CHESTER, PA (November 9, 2019) -- The host Pride of Widener University outscored King's College 21-0 in the decisive second quarter, as the Monarch football team dropped a 41-21 Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) contest to Widener Saturday in play from Leslie C. Quick Jr. Stadium. 

King's held the potent offensive unit for Widener (5-3, 4-3 MAC) on its first possession to a 30-yard field goal, setting up one of the best drives in King's program history. After taking over at it's own 26-yard line, the Monarchs marched 74 plays over the next 16 plays before cashing in as Tyler Moore hit Brandon Cohen from nine yards out to put King's up 7-3. 

The drive of 16 plays tied for the longest scoring march of the season, while the time of the possession of 11:25 was the longest elapsed Monarch drive that ended in points in the last 10 seasons. On the drive, King's converted a pair of fourth downs, including one on 4th and 2 at the Widener 15 before Cohen's touchdown grab. 

King's would force a punt on its next possession, but couldn't do much with the ball as it was forced to kick it away to Widener. The Pride wasted no time regaining the lead, as Sean McGaughey completed a 48-yard touchdown grab to Ryan Gallagher on the first play of the drive to make the score 10-7. 

The Monarchs next drive would stall at the Widener, and a fake punt run by freshman Joe Carchio was stopped a few yards short to give the ball back to the Pride. Widener took advantage, going 58 yards over the next 11 plays before Tahir Cruse capped the march with a two-yard scoring run to make the score 17-7. 

On the ensuing kickoff, King's would fumble the ball giving possession back to the Pride, who scored four plays later to make the score 24-7 going into halftime. After halftime, King's started to climb back into the ball game, as Cohen capped an 10-play, 82-yard drive with his second touchdown catch of the game. This time, Cohen got inside the seam and Moore hit him to make the score 24-14. 

After Widener made it a 13-point game with a field goal, King's would get some momentum as Michael Raczak's punt was blocked by Brendan Mozeleski to set the Monarchs up at the Widener 39-yard line with 1:50 left in the third. 

King's took advantage of the strong field possession, as senior running back Jordan Downes plunged in from a yard out to make it 27-21 with 13:07 to go in the contest. The drive had one of the stranger plays of the year, as Moore faked a handoff and scampered 15 yards in for a score but the officials thought Downes had the ball and whistled the play dead. After consulting, the referees placed the ball at the Widener 2-yard line to set up the score for King's. 

On the next possession, King's forced a three-and-out, highlighted by a great pass breakup on 3rd-and-6 by junior Gene Gibbons. The Monarchs got the ball back on the 11-yard line and marched to the Monarch 45-yard line over the next nine plays. On 2nd-and-6 from the 45, Moore turned to give to Downes but the two collided, popping the ball loose and Widener jumped on the ball to take over.

The Pride would make it a two-score game once more 1:13 later at 5:47 of the game, as Chris Randle rushed for a five-yard touchdown scamper to make it 34-21. Widener would force another turnover on the next possession, and Randle scored from a yard out minutes later to put the game away from Widener. 

Moore finished 17-of-31 with two touchdowns and 139 yards, while Downes finished with 139 yards on the ground including one rushing score. Downes added three catches as well for 14 yards, and Cohen was King's leading receiver with six catches for 47 yards and the two touchdowns. 

Junior Gabe Boccella was held to two grabs on 38 yards, and Tim Costantino added three catches for 22 yards. 

The King's defensive unit was led by Mozeleski, who made a team-high nine tackles including six of the solo variety. Junior Cory Wilson, who was filling in for much of the game due to injury, added eight tackes (six solo), and Mikal Butler finished with six stops.

Junior Elijah Demosthene shadowed the NCAA's leading receiver James Gillespie and held him to just one catch for 23 yards. Prior to the game, Gillespie was averaging over 150 yards per game receiving, which led NCAA Division III. Freshman Dallas Solomon posted the lone sack of the game for King's Saturday. 

McGaughey posted 242 yards on 17-of-31 throwing including one touchdown, and Ryan Gallagher finished with six grabs for a game-high 119 yards for Widener. 

The Monarchs will finish their 2019 season next Saturday at noon at home, hosting the 24th annual Mayor's Cup game with Wilkes University (7-2, 5-2 MAC) in McCarthy Stadium. King's will also honor its seniors prior to the game, as the senior class looks to become the first King's senior group to win four straight Mayor's Cup games.