Reading, Pa. (October 10, 2026) - Alvernia University (2-3, 2-2) dropped its Homecoming & Family Weekend match up to Misericordia University (4-1, 3-1), 21-17, Saturday afternoon in a MAC Football clash at Alvernia.
The Golden Wolves held a 10-0 at the half after a field goal in the first quarter and a touchdown in the second. The Cougars then came out of the halftime break and rattled off 14 points in the third quarter to take a 14-10 advantage. The Golden Wolves swung the lead back in their favor with five minutes to go in the second half but the Cougars responded with the game winning touchdown with 1:15 left in the game to secure the victory.
How it Happened
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The Golden Wolves got the ball first to start the game and marched right down the field and recorded an eight play, 66 yard drive that resulted in a field goal attempt by Kevin Carotenuto. Carotenuto drove the ball through the uprights to give the Golden Wolves the 3-0 lead.
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Alvernia then forced a three and out on Misericordia's first drive before getting the ball back on the Alvernia 44 but the drive ended after Misericordia intercepted Alvernia's Sawyer Esbenshade's pass to stall the Golden Wolves drive.
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Alvernia responded right away with a pick of its own on the second play of the Misericordia drive when Nassire Furman jumped the route and gave the Golden Wolves the ball back.
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The Cougars forced an Alvernia three and out to force a punt but Alvernia got the ball back after another interception from the Golden Wolves defense, this one by Ta'Jier Burrus to send the game to the second quarter with the Golden Wolves holding a 3-0 lead.
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Both offenses had success moving the ball in the second quarter but neither could finish their drives. The Golden Wolves got the ball back in Misericordia territory after Christian Median tallied a strip sack that was recovered by Kyle Custis and gave Alvernia the ball on the Misericrodia 19 yard line.
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It then took the Golden Wolves four plays to punch the ball into the end zone after Adonis Dixon powered into the end zone to extend the Alvernia lead to ten, 10-0, heading into the half.
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The Cougars came out of the halftime break and flipped the script and rattled off back to back scoring drives to swing the lead in their favor, 14-10.
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The Misericordia defense held the Alvernia offense to just 43 yards of total offense in the quarter and took the four point, 14-10, advantage into the fourth quarter.
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The Golden Wolves got the ball back at the start of the fourth quarter and recorded an 11 play drive but only moved the ball 45 yards and turned the ball over on downs but the Alvernia defense held strong on the ensuing Miseriocoria drive and forced a three and out.
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After Alvernia got the ball back around midfield, Esbenshade connected with Trevor Kimaiga down the seam for a 48 yard connection that set the Golden Wolves up on the Misericordia six yard line.
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It took the Golden Wolves just two more plays to find the end zone, this time it came via a Esbenshade scramble to the right for seven yards to put Alvernia back on top, 17-14, with just over five minutes to go in the game.
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The Cougars would start the next drive at their own 30 yard line and ripped off an 11 play, 70 yard drive that ended in a touchdown and gave them back the lead, 21-17, late in the fourth quarter.
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In the final minute of the game, Alvernia drove down the field and put themselves in a position to win the game but the Misericordia defense stifled the Alvernia offense as the Cougars secured the 21-17 victory over the Golden Wolves.
Inside the Box Score
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Sawyer Esbenshade completed 22 of 38 passes for 302 yards through the air. Esbenshade tallied a long completion of 48 but did throw an interception.
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Adonis Dixon led the way on the ground for the Golden Wolves with 85 yards rushing on 15 carries and one touchdown. Esbenshade tallied ten rushes for 32 yards and also had a rushing touchdown.
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Adonis Akande caught a team high six passes for a total of 74 yards, Zakai Smullen tallied five receptions for 73 yards and Trevor Kimaiga tallied two catches for 62 yards.
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Christian Medina recorded nine tackles, including six solo tackles and also tallied two sacks and a forced fumble.
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LJ Aldas also tallied nine tackles and both Kashantis Anderson and Jakob Keglovits recorded eight tackles each.
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Nassire Furman and Ta'Jier Burrus both tallied interceptions for the Golden Wolves secondary.
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The Golden Wolves recorded 411 yards of total offense with 109 yards on the ground and 302 yards through the air. Alvernia outgained the Cougars 411 to 293.
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