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Alvernia University Athletics

Sawyer Esbenshade and Zakai Smullen are Alvernia Athletes of the Week

Football Nick Anderson (Director of Athletic Communications)

Smullen, Esbenshade Named Alvernia Athletes of the Week

Reading, Pa. (September 21, 2026) - Zakai Smullen and Sawyer Esbenshade of Football earned Alvernia Athletes of the Week honors for their record breaking performances on Saturday presented by MailShark. 

Smullen and Esbenshade both posted monster offensive performances on Saturday to lead the Golden Wolves to a 28-21 victory over King's College. The win marked the first win of Head Coach Steven Devlin's career, the first victory over King's in program history and the first win since the 2024 season. 

Smullen hauled in eight receptions for a record breaking 205 yards receiving on Saturday and also tallied three touchdown catches. Smullen recorded a 60 yard reception on the first offensive play of the game and capped that opening drive with an eight yard touchdown grab. Smullen also hauled in a 32 yard grab later in the first quarter and a 47 yard reception on the game winning touchdown drive that set up his game winning touchdown grab with just under three minutes to play. Smullen's three touchdowns set a new single game record, his 205 receiving yards also set a new single game program record and his eight receptions was a career high. 

Esbenshade completed 22 of 31 passes on Saturday for 357 yards and four touchdowns to help lead the Golden Wolves to victory. Esbenshade's four touchdowns also broke a program record for touchdown passes in a game and his 357 yards passing was the third most passing yards in a game in program history. Esbenshade tossed touchdown passes of eight yards, 16 yards, 37 yards and 12 yards and also connected with Smullen on passes of 60 and 47 yards.

The Golden Wolves are back in action on Saturday when they host Lebanon Valley for a MAC clash with the Dutchmen at 1:00 PM. 


 
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Players Mentioned

Zakai Smullen

#1 Zakai Smullen

WR
6' 1"
Sophomore
Sawyer Esbenshade

#10 Sawyer Esbenshade

QB
6' 0"
First Year

Players Mentioned

Zakai Smullen

#1 Zakai Smullen

6' 1"
Sophomore
WR
Sawyer Esbenshade

#10 Sawyer Esbenshade

6' 0"
First Year
QB