The Observer, November 16, 2007
Volume XL, Issue 11
Case to face Widener in the first round of playoffs
Widener University, located in Chester, Pa. is one of the premiere football programs in Division III football. The Pride has won two Division III National Championships (1977 and 1981), 17 Middle Atlantic Conference championships, and was the 2000 Division III semifinalist and 2001 Division III quarterfinalist. Widener has 630 victories in its 127-year history, one of four schools to claim at least 600 wins. The team trails Wittenberg (669), Washington & Jefferson (644), and Mount Union (636).
Despite two early losses this season to formidable opponents, namely nationally ranked Wesley and Rowan, the Pride went 7-0 in the MAC and 8-2 overall. Led by head coach David Wood, Widener comes into Case Western tomorrow afternoon looking to upset the No. 2 seeded Spartans.
Wood is in his fifth season as head coach of the Pride. He holds a 34-18 mark overall. He served as an assistant at Widener from 1991-95 and again from 1997-2002. Wood is the first Widener alum in the schoolâ€'s history to serve as football coach. He was a three-year starter, and a Division III All-American in 1990.
Widenerâ€'s defense is a force to be reckoned with. The Pride, in seven conference games this year, has allowed 289.1 yards per contest in total offense and forced teams into 26 turnovers.
Their linebackers are a major component of the successful defensive unit. Freshman Joe Favinger leads the team with 69 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and 14 tackles for a loss. Widener has picked off 20 passes this year, the 10th best total in the country. Cornerback Orlando Brown leads the team with eight interceptions.
Offensively, the Pride average 18.5 points per game. This statistic is a little deceiving; the amount of turnovers means that Widenerâ€'s defense is scoring many of those points, or at least giving the offense solid field position. They ranked sixth in the MAC in total yards, averaging 276.9 yards per game.
Widener has a solid offensive line, anchored by junior left tackle Michael Fagnani, a first team all-league pick last season. Sophomores Justin Leipert and Shane Bigelow and junior Mike Chambers are other standouts on the unit.
Despite this offensive line, the Pride has struggled with their running game, averaging 83.8 yards per game on the ground, seventh best in the MAC.
