At noon today, Eastern University Football will welcome the Widener Pride to Radnor Street Road for the MAC Opener for both teams. Both Eastern and Widener dropped their opening week tests.
Against the high-powered TCNJ Lions, the Eagles fell behind early before showing offensive promise on either side of the halftime whistle. Eastern converted on three possessions and after they had closed a 21-0 deficit to nine points earned a big stop and had possession on the TCNJ 10 yard line with a chance to close the gap to two points. 

A fumble on the first play of the drive gave the Lions another chance, and the TCNJ offense found its footing again with a lengthy drive for a touchdown. Both Brett Nabb and Sabor Stevens had moments of promise running the offense, but four total turnovers gave the visitors too many chances in the 34-12 loss. Nabb, who rushed for a team-best 71 yards, scored Eastern's only touchdown on a ten-yard run on the opening drive of the  third quarter. 

After averaging nearly 350 yards per game last fall, the Pride gained only 219 total yards in their 48-12 season-opening loss at Lycoming. Quarterbacks Jeff Chaplin and Michael Caloiaro completed 55 percent of their passes, but the Pride ran for only four yards and turned the ball over three times as Lycoming raced out to a 41-3 lead midway through the third quarter. Widener recorded a safety and a rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter before Lycoming scored in the waning seconds for the final difference. Malachi Holmes caught three passes for 109 yards in the loss. 

Eastern and Widener met late in the year last fall in Chester. The Pride took advantage of five Eastern turnovers and threw the ball for 324 years on the way to a 42-10 win. Nabb ran for 65 yards and a touchdown and Stevens threw for 144 yards, but the five turnovers gave the hosts too many possessions, and Widener rolled to a Senior Day win. 

While the Pride still have a veteran group, Quarterback Chase Diehl and Running Back Shawn Thompson have graduated. Isaac Hostettter, who caught eight balls for 143 yards and two touchdowns, returns. He caught two balls for 15 yards last week. 

Nate Brown and Jalen Walker each had seven tackles to lead the Widener defense. Lycoming threw for only 119 yards, but the Warriors had four touchdowns through the air and ran for 209 total yards. The Eastern defense got interceptions from Chris Forte and Dru Beckford. Gashawn Moody recorded a team-best eight tackles. TCNJ completed 25-of-44 passes for 368 yards and four touchdowns.  

Fans looking to attend should check the Game Details tab. 

There will be shuttles running from the HHC Parking lot on campus to the game starting at 10:45.