READING, Pa. - In a defensive battle on Saturday afternoon, the Eastern defense made the biggest play of the game early in the fourth quarter to help seal its second win of the season. A Cole Jones forced fumble led to a 25-yard scoop and score from Dru Beckford early in the frame, and a pair of John Nolek field goals later in the quarter pushed the Eagles to a 22-14 triumph over the Alvernia Golden Wolves.

The Eastern defense was stout all afternoon, holding the Golden Wolves to just 246 total yards of offense. Additionally, Eastern recorded eight tackles for loss, two each for Andrew Campbell and Martin Campbell, and forced four fumbles with three recoveries. Jones and Eric Wilson each forced fumbles, while two others were muffs by Alvernia. Gashawn Moody led the Eagles with eight tackles, while Campbell and Ronald Jones each finished with seven. Jamauri James added six tackles, while Tahjrere Jackson-Alston finished with four.

Eastern's defense set the tone early, pitching a shutout in the opening two quarters. After the Eagles forced a three-and-out to start the game, the offense went to work, capping off a five-play, 55-yard drive with a six-yard touchdown run from quarterback Brett Nabb. Eddie Swinton jump started the drive with a 40-yard reception down to the Alvernia 15, and Nabb ran it in four plays later on fourth-and-1 for his seventh rushing score of the season.

The Eagles forced another stop on defense, and Izayah Guy-Bruton blocked the ensuing Alvernia punt to set Eastern up just outside the Golden Wolves' red zone. Nolek capped off the drive with a 29-yard field goal to out the Eagles up 9-0.

The Golden Wolves' forced a fumble of their own near the end of the first quarter right around midfield and drove down to the Eastern 25, but the Eastern defense held strong, forcing a turnovers on downs at their own 25-yard line. Eastern went into the halftime break leading 9-0.

Alvernia broke the shutout bid on its first drive of the second half, going 31 yards on nine plays after the Eagles turned the ball over on downs. Stefan Rich took it in from one-yard out to cut the lead to 9-7.

A wild sequence of events at the end of the third and the beginning of the fourth quarter saw the two teams exchange possessions on three occasions, the last leading to Beckford's touchdown scamper. Long snapper Sean McNamara recovered a muffed Alvernia punt return just across midfield, before the Eagles turned the ball right back over three plays later on a Nabb interception. However, just three plays after that, Jones forced the ball out of Alvernia quarterback Colin Payne's hands, and Beckford recovered the fumble and raced to the end zone for his first career touchdown.

The Eagles' defense  and Nolek did the rest, The defense forced a turnover on down and another fumble recovery, this time by Jason Bateman on the Wilson forced fumble, before giving up a late score with time running out. Nolek hit from 43 and 27 yards in the fourth quarter to give the Eagles a little cushion and help seal the victory. Nolek was 3-for-4 on field goals for the afternoon.

Nabb led the offense with 74 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries, while Jeremiah Avrilien ran for 49 yards on 19 totes. Along with Swinton's 40-yard reception, Curtis Johnson caught a pair of passes for 24 yards.

Eastern (2-4, 2-3) returns to Radnor next Saturday to take on the Stevenson Mustangs. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 noon.