(box score)
Whether it was on offense, defense or special teams, Widener had the answer in the second half and used it to cruise to a 41-21 Middle Atlantic Conference victory over Wilkes at Leslie C. Quick Jr. Stadium.
Wilkes (5-4, 4-2 MAC) took a 14-13 lead with 10:45 left in the third quarter when Zach Tivald scored on a four-yard touchdown run. But the Pride (4-5, 3-3) took over from there, rattling off the next 28 points to end a three-game skid and upend the Colonels for the first time since 2007.
That control began on the ensuing kickoff, which freshman Laquan Robinson (Chester, PA) returned 87 yards for a touchdown and a 20-14 Pride lead. It was Robinson's third return for a score this year, including two punt returns, and Widener's first kickoff return for a touchdown since Mike Schmidt had a 90-yard burst vs. Frostburg State on October 16, 2004.
Widener's first possession that spilled into the fourth quarter produced a huge score. Sophomore Chris Haupt (Bloomsburg, PA) completed 5-of-6 passes on the drive for 51 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown pass to senior Michael Penna (Philadelphia, PA) and a 27-14 margin with 13:15 left.
Senior Adam Smith (Littlestown, PA) dominated Widener's next march. He had a 56-yard run in which he was stopped at the three yard line and ran it in on the next play with 7:31 to go for a 34-14 contest. It was his second touchdown run of the contest.
The defense then took its turn on center stage. Freshman Dylan Ditmer (Exton, PA) intercepted Alex George and scampered 32 yards for a touchdown, making it 41-14 with 7:08 to go. Junior Matt Breslin (Sugarloaf, PA) booted his fifth extra point to end Widener's scoring.
It was the Pride's first interception for a touchdown since Joe Favinger (Mohnton, PA) ran one 12 yards at Frostburg State on September 27, 2008.
Smith had 15 carries for 113 yards and junior Cedrick Clayton (Cinnaminson, NJ) hauled in seven receptions for 68 yards. Haupt completed 10-of-16 passes for 103 yards and freshman Tevin Campbell (Brookhaven, PA) was successful on 11-of-19 attempts for 104 yards.
Campbell also had 16 carries for 97 yards, helping the Pride accumulate 469 yards of offense and 25 first downs to go with converting 6-of-15 third-down attempts.
Favinger had seven tackles and one of six sacks for Widener.
Tivald ended with 20 carries for 126 yards and two scores with Tyler Berntsen completing 14-of-24 passes for 175 yards for the Colonels. Tate Moore-Jacobs posted 15 tackles.
Smith scored his first touchdown on an eight-yard run on Widener's first possession for a 6-0 lead. Tivald answered with 5:36 remaining in the half on a seven-yard scoring run for a 7-6 Wilkes cushion.
Junior Brendan Curran (Sinking Spring, PA) came through with his team-leading 11th touchdown, a 19-yard bolt with 2:58 to go in the half and a 13-7 Pride lead. The 11 rushing touchdowns are the most for Widener since Leon Payne had 20 in 1998.
Widener next Saturday closes the regular season at No. 8 Delaware Valley in the battle for the Keystone Cup. Game time in Doylestown, PA is 1:00 pm.
