GLASSBORO, N.J. - The Widener University football team received a go-ahead touchdown run from senior Tahir Cruse in the third quarter and its defense pitched a shutout in the second half to earn a 27-22 come-from-behind win against Rowan in its season opener Saturday night.

The Pride overcame a 22-17 deficit at halftime after Cruse found the end zone on a 25-yard run with 3:04 left in the third to help give them a 24-22 lead. In the fourth quarter, Senior kicker Larry Einer made a 32-yard field goal — his second field goal of the night — with 5:28 left to help extend the lead.

Along with these 10 second-half points, the Pride's defense held the Profs to only 57 yards of total offense in the second half, paving the way for Widener to win its second straight game against the Profs in the local rivalry after posting a 38-28 win in 2019. The defense also did not allow the Profs to convert on either third or fourth down in the second half (0-for-7 combined).

Cruse finished the game with 11 carries for 76 yards, including a 20-yard run that came the play before his rushing TD. Eimer also made a 25-yard field goal in the second quarter for the Pride in the win.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Senior wide receiver James Gillespie made his presence felt as well in the ballgame, hauling in a 54-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Triston Harris to give the Pride a 17-13 lead with 2:55 left in the second quarter. Gillespie, the reigning MAC Offensive Player of the Year, ended the game with two receptions for 77 yards.
• Gillespie's TD reception was the 25^th of his career. He is two scores away from moving into fourth place on Widener's all-time reception TDs list.
• Sophomore running back Danny Dutkiewicz also found the end zone, rushing for his first career TD from 7 yards out to tie the game at 7 with 3:59 left in the first quarter.
• Linebacker Brendan Kearns and defensive lineman Owen Kramer led the way for the Pride defense, making nine tackles apiece. Both players posted career highs for tackles in a single game.
• Harris had a solid debut for the Pride under center. The graduate transfer threw for 233 yards on 17-of-29 passing. 

OF NOTE

• The Pride notched win No. 711 in Widener football history.
• Head coach Mike Barainyak has won two straight season openers to start his coaching career. He joins Nathan Stauffer (1900-01), Edwin Stearns (1902-05), Bill Manlove (1969-91), Bill Zwaan (1997-2002), and Isaac Collins (2011-12) as the only coaches in program history to win their first two season openers as head coach. 

 
UP NEXT
Widener heads back to Chester to host its home opener next Saturday afternoon against Hampden-Sydney on Elizabeth J. Hirschman Field at Leslie C. Quick Jr. Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.