CHESTER, Pa. – The Widener University football team made big plays in all three phases of the game as the Pride downed the Alvernia Golden Wolves 51-0 for the 100th program victory at Leslie C. Quick Jr. Stadium.  
 
Widener jumped out with 14 first quarter points as an interception by Naraye Wells-Dotson led to the first Pride score just more than six minutes into the game. Wells-Dotson came up big again, blocking a punt that set up the second score of the frame, an eight yard pass from Mitchell Vierling to Pat Downey to make it 14-0. Another special teams play by Wells-Dotson, this time tackling the punter for a 13-yard loss led to a one-yard run from Johnny Bauer early in the second. Later in the period, Larry Eimer showed off his leg, booting a 51-yard field goal to put the Pride up at the half.
 
The Pride put the game away in the third quarter, as a pair of Vierling touchdown passes, one to Downey and one to Joey Bristow, sandwiched Bauer's third score of the game. In the fourth, Sean McGaughey found Ryan Gallagher in the end zone from eight yards out to seal the final score.
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• Widener is now 100-35 (.741) all-time at Quick Stadium, which opened for the 1994 season.
• The game marked the 50th collegiate head coaching win for Mike Kelly.
• Wells-Dotson had a strong game with a blocked punt, tackle for loss, and also intercepted a pass on defense.
• Bauer ran the ball 19 times for 108 yards with no negative rushing plays. His three touchdowns are the most for a Widener player on the ground since Chris Randle posted three at King's on November 5, 2016.
• Eimer's field goal broke a Quick Stadium record that stood for nearly a decade. The previous long FG at Widener's home stadium was by Wilkes' Chris Horn, a 47-yarder on November 15, 2008. It was the longest for a Pride kicker since Ryan O'Hara connected from 52 yards out against Del Val on November 14, 2015.
• Mike Pawlowski led the defense with eight tackles, four of them solo. He had 3.5 tackles for loss, a sack, and two QB hurries.
• The Pride held the Golden Wolves to 128 total yards of offense and just 53 yards passing. Alvernia did not complete its first pass until the second half.

 
FIRST QUARTER NOTES

• After a Widener punt on its first possession, Wells-Dotson got his day started with an interception. Sticking to the ground, WU ran seven times for 64 yards, the last of which was a one-yard plunge by Bauer.
• Two drives later, the Blue and Gold forced a three-and-out. Wells-Dotson came up again, blocking the punt, giving Widener the ball on the 10. Facing a third-and-eight, Vierling lofted a ball to Downey who made his first TD grab of the day for a 14-0 lead.
• Widener outgained Alvernia 100 to 12 in the quarter.

 
SECOND QUARTER NOTES

• Early in the frame, the Pride forced an AU punt. Coming with the rush, Wells-Dotson and Trevor Gardiner got to the Golden Wolves punter before he was even able to get the kick away, tackling him for a 13-yard loss. Five plays and 15 yards later, Bauer scored again to make it 21-0.
• On its next possession, Widener saw its drive stall at the Alvernia 34. Eimer stepped up and booted his record-breaking field goal to put the Pride on top 24-0 at halftime.
• The Blue and Gold held the ball for 8:21 in the quarter.

 
THIRD QUARTER NOTES

• Widener put the game away, scoring on all three of its drives in the period. The first one came on a 33-yard pass from Vierling to Downey.
• Bauer found paydirt for the third time in the game on the second offensive series and Vierling connected with Bristow on the third.
• Vierling was 4-of-5 in the frame for 113 yards and the two scores.

 
FOURTH QUARTER NOTES

• WU scored on its fourth consecutive offensive possession when McGaughey connected with Gallagher for an eight-yard TD just more than five minutes into the stanza.
• Felix Sanchez rushed four times for 73 yards.

 
UP NEXT
The Pride has a short week before traveling to Robert T. Shields Field to take on the FDU-Florham Devils on Friday, November 2. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m.