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Late Comeback Not Enough for Football in 35-27 Loss at Wilkes

(box score)

Widener almost scratched and clawed its way back from a 21-point, fourth-quarter deficit, but time simply ran out as it was handed a 35-27 Middle Atlantic Conference loss at Wilkes in Edwardsville, PA.
 
Wilkes (1-2, 1-1 MAC) on its first drive methodically drove 75 yards in nine plays to take a 7-0 lead.  Alex George, under pressure, heaved a pass that Todd Eagles came out of nowhere to make a catch and race in for a 37-yard touchdown with 8:11 to go in the first quarter.
 
The Colonels took advantage of a short field on their next score when sophomore Laquan Robinson (Chester, PA) muffed a punt and Eagles recovered at the Pride 30 yard line.  Seven plays later, George found the end zone on a five-yard keeper for a 14-0 score with 13:58 to play in the opening half.
 
Widener (3-1, 1-1) junior quarterback Chris Haupt (Bloomsburg, PA), who did not start due to injury, was inserted early in the second quarter and paid immediate dividends.  He led a 10-play drive in under four minutes punctuated by senior Brendan Curran (Sinking Spring, PA) running it in from six yards for a 14-7 deficit with 10:09 left in the half.
 
Wilkes answered on its next drive when George scored on another keeper, this time a 28-yard jaunt with 8:45 to go in the half for a 21-7 contest.  It was set up one play earlier thanks to a 43-yard run by Zach Tivald.
 
Both teams looked for a break to start the second half and Widener got one when senior Brad Waltman (Bel Air, MD) forced running back Auxence Wogou to fumble and freshman Nick Rodriguez (Haddonfield, NJ) recovered at the Colonels 35 yard line.
 
But Widener went four downs and out before Wilkes took advantage.  A three-play, 66-yard drive ended when George found Tivald on a 29-yard touchdown pass with 7:08 left in the third quarter for a 28-7 Colonels lead.
 
The Pride came back on their next drive, getting a two-yard touchdown run from sophomore Terrant Morrison (Smyrna, DE) to close to 28-14 with 4:51 left in the third.  Widener had three plays gaining over 10 yards on the drive, including a 17-yard pass from Haupt to sophomore Dennis Wolley (Upper Marlboro, MD) at the two yard line.
 
Controversy then ensued when Robinson fumbled a punt with a defender up against him at the Widener 12 yard line.  The officials ruled that Robinson had sufficient room and Joe Crismer recovered for the Colonels on the final play of the third quarter.
 
Wilkes took advantage of the break when George scored his third touchdown of the game on a one-yard keeper just over two minutes into the fourth quarter for a 35-14 margin.
 
Widener began its comeback by going 89 yards over 10 plays in just over two minutes, capped when Haupt found freshman Anthony Davis (Upland, PA) on a 14-yard touchdown pass with 5:02 remaining for a 35-20 contest.
 
The march continued thanks to a 73-yard drive in just under two minutes, closed when Haupt found Wolley on a 15-yard touchdown pass in the back of the end zone with 1:47 remaining.  Senior Matt Breslin (Sugarloaf, PA) hit his third extra point of day for a 35-27 Widener deficit.
 
The Pride looked to recover the on-side, but it was Kyle Driscoll who got it for the Colonels at the visitors' 42 yard line.  Senior Joe Wojceichowski (Riverside, NJ) kept the Pride in it by making tackles on Wilkes' first three plays of the drive to give him 12 for the game, but George gained four yards on fourth down and four to get the first down at the Widener 31 yard line to end the game.
 
Haupt completed 30-of-57 passes for a career-high 327 yards and two scores.  Davis posted eight catches for 95 yards and freshman Couve LaFate (Wilmington, DE) notched 11 carries for 71 yards for the Pride, who recorded 441 yards of offense.
 
Tivald gained 147 yards on 21 carries with George completing 10-of-21 passes for 176 yards for the Colonels, who gained 508 yards of offense that included 332 on the ground.  George added 18 carries for 98 yards to go with his three rushing touchdowns.
 
Tate Moore-Jacobs closed with a game-high 14 tackles for Wilkes.
 
Widener is home next Saturday to host King's on Homecoming Weekend, beginning at 1:00 pm.
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