(boxscore)
Widener gave a valiant effort to get back into the Keystone Cup Game, only to suffer a 34-28 Middle Atlantic Conference loss at Delaware Valley in Doylestown, PA.
Widener (4-4, 2-3 MAC) wasted no time on its first drive, getting a two-yard touchdown run from junior Ian Decker (Phillipsburg, NJ) with 9:43 left in the first quarter for a 7-0 lead. That came one play after Al Humes (Ridley Park, PA) found fellow freshman Cedrick Clayton (Cinnaminson, NJ) on a 40-yard bomb over the middle.
On the Aggies next possession, the Pride thought they got the ball back when freshman Keith Wilson (West Chester, PA) and senior Gus Lopez (West New York, NJ) threw quarterback Mike Isgro for a 14-yard loss on fourth down. But a face mask penalty was called that gave Delaware Valley a first down at the 16 yard line.
The home team took advantage of the huge break as Isgro hit Brandon Fox on a 14-yard touchdown pass for a 7-7 with 6:54 remaining in the first.
The call did not affect the Pride, who rebounded on their next drive as Humes found freshman Justin Horning (Red Hill, PA) on a 12-yard scoring pass. The extra point from freshman Matt Breslin (Sugarloaf, PA) with 2:17 left in the first quarter made it 14-7 Widener.
The Aggies (5-3, 3-2) cut the deficit to 14-10 with 12:22 to play in the first half when Shane Toohey nailed a 21-yard field goal.
Del. Val. took its first lead, 17-14, with 8:03 to go in the half as Isgro pump-faked and found Chad Peterman on a 28-yard touchdown pass. The drive started at the Aggies 35 yard line after Chris James' six-yard interception return.
The Aggies scored on their fourth straight possession to end the half, getting a 26-yard field goal from Toohey with 24 seconds to go for a 20-14 halftime margin.
Del. Val. got the first break of the second half. Kyle Gesswein forced Humes to fumble on a blitz and Garrett Wooters recovered at the Pride 38 yard line. Three plays later, Matt Cook scored on a 26-yard touchdown run 2:04 into the half for a 27-14 margin.
The score ended Widener's streak of 11 straight games it had not permitted a third-quarter touchdown against a MAC opponent.
But the Pride did not back down, using an efficient 13-play, 75-yard drive to close to 27-21 with 6:05 to play in the third quarter. It was capped when sophomore Andre Payton (Folsom, PA) scored on a two-yard run.
Del. Val. on its next drive took advantage of a bizarre play. On fourth down at the Aggies 35 yard line, punter Corey Heard had the snap go over his head and he dribbled a punt on the ground upon recovery. Cook picked up the punt that appeared untouched and ran 35 yards to the Pride 30 yard line, which the officials somehow ruled legal.
That was the first, fourth-down conversion of the drive as Isgro found Joe Gionfriddo on a 13-yard pass to the Pride's 14 yard line. The Aggies took advantage, getting a 10-yard pass from Isgro to Dan Heiland in the first minute of the fourth quarter for a 34-21 contest.
The Pride used another efficient drive with no timeouts to move to 34-28 with 57 seconds left, getting a seven-yard scoring pass from Humes to junior Marc Bandola (Clarksburg, NJ).
That left it up to the on-side kick and the Pride got the break they needed when senior TD Davis (Reisterstown, MD) recovered it at their own 42. The visitors drove 18 yards, but Humes' last pass was intercepted by Anthony Byers with 32 seconds left to end it.
The loss did not take away from the great effort by Humes, who threw for 340 yards by completing 25-of-42 passes with two touchdowns. It was the 20th best total for passing yards in school history.
Freshman Marcus Payton (Folsom, PA) had a solid game with six catches for 96 yards and Clayton added four receptions for 68 yards. This helped Widener end with a 438-386 edge in total offense.
Isgro completed 18-of-26 passes for 218 yards. Peterman had seven catches for 117 yards with Cook notching 20 carries for 145 yards.
Joe Favinger (Mohnton, PA) had 14 tackles for the Pride and fellow sophomore Shane Szumski (Moorestown, NJ), the reigning MAC Defensive Player of the Week, posted 12. Phil Blazejewski recorded eight for the Aggies.
Widener next week visits Albright, beginning at 1:00 pm.
