Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Alvernia University Athletics

Sawyer Esbenshade throws a ball toward the endzone.
Marisa Lombardo
Sawyer Esbenshade
21
Alvernia ALV 0-1 , 0-0
25
Winner Keystone KEY 1-0 , 0-0
Alvernia ALV
0-1 , 0-0
21
Final
25
Keystone KEY
1-0 , 0-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
ALV Alvernia 7 0 7 7 21
KEY Keystone 7 0 0 18 25

Game Recap: Football | | Nick Anderson (Director of Athletic Communications)

Alvernia Drops Season Opener to Keystone, 25-21

La Plume, Pa. (September 4, 2026) - Alvernia University (0-1) fell to Keystone College (1-0), 25-21, Friday night in a non-conference football clash at Keystone College.

The Giants scored the game winning touchdown on the final play of the game after Frankie Leyshon connected with Ethan Sadler in the back of the endzone to give the Giants the 25-21 advantage. 

How it Happened 
  • The Golden Wolves got the ball first and marched right down the field and into the endzone to kick the game off. After an opening play completion to Adonis Dixon, first year quarterback Sawyer Esbenshade connected with Frank Billings for a 44 yard completion to put the Golden Wolves on the Keystone ten yard line. After a loss pushed Alvernia back to the 11 yard line, Esbenshade found Yon Anderson in the endzone to put the Golden Wolves up 7-0 in just two minutes. 
  • The Giants answered right back with a 13 play, 73 yard drive on their first drive of the game which was capped by a Johann Hennigan touchdown reception from Malakai Dickens to tie the game at seven a piece. 
  • Alvernia then put themselves in great field position after Keigan Barnes returned the ensuing kickoff 55 yards to set up the Golden Wolves offense at the Keystone 33 yard line. After a quick first down put the Golden Wolves on the Keystone 20, they were unable to punch the ball into the endzone and were forced to attempt a field goal but from 32 yards out, the field goal attempt was missed which kept the score tied at seven. 
  • After the Golden Wolves defense forced a Keystone three and out, defensive back Jordan Smikle returned the punt to the Keystone 32 and set Alvernia up with great field position yet again with just over two minutes to go in the first quarter. 
  • The Golden Wolves got the ball into the redzone after a 16 yard completion from Esbenshde to Zakai Smullen and even down to the one yard line after back to back Dixon rushes but Alvernia was stopped on its fourth and one attempt to turn the ball over on downs. 
  • Keystone started the second quarter with the ball on its own one and after another three and out the Golden Wolves were back in great field position with the ball on the keystone 11. But, after a three and out, the Golden Wolves attempted another field goal but were unable to convert again as the game stayed tied at seven. 
  • The Golden Wolves and the Giants then traded the next five drives back and forth as the game headed into the halftime break locked at seven. 
  • Both teams continued to struggle on the offensive side of the ball to start the third quarter and continued to trade punts back and forth before the Golden Wolves ripped off a seven play, 73 yard drive that was capped off by an Andrew Simmons 40 yard touchdown rush to put the Golden Wolves back on top, 14-7, with four minutes to play in the third quarter. 
  • After a Golden Wolves fumble gave the ball back to the Giants, Keystone went on a seven play, 58 yard scoring drive after Ethan Sadler caught a 23 yard touchdown pass from Frankie Leyshon but the Giants missed the extra point to preserve the Alvernia lead, 14-13. 
  • Alvernia responded right away with an 11 play, 80 yard scoring drive to extend the lead to eight, 21-13. Esbenshade completed passes to Smullen for 22 yards, Isaih Desameau for 18 yards and connected with Anderson for his second touchdown of the game to extend the Alvernia lead. 
  • The Giants would then rattle off a ten play 73 yard scoring drive of their own to pull within two, 21-19, but failed to convert the two point conversion to tie the game as the Golden Wolves held a now narrow, two point lead over the Giants. 
  • The Golden Wolves were unable to run the clock out and were forced to punt the ball back to the Giants who posted another ten plus play drive, this one a 13 play, 87 yard scoring drive that ended with a Sadler touchdown catch as time expired to give the Giants the 25-21 victory over the Golden Wolves. 

Inside the Box Score 
  • Sawyer Esbenshade went 22-35 in the air for 229 yards and two touchdowns in his collegiate debut. Esbenshade tossed both touchdown passes to teammate Yon Anderson, who ended the night with four catches for 26 yards and the two touchdown grabs. 
  • Andrew Simmons recorded 54 yards on the ground on seven touches and a touchdown, which came on a 40 yard rush. Adonis Dixon tallied the most rushes for the Golden Wolves with 13 rushes for 40 yards. 
  • Frank Billings led the way on the receiving end for the Golden Wolves with four receptions for 83 yards including a long of 44 yards. Zakai Smullen tallied 52 yards on four catches and Keigan Barnes posted 30 yards receiving on five receptions. 
  • Tommy DiGregorio led the way defensively for the Golden Wolves with six total tackles, two tackles for a loss and two sacks on the night. 
  • Kashantis Anderson and Christian Medina also posted six total tackles and Medina recorded two tackles for a loss and a sack. 
  • Kyle Custis and Jakob Keglovits both recorded five tackles on the night and Custis tallied one tackle for a loss. 

Up Next 
  • The Golden Wolves look to bounce back next week when they travel to Widener to take on the Pride in the MAC conference opener at 1:00 PM.
Print Friendly Version