Offense Erupts Against Widener
DOVER, Del. - Shane McSweeny and Larry Beavers made No. 15 Wesley's home opener the Wolverines first win of 2008, as the Blue & White rolled over Widener 41-9.
Beavers caught eight passes for 143 yards and a pair of scores, rushed for 10 yards and completed a 37-yard pass to Blair Newman on a reverse pass.
McSweeny found eight different receivers as the sophomore quarterback connected on 18-of-23 passes for 285 yards and three touchdowns in his first career start. He also rushed for 21 yards in the game and laid a devastating block on a run play that led to one of Wesley's 28 first downs.
A Wesley defense that held the Pride to just eight first downs all afternoon started the day strong as Marcus Wilson intercepted Drew Lagomarsino on the game's first possession.
The Wolverines did not score on that series, but on their next possession, Wesley marched 91 yards on just seven plays. McSweeny and Beavers finished the drive, connecting on a 51-yard touchdown.
Widener answered right back with a big play score of its own. Lagomarsino hit Marcus Payton who shed a Wesley defender and scampered to the end zone on a 68-yard score. Neither team made its extra point, making the score 6-6 after the first quarter.
The second period began with the Wolverines in the midst of a 10-play drive. On the final play of the drive, McSweeny hit a streaking Beavers on a five-yard score in the middle of the end zone for a 13-6 lead at the half.
On the opening drive of the third quarter, McSweeny completed three straight passes before Aaron Jackson crossed the goal line on a 16-yard touchdown run. The extra point expanded the lead to 20-6.
Chet Turner hauled in his first interception of the season on just the second play of the Pride's next possession and danced down the sideline for a 29-yard Wesley touchdown and a 27-6 lead.
After forcing a Widener punt, the next Wesley series opened with Beavers finding Newman for 37 yards to move the ball to the Widener 30. Mike Pennewell carried on three of the next four plays and was on the receiving end of a three yard toss from McSweeny for another touchdown as Wesley built a 34-6 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Widener back up quarterback Bob Brice hit Steve Cook for a 32-yard gain on his first college play, leading up to a 26-yard field goal by Matthew Breslin to make it 34-9.
Pennewell opened the next Wolverine possession with a 19-yard run, followed by a 16-yard gain by Jackson. Three plays later, it was another Wesley running back, Zeb Davis with a three-yard touchdown run for the game's final score.
Pennewell finished with 82 yards on 17 carries. Jackson rushed 11 times for 65 yards as the Wolverines racked up 198 yards on the ground.
Newman and Gene Knight had three receptions apiece to help a Wolverine offense that piled up 530 yards.
In contrast, the defense stifled Widener all afternoon, holding the Pride to just 226 yards of total offense.
Eddie Donisi led the defense with eight tackles, while Sean Matthews had seven.
For the Pride, Lagomarsino and Brice each completed five passes with Lagomarsino leading the team with 104 passing yards. No Widener receiver had more than two catches and Payton's 68-yard touchdown reception constituted all of his team high receiving yardage.
Cook led the team with 27 rushing yards and was one of two players with two receptions.
Joe Favringer made a game high 12 tackles, including 4.5 for loss.
The Wolverines are idle until traveling to Frostburg State for the Atlantic Central Football Conference opener. Kickoff is set for 1:00 PM.
Notes: Beavers moved from eighth place into sixth on Wesley's receiving yardage list and now has 1,917 yards...He also had his 100th career catch and is now in eighth place all-time at Wesley with 101 catches...Jon Lanouette moved into a tie for third in school history with 123 receptions...Beavers' two scored moved hiim into a tie for sixth with 168 career points and a tie for fifth with 28 touchdowns...Turner's interception was the ninth of his career, tied for eight in the Wesley record book.
