OWINGS MILLS, Md. – The Stevenson football team delivered a thrilling finish on Saturday afternoon, holding off a late Alvernia rally to secure a 24–23 Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) victory at Mustang Stadium. The Mustangs built a 24–10 advantage through three quarters before withstanding a fourth-quarter comeback to earn their seventh win of the season. Stevenson finishes the regular season at 7–3 overall and 6–3 in conference play.
Stevenson opened the afternoon with a strong offensive possession, marching 60 yards on nine plays before senior kicker
Mohammad Butt connected on a 22-yard field goal with 10:31 remaining in the opening quarter. After Alvernia responded with a touchdown to take a 7–3 lead, the Mustangs answered with an eight-play, 64-yard scoring drive. Running back
Nicolas Blagmon capped the possession with a 16-yard touchdown run, giving Stevenson a 10–7 advantage with 2:12 remaining in the first quarter.
The Mustang defense continued to make its presence felt in the second quarter, highlighted by a 50-yard interception return from
Daryus Henderson that gave Stevenson possession deep in Alvernia territory. Although the Mustangs were unable to capitalize on the turnover, the defense continued to limit the Golden Wolves, forcing multiple punts and keeping Alvernia off the scoreboard throughout the quarter. Stevenson extended its lead late in the first half as quarterback
Kirby Matson connected with
Cordell Bair for a 13-yard touchdown pass with 1:11 remaining. The six-play, 60-yard drive was highlighted by a 38-yard completion from Matson to
Noah Robinson, sending the Mustangs into halftime with a 17–7 advantage.
Alvernia opened the second half with a lengthy drive, covering 62 yards on 13 plays before converting a 23-yard field goal to cut the Stevenson lead to 17–10. The Mustangs responded with another scoring possession, putting together a nine-play, 65-yard drive. Blagmon found the end zone for the second time on the afternoon with a one-yard touchdown run, extending Stevenson's advantage to 24–10 with 2:35 remaining in the third quarter.
The Golden Wolves began their fourth-quarter comeback with a 49-yard touchdown pass from Sawyer Esbenshade to Zakai Smullen, trimming the deficit to 24–17 with 8:23 remaining. Stevenson looked to respond offensively, as Matson connected with
Anthony Rodriguez for a 27-yard completion to move the Mustangs into Alvernia territory. Blagmon added a nine-yard rush to move Stevenson inside the Golden Wolves' 35-yard line before Alvernia forced a fumble and recovered possession.
Alvernia capitalized on the turnover, putting together a nine-play, 67-yard drive that ended with a one-yard touchdown run from Adonis Dixon with 1:56 remaining. The Golden Wolves' two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful, leaving Stevenson with a narrow 24–23 advantage.
With the game on the line, the Mustangs' offense looked to run out the remaining clock. Stevenson advanced to the Alvernia 22-yard line but was unable to convert on fourth down, giving the Golden Wolves one final opportunity. Alvernia moved the ball to its own 41-yard line before the Mustang defense came up with a pair of pass breakups, including a final defensive stop from
Melijah Cobbs, to secure the 24–23 victory.
Offensively, Blagmon led the Mustangs with a standout performance, rushing for 170 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries while adding 11 receiving yards for 181 all-purpose yards. Matson completed 14 of 25 passes for 226 yards and one touchdown. Robinson led Stevenson through the air with 60 receiving yards on three catches, including a game-long 38-yard reception, while
Anthony Rodriguez added 57 yards on three receptions. Bair hauled in the Mustangs' lone receiving touchdown.
Defensively, Stevenson recorded 63 total tackles, five tackles for loss and three sacks.
Terae Franklin led the Mustangs with eight total tackles, including half a sack.
Bryan Bowen added seven tackles, while
Ethan Marshall recorded six tackles, including a team-high 11-yard sack.
Matthew Berry finished with four tackles, one sack and 1.5 tackles for loss. Henderson added three tackles, a pass breakup and a 50-yard interception return. On special teams, Butt connected on a 22-yard field goal, converted all three extra-point attempts and averaged 46.0 yards on two punts, including a 47-yard punt.
With the victory, Stevenson finishes the regular season at 7–3 overall and 6–3 in MAC play. The Mustangs will return to Mustang Stadium on Saturday, November 21, to host the No. 3 seed in the Centennial-MAC Bowl Game.
