Sep 15, 2018
READING, Pa. - The Stevenson University football team scored 37 unanswered points and posted a second-half shutout as it opened Middle Atlantic Conference play with a 50-21 victory over Albright at Shirk Stadium Saturday afternoon.
FIRST QUARTER
- Albright (0-3, 0-1 MAC) got on the board first, as a two-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Dickerson capped a nine-play, 57-yard drive to make it 7-0 with 7:49 left in the quarter.
- A 71-yard run on Stevenson's (2-1, 1-0 MAC) first play of the ensuing drive by Titus Johnson tied things up.
- The Lions engineered an 11-play, 61-yard drive to go up 14-7 at the 3:34 mark as Tony Thorpe rushed 11 yards.
SECOND QUARTER
- An 11-yard keeper by senior quarterback Dan Williams 25 seconds into the second quarter pulled Stevenson within one, 14-13, as the snap was mishandled on the PAT try. The scramble capped a nine-play, 45-yard drive, as the Mustangs started in Albright territory after a 41-yard kick return by Drexel Mosby.
- Albright drove to the Mustang 2 on its next drive, but was stymied by the Mustang defense a rush was stopped for no gain by senior Brody Coleman on third down, and a fourth-and-goal pass was incomplete.
- The Lions extended their lead to 21-13 with 4:17 left before intermission as a 22-yard pass from Jimmy Lehay to Zack Miller capped a seven-play, 45-yard drive.
- A 42-yard pass from Williams to Chaz Lyles with 1:08 remaining made it a 21-19 game, as Stevenson's try for two was unsuccessful.
- After Albright went three-and-out on its next possession, a 17-yard punt gave the Mustangs the ball at the hosts' 36 with 17 seconds to go.
- Williams completed a 17-yard pass to senior Sebastien Vainqueur to get the Mustangs in field goal range, and sophomore Gavin Locklear booted a 36-yarder with one second to go to put Stevenson on top 22-21 at the break.
THIRD QUARTER
- Stevenson started its first drive of the second half at midfield as Vincent Lee returned the opening kickoff 43 yards to the Albright 48.
- On third-and-goal from the 2, Williams handed off to senior tight end Patrick Najmola for a touchdown run, capping an 11-play drive with 9:46 on the clock.
- Junior Hanif Jones registered Stevenson's first pick-six of the season on Albright's third play from scrimmage, picking off Lehay and returning it 31 yards for the score and a 36-21 lead with 8:22 left in the quarter.
FOURTH QUARTER
- A 43-yard completion to Lee with 13:23 to go pushed the Mustang lead to 22, 43-21, as the score finished off a six-play, 67-yard drive.
- Albright drove down to the Mustang 32 on its next possession, but an interception by senior Mike Datu at the 20 gave the ball back to Stevenson with 10:56 to go.
- On a drive that was extended by an Albright roughing the kicker penalty on a fourth down punt attempt at the Stevenson 29, Malcolm Amobi had a six-yard TD run to cap a seven play, 80-yard march with just under eight minutes left.
NUMBERS AND NOTES
- Stevenson's margin of victory was the largest in the eight-game series. The last six games between Albright and the Mustangs had been decided by a touchdown or less. Stevenson leads the all-time series 5-3 and has won three straight.
- Williams finished 19-29 passing for 267 yards and two TDs while rushing four times for 22 yards and a score. He was named the MVP of Albright's 68th annual Pretzel Bowl, an event held annually to raise money for Shriner's Hospitals.
- Williams threw completions to eight different receivers, with Lyles catching seven passes for 82 yards and Vainqueur recording five grabs for 71 yards.
- Stevenson rushed for 199 yards, its highest total since rushing for 218 against Misericordia last September 30. Johnson had 89 yards on 10 carries, while Gabe Eriksen picked up 70 on seven attempts.
- Stevenson outgained Albright 478-263, including 279-48 after halftime.
- The Mustang defense recorded a takeaway for the 58th consecutive game.
- Coleman and Bill Burton led the Mustang defense with seven tackles apiece.
- Ashton Leschke and Izaiha Pitts each recorded six stops.
- Stevenson eked out a 30:06-29:54 edge in time of possession. It has led in time of possession in all three games this season.
- The Mustangs are 20-2 in the month of September dating back to the start of the 2013 season.
WHAT'S NEXT
- Stevenson continues its three-game road swing next Saturday when it travels to King's (Pa.) for a 1:00 Middle Atlantic Conference contest.
- The Mustangs return home Saturday, September 29 when they host defending MAC champion and No. 23 Delaware Valley for a 1:00 game at Mustang Stadium.