CHESTER, Pa. – Widener Football struggles at home against a physical Eastern offense.
 
The 35-0 loss moves the Pride to 3-5 in the regular season and 2-5 in conference play with two games remaining.
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• The Pride offense was led by Caiden Leszczynski with 88 total yards.
• Colin Campbell-Williams took the ground game with 27 yards.
• Four receptions for Malachi Holmes showed 65 total yards in the air.
• Luke Shimko and Tal Stoltzfus would lead the defense with six tackles a piece.
• Jalen Walker registered a sack and two tackles for loss.
• The Pride would 156 offensive yards and average 41.9 yards per punt.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Pride began with the ball after the Eagles deferred as Dean Herr took a 14-yard return to the WID19. The Pride would drive the field with the first place being a 38-yard ball to Holmes. The Pride drive ended with a missed 43-yard field goal attempt. A quick series for the Eagles would show a first down then a three and out with tackles from Michael Miller and Xaiver Lott. The quarter would show jabs at each other but the Eagles struck first at the end of the quarter.
• Another three and out for the Eagles offense would earn Shimko all tackles resulting in a 46-yard punt. An unfortunate fumble would set the Eagles up with a first down at the WID32. Brendan Hardy's tackle would move the second quarter to the two-minute timeout. A muffed punt bounced in favor of the Eagles as the half ended with a 21-0 score in favor of the visitors.
• Out of half, Eastern struck first pushing the game to 28-0. The Pride offense would try and answer with short places.  A fumble would end the drive at the WID44. A huge defensive series for the Pride showed a turnover on downs after Stoltzfus, Shimko, an AJ Cintron tackles. Anthony Miceli snagged a pick for a 13-yard catch and run setting the Pride up at their own 40 to end the quarter.
• The final 15 minutes of play showed shot for shot with four punts in the first four series and an interception in the fifth. The Eagles capped off their day with a touchdown with 5:31 making the score 35-0. An odd kickoff set the Pride up on their own 37 while Campbell-Williams picked up three rushes and a first down. Two more later in the drive sent the game to the two-minute timeout. The game ended with a Walker sack for a loss of 16-yards as the Eagles took the game with a 35-0 final.

UP NEXT
Widener returns to Hirschmann Field on Saturday, November 8 for senior day against the 5-3 (5-2 MAC) King's Monarchs. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. with the Pride Walk set for 11 a.m.