Box Score CHESTER, Pa. -- Hampden-Sydney College dropped a hard-fought 34-27 non-conference football decision on the road at Widener University on Saturday afternoon in Chester, Pennsylvania. The visiting Tigers (0-2) trailed just 21-17 at halftime, and were within 21-20 early in the fourth quarter, before the host Pride (2-0) scored two late touchdowns during the final five minutes to secure their home win.

H-SC and WU were tied at 7-7 after one quarter … the Tigers getting a five-yard touchdown run from fifth-year wide receiver and second-year team captain Dillon Costello (Haymarket) at 8:25, capping an eight-play, 67-yard possession. Junior placekicker Jack Breedlove (Atlanta, GA) added the first of his three PATs for an early 7-0 advantage.

H-SC added a second-quarter touchdown when senior Kaleb Smith (Rocky Mount) found the end zone on a one-yard scoring run at 11:27 for a 14-7 lead, finishing a five-play, 89-yard drive. Breedlove added a 33-yard field goal with 27.7-seconds left in the half to end a seven-play, 39-yard possession, and the visitors trailed 21-17 at the intermission.

The third quarter belonged to the two defenses, as neither team was able to score, sending the closely-played contest to the final 15 minutes at 21-17. Breedlove made his second field goal of the day with 14:03 remaining, a collegiate-best 39-yard effort that finished a nine-play, 23-yard drive, and H-SC was within 21-20.

Unfortunately, WU scored two touchdowns during the final 4:12 to push its lead to 34-20. The Tigers, however, kept battling and managed a two-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback and team captain Tanner Bernard (Lynchburg) to fifth-year wide receiver Nick Kallivokas (Purcellville) with only 5.5-seconds on the clock to provide for the final margin. It was an eight-play, 73-yard possession.

Bernard passed for a game-high 316 yards (23-35) and one touchdown with one interception. Smith rushed for 47 yards on 13 carries with one touchdown, adding 79 yards receiving on six catches. Costello had five receptions for a game-high 91 yards receiving, while sophomore wide receiver Braeden Bowling (Cary, NC) added six catches for 75 yards, and sophomore running back Josh Jones (South Hill) had four catches for 52 yards. Sophomore wide receiver and return specialist Iceysis Lewis (Radiant) contributed five kick returns for 169 yards, including a collegiate-best 72-yard return of the opening kickoff, adding one reception for 17 yards, as well—the first catch of his collegiate career.

Sophomore safety Will Pickren (Mt Pleasant, SC) finished with a game-high 15 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss. Fifth-year linebacker and team captain Brendan Weinberg (Apex, NC) added 13 tackles, including 1.5 for loss, as well. Senior linebacker Garrett Robinson (Culpeper) and sophomore safety James-Ryan Salvi (Troutville) added collegiate-bests of 10 and nine tackles, respectively, with Robinson having 0.5 tackles for loss and half a sack. Sophomore cornerback Tobias Lafayette (Charleston, SC) contributed four tackles and one interception.

Sophomore punter George Langhammer (Roanoke) punted four times for an average of 42.5 yards, including a long of 49 yards. Breedlove was 2-3 on field goals, as his 38-yard attempt on the game's first possession was blocked.

H-SC returns home to welcome Shenandoah University on Saturday, September 18, at 1 p.m. at Everett Stadium. It will be the first Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) game of the season and takes place during the College's annual Hall of Fame Weekend that will induct two special classes (2020 and 2021) this year due to last year's ceremony being postponed (COVID-19).