Chester, Pa. (Oct. 26, 2024) - Widener University (3-4, 3-3) outscored Alvernia University (0-7, 0-6) 20-10 in the second half as the Pride took a 34-24 win over the Golden Wolves on Saturday afternoon in MAC Football action at Widener. 

Alvernia led 17-14 with 11 minutes to play in the third quarter following a go-ahead 38-yard field goal by Gage Thomas. But, the Pride answered with a field goal of their own and took a 31-17 lead with back-to-back touchdown drives as the game headed into the fourth quarter. The Golden Wolves got it back to a one-score game, 31-24, on an Andrew Simmons 38-yard touchdown run with 6:10 to play. Alvernia's defense made a crucial stop on Widener's ensuing drive, but the Alvernia offense turned the ball over on downs to answer. Widener then scored a field goal to make it a ten point game. Widener then held Alvernia off on its final drive as the Pride came away with the 34-24 win.

How it Happened

• Widener won the opening coin toss and elected to receive. But, both teams traded a pair of drives each before Widener got things moving on their third drive of the game. Widener went to the run game on its third opportunity, and it paid off. The Pride opened the drive with a 22-yard rush and capped off the drive just two players later with a 35-yard rushing touchdown to take the 7-0 lead.
• Alvernia threw an interception on its ensuing drive, and Widener made it a 14-0 on the ensuing drive. Widener had five plays on the drive and rushed on four of them, including a nine-yard touchdown run for Bryce Casey's second touchdown of the day. 
• The Golden Wolves responded on their next drive. A 9-yard completion from Colin Payne to Saul Nixon got the drive started, and a 21-yard pass from Payne to Dachan Thompson two players later got the Golden Wolves into Widener territory. After back-to-back gains for six yards, Payne connected with Jayden Thrift on a dime down the Alvernia sideline for a 31-yard touchdown pass to put Alvernia on the board, 14-7.
• While Alvernia's offense struggled to get another drive going in the second quarter, Alvernia's defense made some big stops and kept the game within seven. The biggest defensive stop of the quarter came with about ten seconds left in the second quarter. Anthony Hugee intercepted a Widener pass and returned it back 25 yards to put Alvernia on the Widener 35 with time to run one more play. Alvernia took advantage. Payne dropped back for a Hail Mary and scrambled out of a sack. He launched the ball into the end zone where a slew of both Alvernia receivers and Widener defenders went up for the ball. Thompson out jumped the group and came down with the touchdown reception as Alvernia tied the game 14-14 going into the half. 
• Alvernia got the ball to open the second half and had a good drive going before stalling on the Widener 21-yard line. Gage Thomas converted the 38-yard attempt to put Alvernia ahead for the first time of the game, 17-14, with 10:59 left on the clock in the third quarter.
• Widener answered with a field goal of its own to tie the game at 17-17 with just under five minutes to play in the third.
• The Pride took advantage of a big Alvernia miscue with three minutes to play in the third. Alvernia went to punt the ball away, but a bad snap on the punt was recovered by the Pride on the Alvernia 13 yard line. Widener needed two rushing plays to find the end zone and take a 24-17 lead.
• The Golden Wolves were forced to punt the ball away to open the fourth quarter, and Widener answered once again. The Pride strung together an eight play drive that ate up five minutes and culminated in a 21-yard touchdown run by Widener's Eli Warfel to put the Pride ahead, 31-17, with nine minutes to play.
• Alvernia answered right back and brought it back to a one score game. Alvernia got its drive underway with a 34-yard pass that Zacai Manigo wrangled in by his fingertips to put Alvernia on the Widener side of the 50.  Alvernia was then looking at a 3rd and 17 following a Widener sack on Payne, but Andrew Simmons got it to 4th and 1 following a 16 yard rush. Alvernia went for it on 4th and 1 and picked up the yard and then some as Simmons rushed it for 38 yards and into the Widener end zone to make it a 31-24 game with 6:10 to play.
• Alvernia forced a punt on Widener's next drive, but the Golden Wolves went 4-and-out on its ensuing drive to give the ball back to Widener on Alvernia's 24 yard line. The Pride picked up a field goal on their next drive to make it a ten point game, 34-24, with 1:15 to play. Alvernia ran out of time on the final drive as Widener came away with the 34-24 win.

Inside the Box Score

• Colin Payne went 17-for-30 for 242 yards and two touchdown passes. But, Payne was sacked ten times and hurried four more times for a loss of 72 yards.
• Andrew Simmons rushed for 77 yards and a touchdown on 18 attempts.
• Dachan Thompson had five receptions for 71 yards, and Zacai Manigo had 69 yards on two receptions.
• Jamel Fleming and McCabe Piavis each had seven tackles. Piavis also had a half a sack.
• Alvernia held Widener to just 54 passing yards, but Widener rushed for 250 yards and all four of the Pride's touchdowns came on the ground. 

Up Next

• Alvernia makes the short trip to Albright next week to take on its rival Lions. Albright is 1-6 overall, but 0-6 in conference play.