CHESTER, Pa. - Widener Football mounted a late fourth quarter comeback in to take a one-point lead in a spooky Halloween contest.
The 22-15 loss moves the Pride to 2-6 in the regular season and 2-5 in MAC play.
BY THE NUMBERS
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Pride and Mustangs would go shot for shot throughout the opening quarter. Stevenson opened the scoring with a 4-yard touchdown run with 2:32 remaining in the first quarter. The Mustangs added to their advantage early in the second quarter, the Mustangs found the end zone again on a 9-yard run to make it 14-0.
The Pride put together their most promising drive of the first half late in the second quarter. Starting at their own 23, Widener moved 74 yards on 13 plays and reached the Stevenson 3-yard line. Olsen connected to move the chains, including a 10-yard completion to Harrison Stewart-Smith that put the Pride inside the 10. Widener was unable to convert on 4th and 3 from the STE3, and the Mustangs carried a 14-0 advantage into halftime.
Widener began its comeback with a big play late in the third quarter. Facing 3rd and 11 from the WID4, Olsen found Michael Turner for a 66-yard completion that moved the Pride all the way to the STE30. Four plays later, Olsen connected with Jaelen Richardson for a 30-yard touchdown pass with 4:07 remaining in the quarter. Stevenson blocked the extra-point attempt, leaving the Pride trailing 14-6 heading into the fourth.
Widener's comeback continued early in the fourth quarter. After taking over at their own 36, the Pride needed just three plays to reach the end zone. Olsen found Stewart-Smith for a 36-yard touchdown reception with 10:32 remaining. The two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful, bringing Widener within two at 14-12. The Pride defense came up with another important stop, forcing a Mustangs punt. Widener put together a four-play drive, moving into field-goal range before Adler drilled a 38-yard field goal with 6:35 left in regulation to score 15 unanswered points.
Stevenson responded with a drive of its own, eventually reaching the end zone on a 4-yard touchdown run with 55 seconds remaining. The Mustangs converted the ensuing two-point attempt to extend their lead to 22-15. The Pride would drive the field with a 50/50 ball that Warfel would grab to move the chains to the STE21 for a 38-yard reception. The Pride's comeback would fall just shy as they turned the ball over on downs to end the game 22-15.
UP NEXT
Widener heads to Dallas, Pa. for a 1 p.m. game against the 5-3 (4-3 MAC) Misericordia Cougars on Saturday, November 7.
