Reading, Pa. (Oct. 19, 2024) - Eastern University (2-4, 2-3) scored nine points in the first quarter and led wire-to-wire in a 22-14 win over Alvernia University (0-6, 0-5) on Saturday afternoon in MAC football action at Alvernia.

Alvernia made it a two point game, 9-7, following Alvernia's opening drive of the second half. But, The Eagles scored on a 25-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown to open the fourth quarter and take a 16-7 lead. Eastern then scored two field goals later in the fourth quarter to make it 22-7 with 1:27 to play. Alvernia scored with one second remaining on the clock for the 22-14 loss.

Dachan Thompson became Alvernia's all-time receiving yards leader with a 28-yard reception along the Alvernia sideline in the third quarter. Thompson eclipsed the 1,484 yard record previously held by Neeko Scurlock. After today, Thompson has 1,489 receiving yards as a Golden Wolf.

How it Happened

Alvernia received the opening kickoff of the game, but Alvernia went four and out to punt it away to Eastern's 45-yard line. The Eagles opened the ensuing drive with a deep 40-yard pass up the middle and finished off the drive in the end zone four plays later on a six yard keeper on 4th down from Brett Nabb. The Eagles missed the extra point.

Alvernia picked up one first down on its next drive before facing a 4th and 12. The Golden Wolves went to punt it away, but the punt was blocked by Eastern and put the Eagles on the Alvernia 21-yard line. Alvernia stopped the Eagles from scoring a touchdown, but Eastern settled for the field goal to take the 9-0 lead with five minutes remaining in the first quarter.

Neither team could get anything going the remainder of the first half as the game moved to halftime with Eastern leading, 9-0.

Eastern received the opening kickoff of the second half and Alvernia forced a turnover on downs after making a stop on 4th and 1 as Anthony Hugee came up with a five-yard sack for the Golden Wolves.

The Golden Wolves took over on the Eastern 31-yard line and a 7-yard rush from Colin Payne and a 10 yard reception by Stefan Rich gave Alvernia a first down on the Eastern 16. Andrew Simmons rushed the ball the next two plays for a combined total of nine yards. Alvernia threw the ball on 3rd and 1, but the pass fell incomplete. Alvernia went for it on 4th and 1 and Payne kept it himself for a pickup of four yards. Rich then rushed it for two yards to put the ball on the 1-yard line before finishing the drive off with a 1-yard touchdown run to bring Alvernia within two, 9-7, following GageThomas's successful PAT.

The Golden Wolves and Eagles traded drives to close out the third quarter. 

Alvernia had the ball to open the final quarter after Kashatnis Anderson intercepted the ball for Alvernia on the Alvernia 8-yard line. A pass interference call on the second play of the ensuing drive  gave the Golden Wolves the first down on Alvernia's 25-yard line. On 1st down, Payne had the ball punched out and it hopped off the turf and right into the arms of Eastern's Dru Beckford. Beckford then ran the recovery back for a touchdown to give Eastern the 16-7 lead.

Alvernia struggled to get anything going again on its next few drives while the Eagles added six points to their lead following two drives that ended in successful field goals.

Alvernia got the ball back with 1:27 trailing 22-7 and the Golden Wolves started to pick up some late steam. Payne picked up a first down with a nine yard rush, and Treson Whitlow added another 22 yards with a reception to put Alvernia on the Eastern 33. A pass interference and a personal foul call against Eastern put the ball on Eastern's 3-yard line with time quickly winding down. Payne found Dachan Thompson for a touchdown with one second on the clock to leave Alvernia with 14 points in the 22-14 loss. 

Inside the Box Score

• The Golden Wolves finished with 246 yards of total offense to Eastern's 252. Alvernia finished with 111 yards rushing and 135 yards passing.
• Alvernia had two forced fumbles - one of which was recovered - and an interception. Khysir Young and Anthony Hugee each had a forced fumble, and Kashantis Anderson had the interception.
• Colin Payne finished 15-for-30 with 135 yards passing and 28 yards rushing.
• Andrew Simmons led Alvernia's rushing efforts with 69 net rushing yards.
• Dachan Thomson had four receptions for 47 yards and a touchdown. Jayden Thrift finished with a team-high six receptions for 28 yards.
• Khysir Young led Alvernia's defensive efforts with nine tackles and a forced fumble. Anthony Hugee had eight tackles with a forced fumble, and McCabe Piavis finished with eight tackles as well. 

Up Next

• Alvernia is back on the road next Saturday at Widener. The Pride lost to Misericordia earlier today, 24-20.