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11/17/07 -- Widener's season came to a devastating end as it permitted a touchdown with 2.4 seconds left in a 21-20 loss at No. 15 Case Western Reserve in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Cleveland, OH.
Leading 14-3 entering the fourth quarter, Widener (8-3) saw Case erupt for 12 points in just over 3 1/2 minutes to gain a 15-14 edge with 7:23 remaining.
The Spartans (11-0) went on a 14-play, 72-yard march, capped when Corey Checkan scored on a two-yard plunge to make it 14-9 with 11:00 to go after the two-point run failed. Senior punter Robert McHugh (Philadelphia, PA) pinned Case at its three yard line, but the momentum went back to the home team as Dan Whalen hooked up with Shaun Nicely for a 97-yard touchdown pass.
The Pride got the ball back at the 50 yard line with 4:08 left and went on its go-ahead drive. Senior Matt Campbell (Broomall, PA) kept the drive going with a 13-yard pass to sophomore Kevin Fisher (Abingdon, MD) on third and three to the Spartans 19 yard line. Widener was up against third and seven and came through again as Campbell found senior Mike Falkenstein (Newark, DE) on a 15-yard strike to the one yard line.
Sophomore Ian Decker (Phillipsburg, NJ) ended the eight-play drive that took less than three minutes on a one-yard run with 1:27 left. The two-point pass failed as Widener protected a 20-15 lead.
Case got the ball on its 27 yard line and unbelievably converted three fourth downs to win the game. The first came on a 20-yard pass from Whalen to Nicely at the Case 47 yard line with 58 seconds to play following three incompletions.
Senior Tom Gallo (Swedesboro, NJ) sacked Whalen at the Pride 41 yard line with 28 seconds remaining, making it fourth and 13. But the Spartans again found a way as Whalen hooked up with Jeff Mayer on a 28-yard sideline route to the 13 yard line with 20 seconds to play.
Whalen spiked the ball to stop the clock, got a fade pass to Brian Webster at the seven yard line and threw an incompletion to make it fourth and four with 6.9 seconds left.
The Spartans again went to Mayer on the 14th play of the drive, catching the ball after running a hook route and stretching it across the goal line for the lead. Checkan's run for two points failed.
Widener looked for a miracle on the kickoff, but a fumble was recovered by Case to end the visitor's seven-game winning streak.
Campbell completed 20-of-36 passes for 183 yards and a score with Falkenstein notching six catches for 87 yards. Senior John Martorell (Aston, PA) and freshman Joe Favinger (Mohnton, PA) closed with 11 tackles apiece.
Whalen completed 26-of-47 passes for 306 yards and two touchdowns. Mayer finished with 10 catches for 90 yards.
The Spartans ended with a 440-262 edge in total offense, a 306-183 margin in passing yards and a 23-13 advantage in first downs.
Champions of the Middle Atlantic Conference for the 17th time in school history, Widener was making its 12th appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The squad fell to 15-10 overall and 8-4 in games to open the tournament.
It was Widener's first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2001. It also was the team's third straight postseason appearance, a first since competing in four consecutive NCAA Tournaments (1979-82).
Widener took advantage of great field possession for a 7-0 lead. Falkenstein hauled in a slant pass from Campbell and took it 39 yards for the score, capping a drive that went as many yards with 8:33 left in the first quarter.
The Spartans used an 18-play, 73-yard drive covering over five minutes to get on the board, capped by Sam Coffey's 24-yard field goal with 13:36 to go in the half for a 7-3 contest.
Case drove to Widener's five yard line late in the first half and looked like it was going to punch it in for the lead. But Whalen was flushed out of the pocket by senior Evan Snydman (Bristol, PA), fumbled on his own and junior Keith Wilson (Yardley, PA) recovered to end the threat.
The third quarter was a battle for field position in which Widener came up with two huge plays. Wilson forced Whalen to fumble on a sack and senior Keith Terlizzi (Port Jefferson, NY) recovered at the Pride 46 yard line.
The second saw Whalen force a pass over the middle, but Martorell stepped in front and ran it back 21 yards for a touchdown. That gave Widener a 14-3 lead with 2:15 left in the third quarter.
