Reading, Pa. (November 2, 2023) - After two weeks on the road, Alvernia University football returns home for its final home game of the season. Alvernia will welcome crosstown rival Albright College to campus for a 1:00 PM kickoff on Saturday afternoon.
Both teams are looking to pick up their first wins of the season on Saturday. Alvernia is coming off a narrow 34-26 loss to Lebanon Valley College on the road last weekend, while the Lions are coming off a 38-9 loss on the road to Misericordia.
Albright is led by Head Coach Isaac Collins, who is in his second season with the Lions.
Inside the Series:
Alvernia is 1-1 against the Lions. Alvernia lost to Albright at home in 2021, 31-21. The Golden Wolves then went to Albright last season and picked up a 21-14 over the Lions. Alvernia scored two unanswered touchdowns off of a 51 yard rush from EJ Lee and a 35 yard rush from Kyle Stanton.
Scouting the Golden Wolves
Alvernia is coming off its best team performance of the season in the close loss to the Dutchmen last week. Alvernia passed for 411 yards, which marked a new single game team record for the Golden Wolves. Alvernia finished the game with 464 yards of total offense and averaged 6.7 yards per play. Alvernia's 26 points scored in the game were the most the Golden Wolves have scored since week two win in 2022. Alvernia's defense had three takeaways - two interceptions and a fumble recovery - and held the Dutchmen to a 6-for-13 conversion rate on 3rd downs.
Alvernia's offense is averaging 13.9 points per game while its defense allows 38.1 points per game. The Alvernia offense is seventh in the MAC with 265.8 yards of offense per game, while the defense allows 384.4 yards per game. Alvernia's passing game is second in the MAC with 227.8 yards of passing per game.
Keys to the Game
Clean-up Special Teams: Alvernia made crucial and costly errors on special teams last week that the Golden Wolves will need to clean-up this week. Alvernia had its first punt of the game blocked, which resulted in an LVC touchdown on the ensuing Dutchmen drive. Alvernia also missed two PATs - both of which were blocked - and allowed nearly 31 return yards per kickoff. The Golden Wolves will need to avoid mistakes like that when facing the Lions on Saturday.
Slow Down the Run: Albright relies heavily on its run game for offensive production. The Lions average 100.9 rushing yards per game to its 37 yards of passing per game. Alvernia will need to slow down the run game and force the Lions to throw the ball.
Avoid Costly Penalties: Alvernia enters Saturday averaging 88 yards of penalties per game. The Lions average just 60.8, which is second to FDU for a conference low. Alvernia cannot afford to give any free yards to the Lions in the rivalry matchup.
Protect the Backfield: Alvernia's offensive line did a great job against LVC in slowing down the pass rush, allowing just two sacks during the game last week. The protection allowed for Payne to throw for a season-high, including several connections that were over 30 yards. The offensive line will need to do the same against a Lions defense that has just 15 sacks on the season.
Alvernia Players to Watch
Colin Payne - Payne is coming off his best game of the season with 27 completions for 374 yards against the Dutchmen. He will need to ride that momentum into Saturday where the sophomore will be facing the Lions - who allow nearly eight yards per completion - for the first time.
Joseph Perkins - Perkins has had a career year so far for the Golden Wolves. The senior has 33 receptions for 451 yards and three touchdowns. His speed makes him a quick target for Payne and allows him to outrun defenders, which he did last week for a 60 yard touchdown reception. Look for Perkins to put up big numbers again in his final home game as a Golden Wolf.
Dachan Thompson - Thompson is making his mark this season at wide receiver for the Golden Wolves. He leads the MAC with 92.4 receiving yards per game - over 12 yards more per game then the second ranked receiver. He averages 20 yards per catch and had four touchdown receptions - three of which were for 70 or more yards. Look for him to have another great day on Saturday as Albright has allowed 18 passing touchdowns and give up chunk yards on passing plays.
Jamel Fleming - Fleming is coming off an 11-tackle performance against Lebanon Valley last week and averages nearly seven tackles a game. He leads Alvernia with six pass breakups and also has one interception and two forced fumbles. Fleming is an energy guy for the Alvernia defense, so look for him to have a big game at home against the rival Lions.
Antonio Lazar - Lazar had a season-high 10 tackles last week against Lebanon Valley. Lazar, who plays as a rover, had a big game last year against the Lions - recording a team-high nine tackles. Lazar, along with Elijiah Carr, will be crucial in slowing down the Albright run.
Scouting the Lions
Like Alvernia, the Lions enter Saturday looking to pick up their first win of the season. Albright averages just five points per game and has just three touchdowns on the season - one of which was a defensive score last week against Misericordia.
The Lions average a conference low 137.9 yards per game and its defense gives up 377.3 yards per game. The Lions do force turnovers - with six interceptions and seven fumble recoveries on the season.
Albright's running game is its offensive highlight, with its two offensive touchdowns coming via the run as the Lion's average just over a 100 yards of rushing per game.
Albright Players to Watch
Daniel Farley - The Lions have had seven players attempt a pass so far this season. Matt Remash leads the quarterback group with 18 receptions for 169 yards, but first year Daniel Farley is slated to get the start on this week's depth chart. Farley has eight completions on 18 attempts this season with two interceptions. He has also run for 70 yards of gain and has netted 41 yards on the season. He accounts for one of Albright's two rushing touchdowns.
Isaiah Shockley - Shockley, a 6-0/175 lb running back for the Lions, has 352 rushing yards on the season and averages 50.29 yards per game. He has one touchdown on the year. With an offense that relies heavily on the run, look for Shockley to see a lot of action.
Darien Osmun - Osmun, a sophomore linebacker, is the leading tackler for the Lions. He has 41 tackles on the year, including 3.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles for a loss. Look for him to be one of the first to the ball on the Albright defense.
Taylor Heflin - Heflin, a senior corner, leads the Lions with three takeaways on the season. He has two forced fumbles and recoveries, and intercepted a pass last week and returned for a touchdown against the Cougars. Look for Heflin to be a primary defender in the Albright secondary.
Game Information
Kickoff for Saturday's contest is slated for 1:00 PM. Gates will open at 11:30 AM.Tickets are $5 per person.
Alvernia will be celebrating its senior class prior to kickoff at approximately 12:35 PM.
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.
