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Football Goes for the MAC Title and NCAA Tournament Berth in Historic Game Saturday

Ninth-ranked Widener goes for its 19th Middle Atlantic Conference title and 13th trip to the NCAA Tournament as it hosts Delaware Valley on Saturday, beginning at 1:00 pm.

The Pride (8-0, 7-0 MAC) just need a victory to extend their league record for conference titles and get back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2007. Widener for the second straight year goes into this contest coming off a bye week, with this season's an unexpected one as its game scheduled for last Saturday at FDU-Florham was canceled due to power outages in New Jersey.

Delaware Valley (7-2, 7-1) is tied for second place with Lycoming (7-2, 7-1).

The cancelation of Widener's game does not affect the tie-breakers should each team end Saturday with one conference loss. The league's automatic berth would come down to point differential, the third tie-breaker, as Widener presently is at plus-5, Lycoming is at plus-5 and Delaware Valley is at minus-10. If the Aggies win by anywhere from 1-15 points, the Warriors received the automatic berth. If the Aggies win by at least 16 points, they get the bid. The Pride can not win a three-way tiebreaker.

The game also carries huge historical significance as it is the Pride's 1,100th football contest and their 100th game at Leslie C. Quick Jr. Stadium.

Widener is 659-402-38 (.617) in its history as it competes in its 132nd season with two national championships (1977, 1981). Widener joins Mount Union, Franklin & Marshall and Washington & Jefferson as the only schools to reach 1,100 games. The Pride are 74-25 (.747) at Leslie C. Quick Jr. Stadium with six undefeated seasons here (1994, 1995, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2011).

Widener is at its highest national ranking during the campaign. It was ranked sixth according to Lindy's Sports Magazine Preseason Poll and senior quarterback Chris Haupt (Central Columbia, PA) was picked its Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.

The Pride as of last week were second in the first NCAA East Region rankings. These rankings are one of the important elements used in helping put together the brackets for the 32-team NCAA Tournament, whether figuring out which schools are hosting to which teams receive at-large berths.

Not to be forgotten is that the game also is for the Keystone Cup, the annual trophy competed for between the teams. The Pride hold a 23-8 edge for the Cup that first was played for in 1981 and 26-8 in the all-time series.

A major reason for this is Haupt, who last season was a finalist for the Gagliardi Trophy as the nation's most outstanding Division III football player and was picked first team All-MAC. This season, he is ninth in the country with 326.13 passing yards per game, seventh with 344.62 yards of total offense per contest and tied for second with 31 touchdown passes.

Earlier this season he broke Widener's career marks for passing yards and touchdown passes. He sits at 8,689 passing yards and 81 touchdown passes.

Sophomore wide receiver/returner Anthony Davis (Upland, PA) has been a dynamic player all season. He is 22nd in the nation with 101.57 receiving yards per game, tied for 12th with 13.58 punt return yards per return, eighth with 187.43 all purpose yards per game, tied for 12th with 11.14 points per contest, 75th with 23.29 kickoff return yards per return and tied for third in the MAC with 13 touchdowns.

Widener's offense is third in the nation with 0.38 sacks allowed per contest, first with 52.38 points per game, fourth with 349.38 passing yards per contest and ninth with 510.5 yards of total offense per game.

Junior Dylan Ditmer (Exton, PA) has been a strong player at outside linebacker. He is fourth in the league with 8.2 tackles per game, tied for second with two forced fumbles and tied for second with two fumble recoveries.

Senior defensive end Chad Gravinese (Mullica Hill, NJ) has been a force on the line. He is tied for 53rd in the country with 0.75 sacks per game (six total), tied for second in the MAC with two forced fumbles and tied for 10th with 8.5 tackles for a loss.

The defense should not be overshadowed by the offense's numbers as it posted huge efforts against Lebanon Valley and Lycoming as well as getting a big goal-line stand October 27 against Albright to remain unbeaten. The unit is sixth in the country with 3.63 sacks per game and fifth with 9.13 tackles for a loss per contest.

Widener will be collecting items that will be donated to victims of Hurricane Sandy. Any items are greatly appreciated, but some items in particular that are needed include blankets, jackets that separated into men's, women's, girls, boys with bags labeled for quicker sorting; clothing of all types (preferably warmer clothes) for all ages and sorted; new socks and underwear; shoes, sneakers and boots, also sorted; small overnight bags, pillows, and sleeping bags; baby food, formula, diapers and wipes; bottled water (sealed containers only); nonperishable food items; candy; toiletries, soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, feminine products, etc. (sealed containers only); pet food (sealed containers only); pet carriers, cages, collars and leashes; batteries and flashlights; plastic utensils, styrofoam and paper cups, bowls and plates; mechanical can openers; paper towels, napkins, toilet paper; coloring books, crayons, pens, paper and backpacks; garbage bags and ziplock bags all sizes and plastic shopping bags; packing tape and good cardboard boxes (small/medium/large) folded flat; and monetary donations.

At halftime, former Widener greats Bill Manlove and Billy "White Shoes" Johnson will be honored after each were inducted this summer as part of the inaugural class of the MAC Hall of Fame. Manlove coached 23 seasons at Widener and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2011. Johnson, one of the most amazing open-field runners in college football, played professionally for 15 years and was part of the inaugural College Football Hall of Fame class in 1996.
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