CHESTER, Pa. – Sean McGaughey threw for 363 yards and four touchdowns, but a last play Hail Mary fell short as the Widener University football team fell to the Lebanon Valley Dutchmen 41-35 in a Middle Atlantic Conference contest on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Pride opened the scoring right out of the gate as after forcing a punt, Tahir Cruse took the first offensive play of the game for Widener 89 yards for a touchdown. After second failed offensive series for LVC, WU opened with the ball at its own two. The Pride embarked on an 11-play, 98-yard drive that culminated with a seven-yard TD strike from McGaughey to Joe Bristow, extending the lead to 14-0. The teams traded scores in the second quarter with the Blue and Gold getting a 54-yard TD pass to Ty Holbert and a 39-yard score to James Gillespie as Widener held a 28-14 lead at halftime.
 
Lebanon Valley got its run game going in the second half and built a 41-28 advantage. With five seconds left, Gillespie posted his second TD grab of the day, this time from 15 yards out, chopping the lead to 41-35. On the ensuing onside kick, WU got a perfect bounce and recovered the ball at midfield with 3.9 seconds left, setting up the final play. McGaughey threw the ball down the right side, but the heave fell short.
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• Cruse became the first Widener player since John Bauer last year against FDU-Florham to run for 100+ yards in a game, ending with 114.
• Gillespie had 10 catches for 190 yards and two TD. It is the sixth time this season he has gone over 100 yards.
• Holbert reeled in 104 yards, his second game across the century mark.
• Kevin Davis had a career-high 13 tackles. Matt Russo (12) and Owen Kramer (10) were also in double figures.
• Mike Pawlowski and Eric Riley each had a sack in the game.
• Widener had 524 yards of offense in the game, the third time this season it has eclipsed the 500-yard mark.

 
OF NOTE

• The 363 yards were the fourth time this season McGaughey has thrown for 300 or more yards, matching the third highest single-season total in program history.
• His total also gives him 2,351 for the season, the first time a Widener QB has tossed more than 2,000 yards since 2014.
• With his 190 yards, Gillespie now has 60 receptions for 1,084 yards. The yardage total is the seventh-highest single season mark in team history and he is sixth play to top 1,000 receiving yards in a year.
• Cruse run was the longest for Widener since Couve LaFate ripped off a 91-yarder against King's on November 9, 2013.

 
UP NEXT
Widener heads on the road to take on Albright on Saturday, October 26. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.