RB Harrell Leads Widener Past FDU-Florham, 40-7

(Photo via FDUDevils.com)

The FDU-Florham Devils began MAC Conference play Friday night by hosting the Widener Pride.  With sophomore RB Donte Harrell carrying the ball 18 times for 124 yards and two scores, and the Pride defense smothering the Devils offense, Widener built a 19-0 halftime advantage and pulled away in the second half to win 40-7.

Working from a spread formation, Widener’s senior QB Alex Krivda kept the Devils 4-3 defense off-balanced with a combination of ball fakes and misdirection, as the Pride running game alternated between jet sweeps and inside dives in amassing 224 total yards on the ground. 

Down 19-0 late in the first half, sophomore QB Jagger Green, starting in place of week 1 signal caller Joey McCain, led the Devils down the field with a series of completions to senior wideout Esaun Mobley.   Aided by roughing the passer, pass interference, and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties by Widener, the Devils ran seven plays from inside the two-yard line.  The promising drive was spoiled, however, by an errant shotgun snap that sailed over Green’s head and was recovered by Widener, who would take the 19-0 lead into the half.

A failed onside kick attempt by FDU to start the second half set the stage for the next 30 minutes of play. After forcing a Pride punt, the Devils went three-and-out and attempted a punt deep in their own territory. Another bad snap resulted in a short, dribbling kick that was scooped up by junior LB Joe Fox and returned for a touchdown to extend the Widener lead to 26-0.

While Green would go on to complete 28 of 44 passes for 286 yards, FDU’s offense was unable to solve a Widener defense which sacked Green three times and held the Devils to -8 net rushing yards.  A promising early fourth quarter drive ended abruptly when Widener DB Justin Hardy stepped in front of a Green pass and returned it 90 yards for a touchdown, making the score 40-0.

FDU’s best offensive possession started at their own 22-yard line with 6:33 to play.  Green completed passes to three different players in guiding the Devils down to a first and goal from the Widener three-yard line. After Widener brought several starters back into the game in a bid to preserve the shutout, Green found his 6’6’’ 230 lb. freshman TE John Pellegrini open in the end zone on fourth down for FDU’s only score of the night.

Mobley again led the Devils receiving corps with 6 catches for 132 yards.  On the other side of the ball, senior defensive backs Troy Scales and Jaleel Tyson each tallied five solo tackles.  Junior defensive lineman Tim Brown and senior defensive lineman Ryan Sullivan each added a sack.

The Devils (0-2, 0-1 MAC) return to action this Saturday, September 24 when they travel to Maryland to play Stevenson University (3-0, 2-0 MAC).  Kickoff is scheduled for 1 pm.