Stevenson builds comeback around suddenly stingy defense

Early on, things looked good for Widener Saturday afternoon. The Pride scored two touchdowns and kicked a field goal on their first three possessions and had a 10-point lead on Stevenson.

Then the Mustangs’ defense stiffened and limited Widener to just one score to pull out a 29-24 comefrom-behind victory over the Pride.

Quarterback Ryan Sedgwick threw for 322 yards and three touchdowns. He threw a 17 yard touchdown pass with 50 seconds left in the half to get the Mustangs within 17-14, and then tossed a 30yard scoring pass to Corey Jones in the third period to put Stevenson up, 24-17.

But it was the defense that enabled the Mustangs (3-5, 3-3) to recover from a 17-7 first-quarter deficit.

On Widener’s last 10 possessions, Stevenson forced six punts, two turnovers, recorded a safety and forced the Pride to turn it over on downs. Shawn Thompson did score on a 16-yard run to tie the game for Widener (6-2, 4-2) with 11:45 to play in the game, 24-24, but the Pride could not regain the lead.

Ethan Joseph dropped Thompson for a safety to put the Mustangs up, 26-24, with 3:10 to play. Brody Campbell capped the ensuing possession for Stevenson with a 30-yard field goal. The Mustangs stopped Widener on downs and then ran out the clock to seal the victory.

Quarterback Triston Harris completed 17 of 30 passes for 273 yards and two touchdowns to lead Widener. He threw a two-yard scoring strike to James Gilliespie and a 37-yard TD pass to Joe Bristow to put the Pride up, 17-7, in the first quarter.

The loss knocked Widener into fourth place in the MAC behind Delaware Valley (6-0), Wilkes (5-1) and Lycoming (4-1). The Pride is off this week and hosts Lycoming in the home finale on Nov. 6.

In other action:

NEW JERSEY GATORS 18, WILLIAMSON 6 » A muffed punt and a fumble late in the game prevented the Mechanics from staging a comeback.

Williamson muffed a punt trailing 12-6 at its 11-yard line. Gators quarterback Blake Schmitz threw a seven-yard TD pass to Sincere Thomas to increase the lead to 186. A fumble allowed the Gators to run out the clock.

Noel Palma (Radnor) scored on a one-yard run to cap a 10-play, 63yard drive that got Williamson on the board in the second quarter. Isaiah Kelsey recorded his sixth interception of the season and Chris Meiklejohn (Marple Newtown) had 10 tackles and a fumble recovery in the end zone to thwart a Gators’ drive.