CHESTER, Pa. – Widener Football opens the 2025 season with a bang as the Pride roll to a 44-18 win over Geneva.
 
The 44-18 win moves the Pride to 1-0 in the regular season with the first conference game scheduled for next weekend.
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• Eli Warfel would hold a 11-of-27 completion record for 182 passing yards and two touchdowns.
• On the ground, Dalton Wickel would lead the Pride with a net of 75 yards on 18 carries.
• Malachi Holmes would snag a touchdown for a long of 70-yards and hold four receptions for 95 yards.
• The Pride defense would be led with Anthony Miceli totaling six tackles (five solo and one assisted), a TLF and a sack.
• The preseason D3football.com All-American would earn five tackles, two TFLs, a sack, and a quarterback hurry up.
• The Pride's special teams shined as Brandon Yoder pinned the Golden Tornadoes inside their own 20 three times while Fred Alder would send two kickoffs for touchbacks and go 5-of-5 in PATs and 3-of-3 in field goals.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Pride would march down the field on the opening drive after winning the coin toss. Wickel saw a quick 20-yard rush to head into plus territory. A Wickel to Khylil Jones pass would result in a 21-yard touchdown catch and score and Alder tacked the extra point on. Asa McMillen would recover the kickoff fumble to set the Pride up for a short drive to make the score 14-0 after five. The defense forced a Golden Tornadoes punt before Warfel was back at it. Alder would tack on a field goal to make the score 17-0. Tal Stoltzfus and Luke Shaeffer issued hurry ups to force a punt. The Pride capped off quarter one with a 70-yard Warfel to Holmes ball to end with a 24-0 lead.
• The Pride marched once again as Alder hit a 32-yard field goal to make the score 27-0. The Golden Tornadoes would see a three and out with Ryan Wilson, Kareem McCoy, and Anthony Schiller making tackles. A pick-six from Alexander Cintron would make the score 34-0 with 10 left in the second. The Golden Tornadoes were marching before the Pride stole the drive momentum with a successful challenge play but the foe would score on the next play. Warfel answered with a designed qb run up the middle for a 23-yard touchdown, making the score 41-12.
• A weather delay loomed as the lightning struck in the third quarter. A short start out of half would be held up by Mother Nature while the Pride defense commanded the field. Stinett would force a fumble while Dean Aquilina recovered. A tipped ball just before the quarter expired resulted in a Ryan Kuhl interception, setting the Pride up at the GEN30. The quarter ended 41-18.
• With weather on the way, the Pride looked to start the fourth quick with an Alder 20-yard chip shot field goal. The score was 44-18. Michael Miller forced a sack the next series before the defense forced a turnover on downs from Elijah Benton. Miceli saw a 6-yard sack helping a 28-yard punt. The Pride would end the game with a 44-18 win over Geneva on their season opener.

UP NEXT
Widener heads to Owings Mills, Md. for a matchup against the 1-0 (0-0 MAC) Stevenson Mustangs. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.