LANCASTER, Pa. – Jordan Powell recorded his sixth defensive touchdown of the season, but the Widener University football team fell in a Centennial-MAC Bowl Series contest to the Franklin & Marshall Diplomats 21-7 on Saturday afternoon. Widener ends the season 7-4.
 
Franklin & Marshall got the first score, one play after a Widener fumble, to take a 7-0 lead into the second quarter. Two plays in the second frame, the Pride got a jolt from its defense as Jordan Powell blitzed off the corner, stripped the QB on the sack, and picked up the fumble before scampering 10 yards into the end zone to knot the game at 7-7. The Diplomats were able to engineer the only sustained drive of the half late in the quarter to score and take a 14-7 lead into halftime.
 
The second half was played in a driving rain that made moving the ball for either team difficult. F&M was able to put the game away with a touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
 
FIRST QUARTER NOTES

• The Diplomats scored first, taking advantage of a Widener turnover deep in Pride territory. A quick slant on the first play led to a 14-yard TD pass and an early lead.
• Overall neither team was able to muster much offense in the period as the two squads totaled just 69 yards of offense.

 
SECOND QUARTER NOTES

• Widener got a much needed spark from a familiar source as Jordan Powell came up with his sixth defensive touchdown of the season, sacking F&M quarterback Tanner Erisman, forcing the ball loose and then picking it up on the 10 and running it in for the score.
• Franklin & Marshall was able to score late in the half to take a lead with 0:57 remaining. Undaunted the Blue and Gold marched down the field, converting on fourth down following a pair of big runs by D'Andre Sapp. Widener was unable to convert, however, as a pass into the end zone was dropped and a 39-yard field goal was pushed left.

THIRD QUARTER NOTES

• Taking the opening kickoff of the second half, F&M appeared to extend the lead on a 22-yard pass, but a holding penalty negated the touchdown. Widener was able to force a punt three plays later to keep it a one score game.
• The Pride defense was called on often in the period with the Diplomats holding the ball for more than 11 minutes and was up to the challenge, keeping Franklin & Marshall scoreless.

 
FOURTH QUARTER NOTES

• The Pride began to move the ball late in the fourth quarter, connecting a couple passes to move the ball into Diplomats territory. Some bad luck on a wet field came up to bite the Pride as on a well thrown ball, the receiver slipped on the slick turf on back-to-back plays to negate what would have been a first down inside the red zone.
• On the ensuing possession after the punt, F&M put the game away, connecting on an 84-yard catch and run for the only score of the half, extending the led to 21-7.