DALLAS, Pa. – Widener Football clawed back to a close 24-20 loss to Misericordia at Mangelsdorf Field on Saturday (Oct. 19) afternoon.
The 24-20 loss moves the Pride to 2-4 in the regular season and 2-3 in the MAC.
BY THE NUMBERS
- The Pride would hold 296 total offensive yards with Jeff Chaplin leading the way with 109 passing yards and two touchdowns.
- On the ground, Dalton Wickel would net 64 yards with Eli Warfel adding 58 to his stat line.
- Isaac Hostetter snagged five receptions for 63 yards while Jordan Baxter had two touchdown passes.
- Defensively, Nate Brown would lead with eight tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and a sack. Elijah Benton would pick the ball off and have a 37-yard return.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Pride opened the game with the ball after a coin toss deferral. A three and out from the Pride would give the defense a series. On the other side of the ball, Luke Shimko and Joshua Salter would hold the Cougars to short gains. A wild onside kick gave the Cougars the ball back to take a 14-0 lead with 9:21 remaining in the first. The Pride would answer on the next drive with Baxter and Zach Vanscovich tacking on over the air yards to move the Pride into Misericordia territory. A Chaplin pass to Baxter for 9-yards would cut the lead in half. The quarter would end 14-7.
- Opening the second, the Pride defense stand strong to force a Cougar punt. A few back and forth series would hold the second quarter scoreless until the Pride drive at 5:32 after a Benton 37-yard interception. Starting on the MIS23, Chaplin chipped at yards to Vanscovich while Logan Perron rushed for seven. Chaplin would connect with Baxter to tie the game at 14 with 3:25 remaining in the half.
- Out of the halftime break, the Pride defense came up strong to give the Blue and Gold the ball back with 13:24 on the clock. Wickel would open the drive with 15 rushing yards to move to the 50. Warfel's feet gave him a 12 yard gain to take the lead 20-17. The Pride would head into fourth quarter down four with the ball in the hands of Wickel.
- 15 minutes of play remaining would begin with a Warfel 9-yard run. An offensive fumble would slow the Pride but the defense would force a 42-yard punt to get the ball back with 8:38 left. Special teams came up with some pressure on the Cougar kicker forcing a missed field goal after Walker and Boston Blake picked up some tackles. The fourth quarter would end scoreless on both sides and hold a final score of 24-20 in favor of the Cougars.
UP NEXT
Widener returns to Quick Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 26 for Homecoming against the 0-5 (0-5 MAC) Alvernia Golden Wolves. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Hirschmann Field.