(boxscore)
Widener used a strong running game to take an early lead and post a 17-3 Middle Atlantic Conference victory at King's in Wilkes-Barre, PA.
Widener (3-2, 1-1 MAC) did not waste time, scoring on its first play from scrimmage. Junior Salah Hawkins (Wilmington, DE) rushed 74 yards to the Monarchs two yard line, but was stripped by Shane McNamara. Freshman Marcus Payton (Folsom, PA) recovered for the Pride in the end zone with 8:39 left in the first quarter for a 7-0 contest.
Brian Pastor gave the Pride a huge lift by intercepting Olayinka Soda's pass at the Monarchs 40 yard line. Six plays later, freshman Matt Breslin (Sugarloaf, PA) booted a 36-yard field goal with 6:46 left in the half for a 10-0 Widener lead.
Just like in the first half, the Pride scored on their opening possession in the second half. Nine of the squad's 12 plays on the drive were rushes, capped as junior quarterback Drew Lagomarsino (Sellersville, PA) snuck in from one yard with 9:18 to go in the third quarter for a 17-0 Widener lead.
King's got on the board with 4:35 left in the third quarter, getting a 25-yard field goal from Andrew DeRito for a 17-3 contest. That snapped Widener's streak of eight straight MAC games without allowing a point in the third quarter, but extended its run without yielding a touchdown to nine.
The Pride got another key defensive play early in the fourth quarter. Soda's deep pass over the middle was bobbled by sophomore Fred Ferro (Clifton Heights, PA), but junior Brian Pastor (Chambersburg, PA) caught the deflection for his second interception of the game.
Widener's defense forced King's to punt with 7:50 remaining and the visitors ran out the clock over 13 plays, improving to 14-2 in the series.
Hawkins had a strong day with 13 carries for 110 yards with junior Ian Decker (Phillipsburg, NJ) adding 11 rushes for 85 yards. This helped the Pride notch 296 rushing yards versus 34 for the Monarchs (1-4, 0-2) and a 360-212 edge on total offense.
Lagomarsino completed 8-of-16 passes for 64 yards with sophomores Joe Favinger (Mohnton, PA) and Josh Fredricks (Hammonton, NJ) notching six tackles apiece.
The victory was the 37th for sixth-year coach David Wood, moving him into sole possession of fifth place on the school's all-time list. The 2007 MAC Coach of the Year is 37-21 with the Pride.
Soda completed 18-of-31 passes for 178 yards and McNamara totaled nine tackles.
Widener is on the road again next week, this time visiting Lebanon Valley for a 1:00 pm start.
