READING, Pa.
- Triston Harris threw for 315 yards and four touchdowns,
James Gillespie caught nine passes for 119 yards and two TDs, and the Widener University football team rolled to a 37-7 victory over Alvernia on Saturday in a MAC game on the road.
The Pride pushed their record to 5-1 and 3-1 in MAC play with the win.
After dropping their first game of the year last Saturday, the Pride rebounded in a big way by receiving outstanding performances from Harris and Gillespie.
Harris turned in season highs with his 315 yards and four touchdowns on 22-of-35 passing. The Dover, Del., native's completions and attempts were also season-bests.
As for Gillespie, he also had his best performance of the season. The Huntingdon Valley, Pa., native posted his first 100-yard receiving game of the year and had multiple touchdowns in a game for the first time this season.
Harris and Gillespie got the offense going from the get-go, as the two hooked up on a 28-yard pass-and-catch for a TD to give the Pride a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.
After Larry Eimer made the first of this three field goals in the game from 32 yards out to cap the scoring in the first quarter, Harris helped give the Pride a 17-0 lead after throwing a 5-yard touchdown pass to
Colin Hirschmann in the back right corner of the end zone. After Alvernia scored a touchdown, the Blue and Gold took a 20-7 lead into halftime after Eimer made a 26-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, Harris and Gillespie connected again for a score after Harris threw a short pass on an out route to Gillespie, who caught it and ran it in for a 6-yard touchdown. With his second TD reception, Gillespie moved into fourth place on Widener's all-time receiving touchdown list with 28.
Following the touchdown, the Pride got the ball back after
Kevin Davis intercepted an Alvernia pass and returned it to 18 yards to the Alvernia 8-yard line. Two plays later, Harris threw his fourth touchdown pass of the game to
Tevin Hill from 8 yards out to give Widener a 34-7 lead.
Eimer put an exclamation point on the victory with his third field goal — a 26-yarder — in the fourth quarter.
By the Numbers
- With his 119 receiving yards, Gillespie posted his ninth 100-yard receiving game of his career to move into a tie for fifth on Widener's all-time list in that category. He now trails only Anthony Davis (19 from 2011-14), Jim Jones (17 from 1999-01), Michael Coleman (15 from 1998-01), and Tyreak Saviour (10 from 2001-04).
- The Pride's defense had its best outing of the season in terms of yards allowed, yielding only 86 yards of total offense. The Pride held the Golden Wolves to 27 passing yards and 59 rushing yards.
- The Pride's defense also had a pair of interceptions on the day. Along with Davis' INT, Anthony Liberatoscioli also had an interception in the third quarter and returned it for 23 yards.
Of Note
- The win was the 715th victory in Widener's football history.
- Mike Barainyak earned his 10th win as head coach.
UP NEXT
Widener returns to Chester for its Homecoming game against Wilkes. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. As part of the Homecoming festivities, the Pride's 1981 National Championship team will celebrate the 40th anniversary of its title run with a ceremony at halftime.
