Football On Cruise Control In 55-3 Win Over FDU-Florham

(box score)

Widener put up another offensive explosion with 41 first-half points en route to a 55-3 Middle Atlantic Conference victory over FDU-Florham at Leslie C. Quick Jr. Stadium.

FDU (0-5, 0-3 MAC) went to the bag of tricks on the opening kickoff with an on-side kick, but it did not work as senior Chris Cottrell (Somers Point, NJ) recovered at the visitor's 41 yard line. Eight plays later, junior Chris Haupt (Bloomsburg, PA) hit sophomore Dennis Wolley (Upper Marlboro, MD) on a four-yard touchdown pass for a 7-0 Pride lead.

After a 13-yard punt for the Devils went out of bounds at their own 35 yard line, Haupt found senior Cedrick Clayton (Cinnaminson, NJ) for a touchdown pass with 7:50 left in the first quarter and a 14-0 Widener cushion.

The lead grew to 21-0 with 2:52 to play in the first when freshman Couve LaFate (Wilmington, DE) ran five yards up the middle for a five-yard score. An interception by junior linebacker Joe Wojceichowski (Riverside, NJ) put the ball at Widener's 48 yard line before LaFate added a 14-yard scoring run early in the second for a 28-0 margin.

After FDU had a snap go over the punter's head on fourth down to its own 11 yard line, senior Brendan Curran (Sinking Spring, PA) found pay dirt from three yards for a 34-0 margin. Junior Dante Pergolese (Havertown, PA) added a three-yard touchdown run with 5:26 to play in the half for a 41-0 contest.

Widener (5-1, 3-1 MAC) ended the half with a 196-42 advantage in total yards, including 168-13 in passing yards, and had an average starting field position at midfield compared to FDU averaging at its own 32 yard line. Haupt completed 14-of-19 passes in the half for 168 yards.

Senior Matt Breslin (Sugarloaf, PA) extended his streak of consecutive extra points to 15 before it was snapped in the second quarter.

FDU got on the board in the third quarter when Travis Mullen booted a 38-yard field goal to make it 48-3. However, Clayton hauled in a 58-yard scoring pass from Haupt and sophomore Terrant Morrison (Smyrna, DE) ran one home from seven yards for the final.

Haupt completed 20-of-28 passes for 274 yards and four touchdowns for the Pride, who closed with a 362-106 advantage in total offense. Clayton had another standout game with seven receptions for 145 yards and two scores.

Wojceichowski and sophomore Darius Johnson (Baltimore, MD) had six tackles apiece with Wojceichowski, senior Dan Cosenza (Hamilton, NJ) and junior Chad Gravinese (Mullica Hill, NJ) each getting 2 1/2 tackles for a loss for Widener. The Pride ended with 12 tackles for a loss and held the Devils to 3-of-17 on third-down conversions.

Widener broke the school record for most points scored in consecutive games with 125, breaking the mark of 122 set during wins of 66-8 over Lebanon Valley and 56-21 against Juniata in 1995. The Pride last week notched a 70-0 victory over King's.

Shane Roland notched seven tackles with Steve Hoverson getting five tackles, two sacks and 2 1/2 tackles for a loss for FDU.

Widener next Saturday visits Stevenson for the first meeting between the schools, starting at 1:00 pm in Owings Mills, MD.

Print Friendly Version