(boxscore)
Widener cut a 21-point first-quarter deficit to five, but its best effort fell short in a 28-16 Middle Atlantic Conference loss to Lycoming at Leslie C. Quick Jr. Stadium.
The Warriors (3-3, 2-1 MAC) scored touchdowns on three of their first four drives. The opener was on the game's first match, culminated when Josh Kleinfelter ran to the right for a 20-yard touchdown scamper for a 7-0 lead.
Lycoming got two fortuitous bounces as a twice deflected pass from Colin Dwyer fell into the hands of Adam Paulhamaus, who took it to the end zone for a 67-yard score. That made it 14-0 with 9:53 left in the first quarter.
Paulhamaus on the third score was the intended receiver and made good with a 21-yard touchdown catch from Dwyer for a 21-0 game with 34 seconds remaining in the first.
It capped a period in which the Warriors owned a 231-23 edge in total offense that included 198 passing yards.
Widener (3-3, 1-2) got back into the game with 9:56 to play in the half. Freshman Chris Haupt (Bloomsburg, PA) lofted a 12-yard pass that sophomore Justin Horning (Red Hill, PA) hauled in for a 21-7 margin.
Sophomore Matt Breslin (Sugarloaf, PA) booted a 34-yard field goal as time expired for a 21-10 contest at halftime.
More momentum went the Pride's way in the third quarter, starting with senior Brian Pastor (Chambersburg, PA) returning an interception 31 yards to his team's 40 yard line. Five plays later, Haupt found Horning on a one-yard scoring pass.
Widener's attempt for two with 6:38 left in the third quarter failed for a 21-16 game.
Lycoming began to ice the game when Joe Thompson intercepted Haupt at the Widener 22 yard line just 94 seconds into the fourth quarter. On the drive's sixth play, Dwyer hit Josh Dixon on a five-yard scoring pass with 10:21 left for the final margin.
Haupt completed 14-of-35 passes for 185 yards and two scores. Junior Joe Favinger (Mohnton, PA) notched eight tackles and junior Kevin Franklin (Baltimore, MD) also had an interception for the Pride, who forced three turnovers.
Dwyer completed 19-of-31 passes for 286 yards. Kleinfelter totaled 27 carries for 81 yards and Anthony Marascio amassed 10 tackles.
The Warriors in the second half had the ball 19 1/2 minutes and their average start of each drive was the Pride's 38 yard line.
It does not get any easier for Widener, which on Saturday visits No. 23 Albright for a 1:00 pm kickoff in Reading, PA.
