CHESTER, Pa. - The Widener University football began its 143^rd season in program history on Saturday afternoon, but its season opener was spoiled by Rowan as the Profs came away with a 42-20 win at Elizabeth J. Hirschmann Field at Leslie C. Quick, Jr. Stadium.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED AGAINST ROWAN

• The Profs came out firing against the Pride, as they took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on a 3-yard passing touchdown with 9:29 left and a 24-yard passing TD with 23 seconds remaining. Then, the Profs added another TD in the second quarter on a 1-yard run to go into halftime with a 21-0 lead.
• The Pride showed resiliency in the second half. After Rowan added two more touchdowns, the Blue and Gold got on the scoreboard with 3:05 left in the third quarter after Shawn Thompson took a direct snap and reached the end zone from 2 yards out to make it 35-6.
• In the fourth quarter, the Pride outscored the Profs, 14-7, after together some solid scoring drives. The first touchdown of the quarter came from Thompson, who capped a 10-play, 36-yard drive with 9:51 remaining with a 1-yard TD run on a direct snap. After Rowan added its final TD with 6:29 left, Widener found the end zone again with 4:25 left after Ty Holbert caught a 10-yard pass from Jeff Chaplin. The Pride converted the ensuing two-point conversion after Chaplin threw a pass to Jack Fiucci for the score.

By The Numbers

• Thompson led the Pride with 17 carries for 61 yards.
• Holbert led the Pride with three receptions and had 34 yards. Cole Livingston paced the Pride with 36 yards after he caught a 36-yard pass from Chaplin that set up Holbert's TD catch.
• Colin Murt led the Pride defense, as he made 10 tackles (four solo, six assisted). Kevin Davis added eight tackles and Cade Brennan had seven, including one tackle for loss, for Widener.

 
UP NEXT
Widener travels to Virginia next Saturday to play Hampden-Sydney. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m..