RADNOR, Pa.– Eastern University Football followed a familiar formula with solid defense and a sound running game on the way to a 17-0 MAC win over the visiting Widener University Pride. The Eagles (5-1, 5-0) held their Blue-Route Rivals to to 118 yards of total offense, and
Brett Nabb ran for 130 yards and threw for a pair of scores in Eastern's second shutout win of the year.
Coming into the game, Eastern Head Coach
Billy Crocker spoke often about hte physicality of the Widener defense. That strength was immediately visible as the Pride (2-4, 2-3) stuffed the run to start the game and forced the Eagles to a quick three-and-out on a drive that lost a yard. The Eastern defense nearly matched that, holding the Pride to a single yard on three plays before another punt.
On the next Eastern drive,
Jeremiah Avrilien rushed ten times and the Eagles reached deep into Widener territory before turning the ball over on downs at the ten-yard line. Avrilien came into the game averaging over 150 yards an outing and nearly nine yards per carry. The Pride packed the box and held the senior running back to only 74 yards on 23 rushes. His longest carry of the afternoon went for 11 yards.
Though the Eagles did not score, the drive flipped the field and, after another drive without a first down, the Pride punted and the Eagles picked up the ball in Widener territory. As important, the quarter ended and the Eastern offense would have opportunity to go with a steady breeze at its back. After one quarter, Eastern had 79 yards of offense and Widener had nine.
The Eastern drive stalled at the 28, but
John Nolek was good from a career-best tying 45 yards to put the Eagles up by three.
Though the Pride picked up a first down on the next drive, two-straight negative plays on a backwards pass out of bounds, and a
Martin Campbell sack forced another punt.
Nabb then led the Eagles on an eight-play drive for a touchdown. The last 26 yards of the 70-yard drive came on a pass over the middle to
Devon Johnson.
Up 10-0, the Eastern defense continued to dominate and the Eagles had another shot to score after the Pride punted to midfield with 35 seconds left. Nabb hit
Curtis Johnson for a 13-yard completion and ran for 13 more to get the Eagles into range for another Nolek attempt. Widener came into the game with four blocked kicks, and their special teams unit came through with another block on a 29-yard attempt.
Though the Pride had only 27 yards of offense in the second quarter, the visitors were still only a big play away from being in the game.
Widener strung together two positive drives to start the second half and were at the Eastern 39-yard line with four minutes left in the third quarter. Out of field goal range and needing two scores, Widener tried to convert a 4th-and-2.
Nardo Murphy and
Jaden Todd met the runner between the line of scrimmage and the line to gain and gave no ground. The official spot was short. After an extended review, that call stood and the Eagles took over.
A pair of long runs from Nabb put the Eagles in the red zone to start the fourth quarter.
Brayden Curry all but sealed the result with a nine-yard reception for his first career touchdown.
With a pair of big penalties, Widener reached the edge of the red zone on the next possession, but the Eastern defense stiffened and gave the ball back to Nabb and the offense. The Eagles punted deep and got the ball back on a Widener fumble with four and a half minutes left. The Eagles stayed with conservative play-calling and turned it over on downs near the goal line.
Luke Shimko led the Widener defense with 13 tackles, but the Pride, who came in leading the league in forced turnovers, did not force a turnover in the game.
Wayne Clark led a balanced Eastern defense with seven tackles.
Nathanael Clay recovered the fumble.
The win keeps the Eagles in front of the field in the Middle Atlantic Conference. Misericordia won at FDU-Florham and Delaware Valley earned a 4-30 win at Stevenson to stay a game back. The Eagles will be in Reading the next two weekends and have three of their last four on the road. Eastern is at Alvernia next Saturday. The Golden Wolves rallied to beat Reading-rival Albright, 24-20. Alvernia (3-3, 3-2) has won 3-of-4 and was only a few yards from beating Misericordia on a final play last weekend.
