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Widener squandered a 14-point, second-quarter lead and was done in by a second-half offensive machine in a 35-24 Middle Atlantic Conference loss to King's at Leslie C. Quick Jr. Stadium.
Down 21-7 late in the first half, King's outscored Widener 28-3 the rest of the way for its first victory in nine all-time meetings in Chester. It was just the Monarchs' third win in the 17-game series.
The Monarchs (2-3, 1-1 MAC) began their comeback with a four-play, 80-yard drive. It was capped when Corey Lavin hit Mike Verbitski on a 13-yard touchdown pass with 1:23 left in the first half for a 21-14 contest.
King's first drive in the third quarter also went 80 yards, resulting in a 21-21 tie. Lavin ended it on an eight yard scoring pass to Justin Dalton with 4:26 remaining.
Lavin and Verbitski hooked up for a second score, this time on a 20-yard pass only 33 seconds into the fourth quarter and a 28-21 King's lead.
Sophomore Matt Breslin (Sugarloaf, PA) kicked a 20-yard field goal as Widener (3-2, 1-1) closed to 28-24 with 6:51 to play. But King's stretched the margin to 35-24 with 2:50 left as Claude O'Connor scored on a one-yard run.
The Pride went three-and-out on its next possession and the Monarchs ran out the clock to snap a three-game losing streak.
Freshman Chris Haupt (Bloomsburg, PA) threw for 255 yards and senior Brian Pastor (Chambersburg, PA) had 12 tackles, including 10 solos, for the Pride.
O'Connor had 33 carries for 158 yards and a score with Lavin amassing 233 yards passing for three touchdowns as well as 64 yards rushing with a score. Lavin completed 17-of-24 passes as he and O'Connor had a hand in 66 of King's 73 plays.
Verbitski had 10 catches for 143 yards and two scores with Ryan Nelson (Stockertown, PA) notching seven tackles for the Monarchs, who ended with a 458-312 edge in offense that included 225-57 in rushing yards. King's also converted 10-of-15 third downs and both of its fourth downs.
Haupt scored on a one-yard run with 19 seconds left in the first quarter and then threw a six-yard touchdown pass to senior Tim Shaub (Ewing, NJ) 2:07 into the second for a 14-0 lead.
Lavin found the end zone from six yards with 6:06 remaining in the half for a 14-7 game, but Widener responded. Former Monarch Rick Ritter (Marlton, NJ) hauled in a 37-yard touchdown pass from Haupt with 3:06 left in the half for a 21-7 margin.
Widener next Saturday hosts Lycoming on Homecoming Weekend, beginning at 1:00 pm.
