Reading, Pa. (August 31, 2023) - Alvernia University Football will begin its 2023 campaign on Friday night with a game on the road at Ursinus College on Friday evening at 7:30 PM at Ursinus' Patterson Field. 

Alvernia is coming off a 3-7 season in 2022 that included two wins in MAC play. The 2023 season will be the second under Alvernia Head Coach Steve Azzanesi, and is Alvernia's fifth season in program history. 

The Golden Wolves are carrying an 85-man roster going into game one on Friday night. While Alvernia has 49 first year players on the roster, the Golden Wolves also return a core group of players on offense, defense, and special teams. That group includes Colin Payne, Joseph Perkins, and Jacob Montalto on the offense, as well as Jamel Fleming, Taron Gale, Antonio Lazar, and McCabe Piavis on defense. 

On the sideline, there will be new and familiar faces coaching alongside Coach Azzanesi. Coach Angel Guerrero (Offensive Line) and Coach Coray Willilams (Defensive Backs) return from last year's staff. Alvernia's all-time leading receiver Neeko Scurlock is now Alvernia's Wide Receiver Coach and 2023 All-Conference Running Back EJ Lee is back to coach the running backs. 

Assistant Coach Arthur Smith joins Alvernia's staff as the Defensive Coordinator for the Golden Wolves following time at Division I FCS Delaware State and Wesley College. Smith also saw a highly successful playing career at Division III powerhouse Mount Union. Coach Aaron Benson joins the staff as linebackers coach following a playing and coaching career at Wesley. Coach Neiko Creamer joins the staff as the tight ends coach following time on staff at Delaware State and a playing career that spanned the University of Tennessee and Eastern Kentucky University. Coach Kiem LeGrant joins the staff as the defensive line coach following time on staff at Gettysburg University and a playing career at Wesley University and Shippensburg University.

Inside the Series
The Golden Wolves are 0-2 against Ursinus College. Each matchup has been a season-opener for the two teams. This will be Alvernia's second time on the road to take on the Bears. Alvernia dropped a 42-6 decision in 2021 and fell at home to the Bears by a score of 59-27 in the 2022 season-opener last year. 

Alvernia trailed by 11 at the half last year before Ursinus busted it open in the second half with 28 points to Alvernia's seven. The game still marked Alvernia's best offensive performance of the season, as Colin Payne broke the single-game passing record and Alvernia put up nearly 450 yards of total offense.

Scouting the Golden Wolves: 
Look for the Golden Wolves to build on the early success they found through the first three games before a season-ending injury to the then first year quarterback Colin Payne changed Alvernia's offensive approach. Payne is back and healthy and coming out of a great camp. Alvernia is driven by a high-powered offense that is led by Coach Azzanesi, who also serves as offensive coordinator for the Golden Wolves. 

Alvernia's defense has matured since last season and developed further this preseason under the guidance of Coach Smith. Alvernia has a quick and powerful defensive line that is led by sophomore McCabe Piavis and senior Delva Jean-Baptiste. Alvernia's secondary will also be disruptors downfield. The secondary is led by Taron Gale and Jamel Fleming, who combined for three interceptions and three pass breakups last year. 

Alvernia Keys to the Game:
Keep It Clean - Penalties were a bit problematic for the Golden Wolves in their only scrimmage of the preseason against Moravian. The young Golden Wolves will need to minimize their penalty yardage against Ursinus. 

Ball Security - Alvernia averaged just one turnover per game and three takeaways per game across its three wins in 2022. In comparison, Alvernia averaged 2.5 turnovers and less than one takeaway per game in its losses in 2022. Against the Bears last year, Alvernia turned the ball over four times and had just one takeaway. Alvernia needs to stay on the positive side of both turnovers and takeaways on Friday night against the Bears. 

Build on Special Teams - Alvernia's improvement on special teams from 2021 to 2022 was significant. The Golden Wolves need to hold on to and build upon that improvement in 2023, especially against the Bears. In last year's matchup, Ursinus averaged over ten more yards compared to Alvernia on kickoff and nearly eight more yards per punt return. 

Lock-in on 3rd Down - Ursinus converted nearly 50% of all 3rd down plays in 2022 in comparison to Alvernia's 36% success rate on third down. Alvernia's defense allowed a 38% conversion rate last season, but Ursinus was 6-for-13 against Alvernia in 2022. Alvernia will need to keep the Bears conversion rate done and get its defense off the field so the Golden Wolves offense can get to work.

Alvernia Returners to Watch:
Colin Payne - Payne had an immediate impact last year when he started the season under center as a true first year. He broke the single-game passing record in his collegiate debut against the Bears in week one after throwing for 380 yards and the touchdowns. But, Payne would play just three games in 2022 after a season-ending injury sidelined him after week three. Payne is back and healthy, and coming into week one off a great preseason. He threw for two touchdown passes in Alvernia's scrimmage with Moravian last week, including a 65-yard connection to Dachan Thompson on the second play from scrimmage. Look for Payne to again be a big impact as he leads the Golden Wolves offense into Ursinus.

Dachan Thompson - Thompson is in his second year with Alvernia after transferring in from Franklin Pierce College prior to last year. Thompson is a sizable target for Payne at 6-4 and 200 lbs. The pair connected for a 65-yard pass in Alvernia's scrimmage last Friday, and Thompson finished the 2022 season with 12 receptions for 148 yards and two touchdowns. Four of those receptions came off the arm of Payne as did both touchdown receptions. Look for the duo to get even more comfortable with each other in 2023, and that starts Friday night at Ursinus.

Ozmere Jones - Jones was part of a strong running back corps last year that was led by EJ Lee. Lee is now on the sideline as the Running Backs coach, and it's Jones' time to step up into the lead role. The sophomore had eight touches for 48 yards last season and one touchdown, and three receptions for 39 yards. He also was a key member of the return team, averaging just over 15 yards per kick return on 12 attempts. Jones was also the target of Payne's second touchdown pass in the Moravian scrimmage. Look for him to have a breakout sophomore season for the Golden Wolves.

McCabe Piavis - The sophomore defensive lineman is primed to have a fantastic year for the Golden Wolves. Piavis played in all ten games for Alvernia last year as a first year. He finished the season with 29 tackles and 6.5 tackles for a loss. He also had three sacks for 18 yards and one fumble recovery. Piavis came out of camp this season as a young leader of Alvernia's defense and defensive line. He is also a physical presence on the line at 6-3 and 240 lbs. He had a great showing in the Moravian scrimmage and went untouched or ran through a Greyhound offensive lineman on several plays.  Look for him to be a major disruptor on the line and in the offensive backfield this season. 

Antonio Lazar - Lazar came to Alvernia his first year as a running back, but switched to a linebacker role just prior to the start of the season last year. He embraced the new role from the jump and finished the season with 52 tackles, and is the top tackler amongst returners for the 2023 season. He also had 4.5 tackles for a loss last year as well as an interception and fumble recovery. Lazar has continued to grow into his defensive role throughout the offseason and through preseason. Look for him to serve as both a pass rusher or drop into secondary coverage for the Golden Wolves.

Taron Gale - Gale was one of Alvernia's six All-MAC honorees last year, and the only underclassman to earn the honor. He is also the only one back on the roster for the 2023 season. He will handle safety duties alongside junior Jamel Fleming. Gale is quick to the ball and a tackling force. He finished with a team-high three interceptions last season and also had a forced fumble. He also had 46 tackles on the year. Expect Gale to develop further in pass coverage this season, as well as be one of the first to the ball to tackle.

Alvernia Newcomers to Watch
Darin Matthews - After playing his undergraduate career at Wesley College, Matthews joins Alvernia as a sizable force on Alvernia's offensive line. Matthews will line up at center for Alvernia on Friday night. He will be an automatic leader for the Golden Wolves as the only offensive lineman on Alvernia's depth chart with collegiate playing experience.

Khysir Young - Young will be the only underclassman to line up as a starter in Alvernia's secondary on Friday night as he lines up at corner. He will join Gale, Fleming, and Jakeem Jackson at defensive back. Young has taken quickly to Alvernia's style of defensive play. Young comes to Alvernia after a high school career at Quince Orchard in Gaithersburg, Maryland. 

Kashantis Anderson - Like Young, Anderson has quickly developed into a primary member of Alvernia's secondary. He will make an appearance at safety for Alvernia Friday night alongside Fleming and Gale. Anderson joins Alvernia after playing high school football at Westfield in Herndon, Virginia.

Ryan Matyas -  Matyas is a first year running back for the Golden Wolves from Hazleton, Pennsylvania and Hazleton High School. He will join Jones in the backfield for Alvernia's offense and is one of four first year running backs on the roster for the Golden Wolves.   


Scouting the Bears:
Ursinus is coming off a 9-2 season in 2022 that included a win over ranked Muhlenberg College in week three. The Bears finished second in the strong Centennial Conference and went on to defeat King's College in the Centennial-MAC Bowl Series game. 

The Bears averaged nearly 40 points a game last year while giving up just 17.5 points per game. They favored the passing game a bit more in 2022, with an average of 287 yards of passing per game compared to 150 yards of rushing per game.

Ursinus struck early at Alvernia last year with a 21 point first quarter, and the Bears built from there. They finished last year's matchup with 551 total yards and averaged nearly seven yards per play.  It was their most balanced offensive performance of the year with 269 yards rushing and 282 yards passing.

Alvernia will line up against seven of the same defensive starters that suited up against Alvernia last year, but there will be only three starters returning on the offensive side of the ball for the Bears. Despite the new faces, Ursinus will dress a mature roster on Friday night with no first years appearing on the Bear's depth chart. 

Ursinus Players to Watch:
Jalen Bradford - The junior quarterback spent the last two seasons serving as a backup to All-Centennial quarterback Jack Psenicska, who rewrote the record book for Ursinus with his performance last season. But, now it's Bradford's time to lead the Bears, and he will have his first real test of that on Friday. Bradford has appeared in 13 games over his first two years with Ursinus. He is 11-for-16 on his career with two touchdown passes. He appeared against Alvernia in both 2021 and 2022, but has not yet completed a pass against Alvernia.

Tony Holden - The junior running back earned second team All-Centennial honors for Ursinus last year. He finished the season with 758 yards rushing and seven rushing touchdowns along with nine receptions for 71 yards. Holden averaged 108 yards per game last season, but put up 145 yards against Alvernia. He also scored three of Ursinus' touchdowns against Alvernia last season. The junior is  155 yards away from hitting 1,000 career rushing yards.

Brett Gross - Gross, a senior linebacker, put up 94 tackles last season en route to earning first team All-Centennial honors. His 94 tackles was by far a team high, with Ryan DiVergilis (who will be lining up in the secondary tomorrow night) finishing second on the team with 61 tackles. Gross is back for his senior season and will look to start out the year on the right foot as he looks to pick up his third straight year of all-conference honors. Gross finished last season with 5.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks, two interceptions, and three forced fumbles. He had five tackles against Alvernia last season.

Ryan Bodolus - The senior defensive end and first team All-Centennial selection led Ursinus last year with 10 sacks on the season. He finished the year with 55 total tackles, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. He will help anchor a well experienced defensive line for Ursinus that will be going up against a young Alvernia offensive line. 

Game Information:
The 2023 season will kickoff on Friday night at 7:30 PM at Ursinus' Patterson Field in Collegeville, Pa. Live stats will be available here and live coverage will be available here.