Chester, Pa. (September 12, 2026) - Alvernia University (0-2, 0-1) dropped its first MAC football matchup of the season to Widener University (1-1, 1-0), 14-10, Saturday afternoon at Widener's Leslie C. Quick Stadium.
The Pride held a 7-0 lead at the half after they scored a first quarter touchdown but the Golden Wolves answered back and tied the game up at seven in the third quarter thanks to an Adonis Dixon 17 yard touchdown run. Alvernia then took the 10-7 lead after a Kevin Carotenuto field goal., Widener would score the go ahead touchdown with under a minute to go when Caiden Leszcynski scrambled for a four yard touchdown run to put the Pride up 14-10. Alvernia had a look at the endzone with two seconds to play and a chance to win the game but they were unable to punch the ball into the endzone as the Pride secured the 14-10 victory over the Golden Wolves.
How it Happened
- The Pride struck first in the first quarter after an Alvernia punt was blocked and returned 30 yards by Widener's Harrison Stewart-Smith to put the Pride up 7-0 early.
- The Golden Wolves then began to move the ball on the ensuing drive and marched all the way down to the Widener seven yard line. Andrew Simmons tallied 14 yards rushing on the drive and quarterback Sawyer Esbenshade scrambled for a 13 yard gain but the drive was halted after Esbenshade was picked off in the back of the Widener endzone to give the ball back to the Pride.
- After the Golden Wolves and the Pride traded punts back and forth, the Golden Wolves took over at their own 30 yard line. Alvernia headed back down the field, moving the ball yet again on this Widener defense both in the run and pass game. Esbenshade connected with tight end Adonis Akande for 23 down the seam to get the Golden Wolves in Widener territory but after three straight run plays, Alvernia was faced with a fourth and five with a minute to go in the half. Esbenshade connected with Akande yet again but it was not enough for the first down as the Golden Wolves turned the ball over on downs and gave it back to Widener.
- Alvernia was able to stop the Pride and force a punt before running the clock out and took the game into the half with the Pride leading 7-0.
- Alvernia recorded 134 yards of total offense to Widener's 78. Alvernia recorded 77 yards through the passing game and 57 on the ground and tallied ten first downs.
- The Pride and the Golden Wolves traded the ball back and forth in the third quarter before the Golden Wolves took over after a Widener punt at the Alvernia 24 yard line with 6:35 to go in the quarter. Esbenshade then got the Golden Wolves going on the second play of the drive after he connected with Michael Giordano for a 40 yard reception down the sideline to put the Golden Wolves on the Widener side of the 50.
- The Golden Wolves then went with five straight run plays before Adonis Dixon broke through the line for 17 yards and into the endzone to tie the game at seven apiece.
- Alvernia's defense then stepped up on the ensuing drive after Widener's Corey Schock connected with Harrison Stewart-Smith across the middle but Alvernia captain Kashantis Anderson ripped the ball from Stewart-Smith's arms and gave the Golden Wolves the ball back on the Widener 28 yard line.
- The Golden Wolves went three and out on the next drive and lined up for a 34 yard field goal. Alvernia's Kevin Carotenuto stepped into the ball and drove it through the uprights to give the Golden Wolves a three point, 10-7 advantage with under 13 minutes to go in the fourth quarter.
- Alvernia and Widener both recorded three and outs on the next two drives and Alvernia gave Widener the ball on the Alvernia 22 after a bad snap gave the Pride the ball with great field position.
- After a Alvernia pass interference call pushed the ball to the Alvernia seven yard line, Widener's Schock threw a ball to the back of the endzone that was picked off by Alvernia's Jordan Smikle for a touchback and kept the Pride out of the back of the endzone with Alvernia still holding a three point, 10-7 lead.
- The Alvernia offense could not get going yet again and recorded another three and out and punted the ball back to Widener. The Pride then took the ball from the 50 yard line to the Alvernia 37 yard line. The Pride then took a deep shot down the sideline to Jaelen Richardson but defensive back Nassire Furman deflected the pass into the air and Alvernia's Anderson swooped in and tallied his second takeaway of the game.
- The Golden Wolves took over at their own 30 but a bad quarterback-running back exchange put the football on the ground and gave the ball back to the Pride with five minutes to play in the game.
- The Alvernia defense stepped up yet again on the ensuing drive and held the Pride offense to a three and out and forced a 35 yard field goal attempt but Widener could not convert the opportunity as the kick was pushed wide right and gave Alvernia the ball back with 4:45 to go and a 10-7 lead.
- The Pride forced another Alvernia three and out and got the ball back on the Alvernia 40 yard line after a 15 yard return from Damien Morgan. Widener then went down the field and capped the four play, 40 yard drive with a Caiden Leszcynski four yard rushing touchdown to give the Pride the 14-10 advantage with less than a minute to go.
- After a 21 yard kickoff return, the Golden Wolves started their drive at their own 33 yard line. After a first play completion to Akande, Esbenshade used his legs to scramble out of the pocket three straight times, one of which he drew a late hit, which put the Golden Wolves into Widener territory on the Widener 28 with ten second remaining. Esbenshade then connected with a streaking Andrew Simmons down the right sideline for a 20 yard completion that put Alvernia on the eight yard line with two seconds to go in the game.
- Esbenshade looked to wide receiver Zakai Smullen on the last play of the game in the endzone but was unable to connect with Smullen as the Pride secured the 14-10 victory over the Golden Wolves.
Inside the Box Score
- Sawyer Esbenshade recorded 167 yards in the air on 16 completions and one interception and connected on a 40 yard pitch and catch with Michael Giordano.
- Adonis Dixon led the way on the ground for the Golden Wolves with 63 yards rushing on 13 attempts and a touchdown.
- Andrew Simmons tallied the most rushing touches for Alvernia and posted 46 yards on 17 rushes.
- Michael Giordano tallied two receptions for 44 yards, Yon Anderson caught three passes for 35 yards and Zakai Smullen hauled in a team high four receptions for 32 yards.
- Kashantis Anderson led the Golden Wolves defense with eight solo tackles and one assisted tackle. Anderson also recorded a forced fumble and fumble recovery and also nabbed an interception.
- Jordan Smikle also tallied an interception for the Golden Wolves and added three tackles.
- Shawn Young tallied five solo tackles including one for a loss and Jakob Keglovitz also added four tackles.
Up Next
- Alvernia is back in action next weekend when they host King's in its season opener at 1:00 PM.
