Alvernia University Athletics

Reading, Pa. (September, 19, 2026) - Alvernia University (1-2, 1-1) held off a late King's College push en route to a 28-21 victory over the Monarchs Saturday afternoon in a MAC football clash at Alvernia's Turf Field. 

The Golden Wolves were led by monster performances out of first year quarterback Sawyer Esbenshade and sophomore wide receiver Zakai Smullen, both of which etched their names in the record books. Smullen recorded a record breaking 205 receiving yards on eight catches and also tallied a record three touchdown catches. Esbenshade followed with a single game record for touchdown passes in a game with four. 

The victory also came as the first for Alvernia Head Coach Steve Devlin and doubled as the first victory over King's College in program history. 

The Golden Wolves jumped out to an early, 13-0 lead in the first quarter after they drove right down the field on the opening drive of the game. Alvernia then extended the lead at the end of the first quarter to make it a 13-0 ballgame. Both the Golden Wolves and the Monarchs went scoreless in the second quarter as the Golden Wolves headed to the half with a 13-0 lead. Alvernia pushed the lead to 20-0 at the start of the third quarter but the Monarchs responded with 14 straight points to pull within six, 20-14, heading into the fourth quarter. King's then took the lead five minutes into the final quarter of play after a 61 yard touchdown to make it 21-20. The Golden Wolves bounced back with a two play, 59 yard drive that was all Esbenshade and Smullen that was capped by a Smullen one handed touchdown grab to put the Golden Wolves up 26-21. Esbenshade then connected with Keigan Barnes on the two point conversion to make it a 28-21 lead. Alvernia staved off a 14 play,60 yard drive by the Monarchs to secure the 28-21 victory over the Monarchs and secured the first ever victory over King's. 

How it Happened 

• The Golden Wolves took the opening kickoff of the game and marched right down the field to take the early lead on the Monarchs. On the first offensive play of the game, Esbenshade connected with Smullen down the middle for a 60 yard pitch and catch to put the Golden Wolves on the King's 12 yard line. After back to back rushes by Adonis Dixon, Esbenshade went back to Smullen and connected with him in the endzone for a eight yard touchdown grab to make it a 6-0 Alvernia lead. 
• Alvernia then got the ball back after both teams stalled out on back to back drives with just under five minutes to go in the first quarter and ripped off a nine play, 63 yard touchdown drive that was capped by, you guessed it, a Smullen touchdown grab, that pushed the Alvernia lead to 13-0 heading to the second quarter. 
• Both the Golden Wolves and the Monarchs struggled offensively in the second quarter as both teams went scoreless and the Golden Wolves took a 13-0 lead into the halftime break. Alvernia posted 211 yards of total offense in the first half and 175 of that came through the air. 
• Alvernia came out of the halftime break and its defense provided a spark immediately following the half. After King's received the second half kickoff, Jimmy Zamena forced a King's fumble on the first play from scrimmage in the second half and Alvernia's Jordan Smikle recovered the fumble to give the Golden Wolves the ball on the King's 40 yard line. 
• The Golden Wolves then took three plays to get back in the endzone when Esbenshade connected with Adonis Akande across the middle of the field, Akande broke through two tacklers and into the open field for a 37 yard touchdown that extended the Alvernia lead to 20-0. 
• King's responded immediately with a three play, 71 yard scoring drive after a 46 yard touchdown grab from Eric Zebrowski pulled the Monarchs within two scores, 20-7. 
• The Monarchs then forced an Alvernia punt on the next drive and got the ball back deep in their own territory on their own 15 yard line. King's then pulled within six after a ten play, 85 yard scoring drive that cut the Alvernia lead to one score, 20-14. 
• Alvernia took the ensuing drive 55 yards on eight plays and had a look at a 37 yard field goal but were unable to convert it as the Golden Wolves gave the ball back to King's with just over 11 minutes to play in the fourth quarter. 
• King's wasted no time after the missed Alvernia field goal, and went 80 yards in three plays thanks to a 61 yard touchdown grab by Kival Clarke put the Monarchs on top, 21-20, with ten minutes to go. 
• After a nice kickoff return from Barnes and a facemask by King's, the Golden Wolves were set up with good field position after the King's touchdown drive and got themselves onto the King's side of the 50 but after being stopped on third and fourth downs, Alvernia gave the ball back to the Monarchs with five minutes to play. 
• King's got the ball back on their own 28 yard line but the Alvernia defense held strong and forced a three and out to get the ball back with just under four minutes to play in the fourth quarter. 
• The Golden Wolves wasted no time on the ensuing drive and went 59 yards in just two plays, both of which were receptions by Smullen, to put the Golden Wolves back on top, 26-21. Esbenshade connected with Smullen on the first play of the drive down the middle for a 47 yard pitch and catch that set the Golden Wolves up at the King's 12 yard line. Esbenshade then went back to the well and tossed a jump ball up to Smullen in the back corner of the endzone, Smullen rose up and snagged the one handed grab over the King's defensive back to give the Golden Wolves the lead. Alvernia then converted the two point conversion after Esbenshade found Barnes in the flat to push the Alvernia lead to seven, 28-21. 
• King's got the ball back on its own 30 yard line and worked its way down the field in the final two minutes of the game. The Monarchs rattled off a 13 play, 60 yard drive to get themselves in striking distance and on the Alvernia ten yard line but after a pass breakup in the endzone by Ta'Jier Burrus and Jordan Smikle and an incompletion on the last play of the game, the Golden Wolves secured the comeback victory over the Monarchs, 28-21. 

Inside the Box Score 

• Sawyer Esbenshade posted an impressive day through the air against the Monarchs. Esbenshade completed 22 of 31 passes for 357 yards and four touchdowns. Esbenshade's 357 yards through the air is the third most in a single game for the Golden Wolves and his four touchdown passes sets the single game record for passing touchdowns in a game. 
• Zakai Smullen also added a monster game receiving and hauled in eight receptions for a record breaking 205 yards and three touchdowns. Smullen's three touchdowns also broke a program record and he hauled in a 60 yard grab. 
• Adonis Akande also had a stellar game receiving for the Golden Wolves and hauled in a team high ten receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown, which came on a 37 yard catch and run. 
• LJ Aldas led the Golden Wolves defense with 14 total tackles and had seven solos and seven assisted tackles. 
• Kashantis Anderson followed with 12 tackles, seven of which came as solos and also added half of a tackle for a loss. 
• Jakob Keglovits added seven tackles and half of a tackle for a loss and both Christian Medina and Patrick Caracciolo added sacks. 
• The Golden Wolves recorded 429 yards of total offense with 357 of that coming in the passing game. Alvernia added 72 rushing yards and recorded over seven yards per play and over 16 yards per play in the pass game. 

Up Next 

• The Golden Wolves are back in action next Saturday at home when they take on Lebanon Valley College at 1:00 PM.