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No. 24 Football Sees Home Winning Streak End With 16-14 Loss to Lycoming

(box score)

In yet another classic between these two long-time Middle Atlantic Conference rivals, 24th-ranked Widener gave up a field goal to Zack Czap with 2:24 left in a tough 16-14 loss to Lycoming at Leslie C. Quick Jr. Stadium.

Trailing 13-0 midway through the third quarter, Widener (2-2, 2-1 MAC) needed its offense to kick into gear and got it. The Pride got the ball down to the Warriors 35 yard line before freshman Seth Klein (Wernersville, PA) found senior Terrant Morrison (Smyrna, DE), who caught a short pass and turned it into a touchdown with 6:34 left for a 13-7 deficit.

Lycoming (3-1, 3-0) on its next possession went three-and-out by gaining one yard and Widener again was in business, this time at its 44 yard line. Seven plays into a drive that included a big pass interference penalty on third down and a 19-yard completion to sophomore Christopher Wickes (Bear, DE), Klein hit junior All-America Anthony Davis (Upland, PA) on an eight-yard scoring pass for a 14-13 lead with 3:24 left in the quarter.

The adventurous fourth quarter saw its first huge play when Czap's punt was mishandled by Davis and recovered by Andrew McGreevy at the Pride 39-yard line. Lycoming drove to the two and appeared certain to take the lead, but junior John DiBiase (Mount Laurel, NJ) sacked Tyler Jenny and the ensuing fumble was recovered by Widener sophomore Emmanuel Fields (Drexel Hill, PA) for another huge game-changing play.

The Pride on the next drive gained only 16 yards before being forced to punt. Lycoming took over on its own 38 and went on a drive in which it converted three first downs. All of which were completions from Jenny and two of which went to Matt Atkinson.

Widener's defense stopped a third down and eight at the 16, but Czap was called upon and drilled a 33-yard field goal to give the visitors a 16-14 lead.

The Pride showed great poise and began its march, getting a 14-yard completion to Davis at the 43 yard line and an 11-yard completion to Wickes at the Warriors 41 yard line. Klein then hit junior Adam Marcucci (Sicklerville, NJ) on a 10-yard completion to the 36 yard line and Davis on a third-down pass to the 27 yard line.

The Warriors defense only allowed the Pride eight more yards before it was left up to kicker sophomore Ryan O'Hara (Royersford, PA). Lycoming had two timeouts left and used only one to ice O'Hara. The ball was on the left hash mark for the 36-yard attempt, but the kick sailed wide left with 16 seconds left.

The loss ended Widener's team-record 15-game winning streak at Quick Stadium and it was the squad's first home loss since a 35-27 setback to Albright on October 23, 2010. It only was the Pride's 26th loss at the 20-year-old stadium in 104 all-time games.

Davis' touchdown catch was his 23rd career, moving him out of a tie with Boonta Kheuangthirath (1992-95) for fourth in school history. His nine catches moved him to seventh in school history with 137 and his 64 yards made him in the eight player in team annals to pass 2,000 career (2,056).

Klein completed 37-of-52 passes for 316 yards and two scores, three completions off his own school record and tied for second most in school history. Sophomore Stacey Sunnerville (Freehold, NJ) had a whale of a game for the Pride, getting six tackles and three of the team's six sacks.

Widener ended with a 331-235 edge in total offense and converted 7-of-18 third downs.

Craig Needhammer was a workhorse for Lycoming, rushing for 108 yards on 26 carries. Jenny completed 18-of-29 passes for 176 yards, Ryan Umpleby posted eight catches for 112 yards and a score with Kabongo Bukasa recording 10 tackles.

Czap hit a 44-yard field goal with 1:17 left in the first for Umpleby hauled in a 33-yard touchdown pass from Jenny early in the second for a 10-0 Warriors lead. Czap drilled a 31-yard field goal with two minutes to play in the half for a 13-0 cushion.

Widener is on the road next Saturday at Stevenson, starting at 1:00 pm.
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