Offense not enough as Widener drops third straight

More than 500 yards of total offense and 35 points weren’t enough to get Widener back on the winning track.

Lebanon Valley scored four touchdowns in an 11-minute, 58-second span in the second quarter to break the game open, then withstood a Widener comeback that included a failed Hail Mary pass on the final play to pull out a 41-35 victory Saturday at Quick Stadium.

The loss was the third in a row for Widener (3-4, 2-4 MAC).

Quarterback Sean McGaughey threw for 363 yards, the thirdhighest total in program history, and four touchdowns as the Pride piled up 524 yards of total offense. But his final pass of the day was intercepted by Joe Fay at the LVC seven-yard line as time expired. McGaughey became the first Widener quarterback to go over 2,000 yards passing since 2014.

Wide receiver James Gillespie had a monster day. He caught 10 passes for 190 yards and two TDs to go over the 1,000-yard mark for the season and the 2,000-yard mark for his career. The 190 yards were the seventh-best in program history.

Tahir Cruse ran for 114 yards and a touchdown, but it wasn’t enough to offset Lebanon Valley’s rushing attack. Hunter Wilson carried the ball 38 times for

235 yards and four TDs as the Flying Dutchmen (3-3, 3-1) pounded out 307 yards on the ground. VALLEY FORGE MILITARY COLLEGE

42, WILLIAMSON 0 >> The Trojans scored 23 points in the fourth quarter to put the game away.

Williamson struggled to move the ball against the VFMC defense. The Mechanics had 158 yards of offense and were 0-for10 on third down. Williamson’s offensive woes were magnified by the loss of leading rusher David Williams and leading receiver Bryson Townsend to injuries. Williams had 38 yards on 10 carries before he was hurt. Chris Carney led the defense with 11 tackles. COLUMBIA 44, PENN 6 >> Ty Lenhart accounted for a personalbest three touchdowns as the Lions rolled over the Quakers.

Lenhart was 14-of-20 passing for 158 yards and a touchdown and led Columbia (2-3, 1-1 Ivy League) on the ground with 95 yards rushing on 11 carries and two scores.

The Lions controlled the line of scrimmage with 255 yards rushing on 54 carries (4.7-yards per carry). Columbia outgained the Quakers (2-3, 0-2) 413-232 in total yardage, made 24 first downs and held the ball for close to 36 minutes. The Quakers didn’t help their cause as they were penalized 10 times for 105 yards.