CHESTER, Pa. – Widener Football afternoon of hope swatted by Misericordia on Hirschmann Field as the run heavy Cougars wore down the defense.
 
The 21-7 loss moves to Pride to 1-2 in the regular season and 0-2 in the MAC.
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• Eli Warfel would throw 6-of-17 for 87 yards.
• On the ground, Dalton Wickel rushed for 10 attempts and a total of 32 yards.
• Marquell Perry snagged two receptions for 35 yards.
• Ryan Wilson led the Pride defense with 11 tackles while Joshua Salter recorded three breakups.
• Fred Adler would miss a 43-yard field goal and made a PAT.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Pride would receive the ball first after a Misericordia deferral. The offense would struggle on the first drive with a quick three and out. The Cougars would begin their offensive series with Luke Shimko, Luke Shaffer, and Joshua Salter snagged tackles. A Cougar holding penalty would help save the Pride as they would force a 33-yard field goal that missed wide right. The first ended scoreless.
• The Pride defense would bow to begin the second as Shimko and Jalen Walker put pressure on the Cougars quarterback forcing a 4^th and 8. The Cougars gambled and it paid off as they would sneak a first down and later score to make the score 7-0 with 10:54 remaining in the half. Warfel would lead the Pride offense to flip the field with a quick 9-yard run. Wickle punched a first down to keep the drive alive. A sack would force the Pride a Brendon Yoder punt to the MIS 9 with 5:45 left. The Cougars would see a self-inflicted sack forcing a 29-yard punt. The half ended with the Pride down 7-0.
• Out of half, the Cougars would drive the field to make the score 14-0. The Pride's offense continued to struggle as the Cougars defense continued to pressure Warfel. The Pride would march with a Devin Ahmed 24-yard catch and a Khylil Jones 23-yard catch and run before missing a 43-yard field goal. The Cougars would answer and make the score 21-0 to end the third.
• With 15 left to play, the Pride's defense would help the Cougars turn the ball over on downs before driving from the own 33. 30 free yards would move the Pride to the WID48 forcing a Cougar timeout. A handful of quick yard plays advanced the Pride to the MIS18 before Warfel scrambled for 15-yards to the MIS1. Kareem McCoy punched in the only Pride touchdown of the afternoon to make the score 21-7. Both sides would punch back-and-forth as the game ended with the Pride falling to 1-2 on the year.

UP NEXT
Widener travels to the 1-2 (0-2 MAC) Albright Lions. Kickoff in Reading, Pa. is set for noon.