack. Alvernia will need to stack the positive plays and big moments against this Aggies team.
Win the Sudden Change - Alvernia's defense has 11 turnovers this season, but Alvernia only has 28 points off of turnovers to show for it. The Aggies do not turn the ball over often - with just four turnovers through four games - but, Alvernia's offense will need to capitalize off of any turnovers the Aggies make and utilize whatever short field the Alvernia defense can provide.
Alvernia Players to Watch
Colin Payne - Payne is averaging 180.75 yards of passing per game with a near 50% completion rate. He has faced a lot of pressure in the back field this season, and that will likely continue on Saturday against the Aggies as the young Alvernia offensive line continues to develop. The Delaware Valley defense averages nearly nine tackles for a loss per game, so Payne will need to get the ball out quickly to develop the passing game as the day progresses.
Dachan Thompson - The Payne/Thompson duo has been a highpoint of the Alvernia offense this season. The two have connected for 305 passing yards on 19 completions. Thompson, who had a SportsCenter Top Ten worthy catch along the sideline against Misericordia, will continue to be a big target for Payne. Delaware Valley's secondary on the depth chart for Saturday are all at least six feet tall, so this will likely be the most physical matchup for Thompson, who stands at 6-4, so far this season.
Elijah Carr - Carr is leading the Alvernia defense with 40 tackles, nearly twice as many as the next Alvernia defender. Carr, who is an inside linebacker for the Golden Wolves, will likely be one of the first to the ball against the run-heavy Aggies.
Taron Gale - While Gale is an excellent pass defender for Alvernia with two interceptions and a pass breakup on the season, he is also a great open field tackler. If the Aggies establish the run or pass, look for Gale to join Carr as one of the first to the ball.
Scouting the Aggies
Delaware Valley has been a force in the MAC year-after-year. They are coming off three MAC wins to open conference play, including a 28-0 win over a previously undefeated King's in week four.
The Aggies are fifth in the MAC with an average of 27.8 points per game, but the Delaware Valley defense leads the conference in allowing just 14.5 points per game. The Aggie offense averaged 330.5 yards of offense per game, while the defense leads the MAC with only 203 yards allowed per game.
Delaware Valley favors the run more than any other team in the MAC - averaging nearly 200 yards of rushing per game and 5.1 yards per touch. While they do not pass as often, they utilize the passing game for big plays - averaging 16 yards per catch. The offense as a whole averages six yards per play.
Delaware Valley Players to Watch
Louis Barrios - Barrios, the starting quarterback for the Aggies, averages just over 100 yards of passing per game and has a 45% completion percentage. Barrios is also the second-leading rusher for the Aggies behind running back Jay White. Barrios averages 36 rushing yards per game and 4.1 yards per touch. However, Jay White is not on the depth chart this week for Delaware Valley. If he does in fact not play on Saturday, look for Barrios to take charge of the run as well as the pass.
Jack Fallon - With the Aggies leading rusher not on the depth chart this week, Fallon will get the start in the backfield for Delaware Valley. The sophomore has 24 carries on the season for 144 yard net yards and two touchdowns.
Jacquez Mabin - The 6-2, 245 lb defensive end leads the Aggies with seven tackles for a loss and four sacks. He also has a pass break-up and 27 total tackles on the year. Look for him to make his presence known for the Aggies.
Micah Bootman - The sophomore cornerback has two interceptions on the year and three pass break-ups. He is the only Aggie with an interception on the season, and he also has a blocked kick. Look for him to be a presence in the secondary and on special teams for Delaware Valley.
Game Information
Kickoff for Saturday's contest is slated for 1:00 PM. Gates will open at 11:30 AM, and tickets will be available in between the Physical Education Center and Campus Commons for $5 each.
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.
