READING, Pa. – Sean McGaughey set the Widener football program record for single-game passing touchdown and posted just the second 450+ yard game in program history as the Pride got back in the win column with a 59-34 victory against Albright on Saturday.
 
McGaughey ended the day with 453 passing yards, narrowly missing the mark of 470 set by Chris Haupt against Waynesburg in the ECAC South Atlantic Bowl on November 19, 2011. His seven TD passes broke the total set by Mike Warker, Seth Klein, and Haupt for the highest single-game total in program history.
 
"It wasn't pretty it wasn't nice but it was pretty nice, I'm happy for our guys to get a win anytime you can win a football game we are going to enjoy it," said head coach Mike Barainyak. "We have plenty to work on and need to get healthy over the bye week but it is nice to get some positive energy heading into the bye week. I was pleased with the young guys we played today they fought hard and that in game experience will serve us well for the future. I'm extremely excited for Sean, today was his birthday and he had a great game throwing the ball, he is a great young man and is a great example of a Widener university student-athlete."
 
The Pride opened the scoring in the first quarter as after a defensive stop, Widener took the ball 73 yards on five plays, capped by a 14-yard TD strike from Sean McGaughey to Ty Holbert. A couple of drives later, Albright advanced the ball to the WU four-yard line before a fumble. The Blue and Gold recovered and moved the ball 90 yards down the field, leading to a Trevor Mavromihalis, 25-yard field goal, extending the lead to 10-0. Another fumble recovery gave Widener the ball back on the Albright 27. A 26-yard pass to Holbert moved the ball to the one where, on the next play, McGaughey found James Gillespie in the end zone. The Lions got on the board on their next possession, but the Pride answered back as two passes from McGaughey to Gillespie covered 65 yards for a score.
 
Leading 24-14 at the break, Widener pulled away as McGaughey completed TD passes to Holbert, Gillespie, and Zack Vanscovich for 24, 11, and 12 yards respectively to set the TD record. Late in the fourth quarter, he completed an 11-yard pass to Ryan Gallagher for the yardage record. The touchdown passing record fell on the next drive when McGaughey found Gallagher for a 26-yard pass with 10:26 remaining in the game.
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• Holbert wrapped his game with six catches for 184 yards and two touchdowns. Gillespie ended with eight grabs for 140 yards and three scores. It was the second straight game both surpassed 100 receiving yards.
• Gallagher had four receptions for 65 yards.
• On the defensive side of the ball, Mario Scotese posted 1.5 sacks and forced a fumble, making nine tackles.
• Kevin Davis led the Pride with 13 takedowns.

 
OF NOTE

• With his six catches on the day, Holbert has 23 on the season. It is now the ninth time in the last 10 years that Widener has posted four players with 20 or more receptions in a year. It was also his third 100+ yard game this season and his second in a row.
• Gillespie now has 15 touchdown grabs on the season, moving him into a tie for third place on the Widener single-season list.
• It was also Gillespie's seventh game with 100 or more yards in 2019, tying the program record for a year. Michael Coleman (2000), Jim Jones (2000), and Anthony Davis (2013) also accomplished the feat.
• McGaughey delivered his fifth game with 300 or more yards passing, matching Seth Klein in 2013 for second on the Pride single-season list.

 
UP NEXT
Widener is off next week before returning to action on Saturday, November 9 when it hosts King's on Senior Day. Kickoff from Elizabeth J. Hirschmann Field at Leslie C. Quick, Jr. Stadium is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.