CHESTER – The Wilkes University football team concluded the 2008 season on a bright note, taking a 30-27 come-from-behind win over Widener University. The game saw five different lead changes and two ties before the Colonels won their fourth game of the season. 

 

Rob Johnson (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) found Jason Prushinski (Wapwallopen, Pa./Crestwood) from 23-yards out with 2:46 to play to give the Colonels a 29-27 advantage before Chris Horn (New Tripoli, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh) put the icing on the cake with a PAT. Johnson finished the day with 198 yards passing, completing 15-of-28 passes and three touchdowns. 

 

The Pride were able to move the ball at will on the Colonel defense, racking up 409 yards of total offense, including 266 in the air. Although the Colonels were unable to stop Widener, defensive back Darnell Corbin (New Brunswick, N.J./New Brunswick) came up big at the end of the third quarter with a 47-yard interception return for a touchdown, giving Wilkes a 23-21 advantage with 3:43 to go in the third. 

 

The Colonels opened the game with a bang, as Sean Madden (Dunmore, Pa./Bishop O'Hara) returned the opening kickoff 79 yards to the Widener 18-yard line. Johnson and the rest of the Wilkes offense took advantage, taking just six plays before Jonathon Kocher (Larksville, Pa./Wyoming Valley West) caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from Johnson to give the Colonels an early 7-0 lead. 

 

Widener quickly tied the game on its next possession as the Pride travelled 72 yards in 14 plays on a drive that took over six minutes. Quarterback Al Humes was 7-of-7 on the drive for 71 yards while Salah Hawkins carried the ball seven times for just 11 yards, but scored from two yards out. Hume finished the day with 266 yards passing, completing 24-of-39 passes with two scores. Despite his slow start, Hawkins would finish with a game-high 96 yards on 25 carries with one touchdown. 

 

The Pride would make it 14-7 with 7:19 to go in the second when  Humes found Marc Bandola from five yards out that capped off an eight-play, 46-yard drive. Hume was nearly perfect once again, completing four-of-five passes, including a 19-yarder to Justin Horning. 

 

On its next possession, Wilkes drove eight plays that covered 76 yards when Johnson found Madden from six yards out for his second touchdown reception in as many weeks. On a second-and-20 play, Johnson connected with Prushinski for a 73-yard completion that put the Colonels on the Widener 13-yard line. 

 

Widener would take the lead once again with two minutes remaining in the first half when Humes found Cedrick Clayton from eight yards out to give the Pride a 21-14 lead. The scoring drive covered 76 yards in just eight plays that took just over three minutes. Back-to-back run plays covered a combined 60 yards, including 32-yard run by Hawkins followed by a 28-yarder by Ian Decker to put the Pride on the Wilkes nine-yard line. 

 

Not to be outdone, freshman kicker Chris Horn (New Tripoli, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh) finished his first collegiate season a perfect 7-of-7 in field goals, this one a career-long 47-yarder that pulled the Colonels within four (21-17) with 5:08 to go in the third. The score would remain that way until Corbin's pick-off gave the Colonels a 23-21 lead with 3:43 to go in the third. 

The lead would not last long as the Pride took advantage of a Wilkes fumble at the Colonel 24-yard line. Four plays later, Widener would have a 27-23 lead after the two-point conversion failed. 

 

Wilkes would go three-and-out on its next possession before the Colonel defense forced Widener to punt. Aireil Adams (New Brunswick, N.J./New Brunswick) returned Kevin Huelster's punt 28 yards to the Wilkes 35-yard line. Johnson came up big in Wilkes next possession, completing passes of 13, 11 and a 23-yard scoring strike to Prushinksi for the game-winner. Prushinski would finish with five catches for 114 yards and a touchdown. 

 

Five different receivers caught passes in the win, while six different Colonel players ran the ball for a total of 145 yards. Punter Mario Della Fortuna (North Plainfield, N.J./North Plainfield) had another solid performance with five punts for an average of 42.4 yards including a 50-yarder. Both Della Fortuna and Horn lead the MAC in punting and field goal average respectively. 

 

Fifteen seniors completed their eligibility for the Colonels which means head coach Frank Sheptock will have lots to work with next season as he returns players in key positions.