Chester, Pa. (October 2) – FDU-Florham wide receiver Connor Perez (Warwick, NY) registered nine receptions for 166 yards, two receiving touchdowns and a passing touchdown as the Devils rolled to a 27-3 road win at Widener University in Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) action this afternoon.
 
Coming into today's matchup, Widener was undefeated atop the MAC standings at 4-0 overall and 2-0 in conference play, but FDU-Florham changed that as the Devils handed the Pride their first loss of the 2021 season. With the victory, FDU-Florham improved to 3-1 overall and 2-0 in MAC play today.

Today's win marked just the third in the all-time series with Widener, but now FDU-Florham has won two of the past three matchups as the Devils took down the Pride today, 27-3, and edged the Pride, 21-17, in 2018.
 
Widener looked as it would score the first points of the game after a 55-yard kickoff return and three plays that brought he ball to the 26-yard line, but Marquez Haywood (Lindenwold, NJ) stripped the ball from Sean Mullarkey and recovered the fumble giving possession to FDU.

The Devils immediately turned the first turnover of the game into points as a 13 play, 56-yard drive ended in a 28-yard field goal by Chris DiMedio (Cornwall, NY).

Widener possessed the ball twice more in the first quarter and the FDU defense stepped up on both drives. Widener's second drive ended in a three and out and its third drive ended in an interception by Matthew Dougherty (Wilmington, Del.).

As FDU did on its first drive, the Devils capitalized on the turnover. FDU started on its own 34-yard line and the ensuing drive was highlighted by a 39 reception by Perez. On the 1-yard line, Perez lined up in wildcat formation and threw for a touchdown to Haywood making the score 10-0.

Prior to halftime, the Devils found the back of the end zone two more times and both times Anthony Caserta (Bronx, NY) found Perez for six points. After today's game, Perez has eight touchdown receptions, which leads the MAC.

On their first drive of the third quarter, the Pride drove down and converted a 20-yard field goal. The Devils answered with a 26-yard field goal from DiMedio as FDU maintained its 24 point advantage. Those two field goals were the only points scored by either team in the second half.

Each time Widener possessed the ball in the fourth quarter, the FDU defense stepped up. In the final stanza alone, Kenny Hands (Runnemede, NJ) made three sacks. In addition to Hands being a key member of the FDU defense in the final quarter, over the course of today's game Ryon Thomas (Mattapoisset, Mass.)punted the ball five times, averaging 45 yards a kick. Thomas pinned the Pride inside the 20-yard line twice and inside the 5-yard line once.

As a team, FDU outgained Widener 98-83 on the ground and 278-130 through the air. The Devils were 7-for-17 on third down conversions today and continued to be on fire in the red zone. Today, the Devils went 4-for-4 from inside the 20-yard line and on the season, FDU has converted 18-of-19 chances (95%) from the red zone.
 
FDU (3-1, 2-0 MAC) moved into a tie for first place in the MAC with today's win and will travel to Lebanon Valley College (2-2, 1-1 MAC) next Saturday, October 9 for its week six matchup.

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