Football Rolls Past Moravian, 44-6, in Season Opener

(boxscore)

Widener could not have asked for a better effort on offense, defense and special teams in cruising to a 44-6 victory on opening day win against Moravian at Leslie C. Quick Jr. Stadium.

The Pride (1-0) opened the scoring just over five minutes into the contest. Senior Cedrick Clayton (Cinnaminson, NJ) took a pass from junior Chris Haupt (Bloomsburg, PA) and darted 29 yards for a touchdown and a 6-0 lead.

Widener on its next possession needed just under two minutes to go 67 yards. Sophomore Terrant Morrison (Smyrna, DE) received a pass from Haupt, broke a tackle and went 22 yards for the score and a 13-0 lead with 6:31 left in the first quarter.

Senior Matt Breslin (Sugarloaf, PA) kicked a 24-yard field goal for Widener and Ian Heck followed suit for Moravian at the end of the half for a 16-3 contest.

Haupt fired his third touchdown pass of the day, a 17-yard toss to Clayton early in the third quarter for a 23-3 contest. After Heck's 23-yard field goal, Haupt dove in from eight yards with 2:13 to go in the period for a 30-6 Widener lead.

Then it was time for freshman Anthony Davis (Upland, PA) to make his mark in his first collegiate game. He started by fielding a punt and sprinting 52 yards for a touchdown with 7:38 remaining for a 37-6 contest.

Davis was not done. On Moravian's next punt, he backtracked to the 21 yard line, avoided tackles and went 79 yards for another touchdown. Junior James McFadden (Warminster, PA) followed with the last of his four extra points.

Haupt once again played great, completing 28-of-44 passes for 303 yards to mark the third time in his career he surpassed 300 yards. It also is the 38th time in school history a player threw for at least 300 yards.

Clayton had eight receptions for 92 yards for Widener, which notched a 528-211 advantage in total offense and a 30-10 margin in first downs. The Pride recorded a 218-27 edge in rushing yards and a 310-184 advantage in passing yards.

The defense deserves a great deal of credit including junior Chad Gravinese (Mullica Hill, NJ), who had three sacks and a team-high seven tackles. Sophomore Colin Masterson (Swarthmore, PA) added a 33-yard interception return.

Matt Johnson completed 15-of-34 passes for 168 yards and Rocco Del Priore added nine receptions for 96 yards for the Greyhounds (0-1). Jake Hildebrand recorded 11 tackles and Rees Judge added an interception.

It is Widener's 10th straight victory over Moravian, fifth in a row at home and the sixth time in the last 12 meetings it scored at least 40 points.

The 44 points is the second most Widener has scored on opening day, falling shy of the mark set in 2001 during a 52-13 home rout of Wilkes.

Widener hits the road next Saturday to visit Thiel for a 1:30 pm start in Greenville, PA.

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