PHILADELPHIA– After an extended pregame lightning delay, Eastern University Football (1-1) shocked the visiting Alvernia Golden Wolves with a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns and a 30-23 win. First-year quarterback Sabor Stevens led the Eagles on two long drives in the final eight minutes to erase a 23-16 Alvernia lead.
The Golden Wolves (0-2) took the lead on a 52-yard drive midway through the third quarter. After scoring with six and a half minutes left, the Eastern offense was on the field for just one play when Alvernia Linebacker Jamel Fleming forced a fumble. The Eastern defense stood strong, but the turnover put the Eagles behind in the field position battle.
After starting on the six yard line, the Eagles put together a solid drive, highlighted by a 61- yard reception by Andre Gillmore that advanced into the red zone. A holding penalty on 3rd-and-2 put the Eagles behind the sticks and they turned it over on downs to Alvernia with 12 minutes to play.
The Eastern defense held the Golden Wolves to 2.4 yards per rush on the day. Despite a 31 yard reception on the first play of the drive, Alvernia managed to bleed only three minutes off the clock before punting the ball to the five yard line.
Stevens and fellow first-year Justin Nikolopolous connected for a pair of first downs to get out from under their own goalposts. Stevens then found Nikolopoulos for a 60-yard touchdown to cap the 95-yard drive. John Nolek converted the extra point to tie the game with 6:12 to play.
After a good kick-off from Nolek, the Eagles forced three-and-out and started from their own 26. Stevens then found Eddie Swinton on back-to-back plays for 33 yards and 23 yards. Five plays later, Arise Ceide scored from four yards out to put the Eagles up.
Up seven with 2:17 on the clock, the Eagles needed to make a stand. Vaughn Highland and Perry Parker sacked Alvernia quarterback Colin Payne on first down, but Payne completed a 36-yard pass on 4th-and-15 to give the visitors hope. A thirty-yard throw on 3rd-and-5 with a minute to play put the Golden Wolves on the doorstep. Ronald Jones came up with a first-down sack and the Eagles were able to seal the win with a Zaire McLaurin interception in the end zone.
Stevens finished with 273 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Kamar Cosby completed one pass for 41 yards and ran for a score to put the Eagles up 7-6 late in the first quarter.
Alvernia answered the Cosby touchdown with a 79-yard drive and a 13-7 lead. After John Westfield put consecutive punts inside the five yard line, the Eagles took advantage with a defense stop and a safety. Swinton put Eastern up 16-13 on a 17-yard catch with 4:16 to play in the first half.
Payne threw for 281 yards, and Dachan Thompson led the Golden Wolves with 139 yards receiving.
Gashawn Moody led the Eastern defense with 11 tackles. Kamare Watson had six tackles and a pair of sacks and Jamauri Jones had four solo tackles and three passes defended.
Eastern University officially announced it would start football in September of 2021. The department announced the hiring of Billy Crocker and his staff in December 2021. Less than two years after the announcement, the University hosted a game for the first time. The first home game in program history was a great success.
"This is what we are looking to build on," Athletic Director Eric McNelley said of the environment. "The pep band, the crowd, the energy of the team, the cheer and dance squads everything. What a great night. The University is committed to seeing our department thrive and grow."
The Eagles will face the defending MAC Champion Delaware Valley Aggies at Franklin Field next Saturday at 1:00 pm.