READING, Pa. -  The Albright Lions football team is getting ready for their last and biggest road game of the 2023 season on Saturday, November 4 against cross town rival Alvernia. Albright and Alvernia have played in each season since 2021 after Alvernia announced the addition of football to the University in 2018. Saturday's game is set for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
 

TWO DEEPS
Alvernia Two Deep
Albright Two Deep

TALE OF THE TAPE
Matchup: Albright (0-8, 0-7 MAC) vs Alvernia (0-8, 0-7 MAC)
Where: Alvernia Turf Field // Reading, Pa.
When: Saturday, November 4
Kick-off: 1:00 p.m.
 
ABOUT ALBRIGHT
Saturday's game will mark the third meeting between the two schools. Alvernia and Albright have each won a game in the series. Albright won the first ever matchup between the two schools in 2021 and Alvernia got the best of Albright last season. Albright will return to the campus of Alvernia for the first time since 2021 looking to take a 2-1 lead in the Albright vs Alvernia head to head series.  

The Albright defense continues to turn over their opponents. Last time out against Misericordia, Taylor Heflin intercepted his first pass of the season and returned it all the way for a touchdown. Helfin's interception return for a touchdown was marked as a 45-yard pick six. The interception return for the touchdown was also the first defensive touchdown for the Lions this season. Heflin is one of six players in the MAC this season that has an interception return for a touchdown.

Albright linebacker Darien Osmun continues to cause havoc in the backfield of opposing offenses. Osmun has racked up 9.5 tackles for loss this season, which is good for 7^th in the MAC to date. Additionally, Osmun has compiled 41 total tackles this season which leads the Albright defense.
 
ABOUT ALVERNIA
Alvernia is coming into Saturday's game in search of their first win of the season. The Golden Wolves suffered a narrow defeat last week to Lebanon Valley losing to the Dutchmen 34-26. Saturday's game is the first home game since October 14 for the Golden Wolves.

The Alvernia offense is led by quarterback Colin Payne. Payne has thrown for nine touchdowns and 1,765 yards this season and has thrown for at least one touchdown in seven of eight games. Payne's passing yard total is the most in the MAC this season through eight games. Payne is susceptible to turning the ball over having thrown for 12 interceptions this season.

The receiving duo of Dachan Thompson and Joseph Perkins will be a focal point of the Albright defense. Thompson has amassed 739 receiving yards this season while his counterpart Perkins, has recorded 451 receiving yards. Thompson and Perkins have accounted for seven of the nine total touchdowns through the air for the Golden Wolves in 2023.

Defensively, Elijah Carr has been a bright spot for Alvernia. Carr is the second leading tackler in the MAC having recorded 82 total tackles to date this season. Defensive back, Taron Gale has made plays all season long for Alvernia recording four interceptions through eight games. Gale's four interceptions are the second most in the MAC and leads a defense that has intercepted nine total passes this season.