CHESTER, Pa. – Widener University scored 31 unanswered points after falling behind 14-0, as the host Pioneers defeated Lebanon Valley 31-14 in a Middle Atlantic Conference game at Leslie C. Quick Jr. Stadium.

Jamie Schild caught four touchdown passes for 173 yards to lead Widener (1-2, 1-2 MAC), which scored on five of its final seven possessions after going three-and-out on its first four.

Junior Adam Brossman had four receptions and 83 yards for Lebanon Valley (2-2, 1-2 MAC).

Quarterback Matt Campbell finished with 229 yards and four touchdowns on 8-of-15 passing for the Pioneers while Khalee Prothro rushed for 87 yards on 24 carries.

Senior Dan Kelly completed 16 of 26 passes for 167 yards for the Dutchmen while freshman Charlie Parker rushed 14 times for 40 yards.

The Dutchmen scored their first touchdown on a 78-yard punt return from junior Clint Vinju. After fumbling the catch, he scooped up the loose ball and broke free down the right sideline for his first special teams touchdown of his collegiate career. It was also the first punt return for a touchdown by a Lebanon Valley player since Jarrod Way's 79-yarder against Delaware Valley in 2003.

Making his collegiate debut, freshman Josh Evans came on to kick the extra point, making it 7-0 with 4:04 left in the opening quarter.

After managing only two first downs over its first two possessions, the Dutchmen offense snapped into gear late in the quarter. A 17-yard pass from Kelly to Parker on third-and-five gave the Dutchmen the ball at the Widener-45, and seven plays later the Valley faced a third-and-goal at the Pioneer-5. Kelly sprinted out left, then made a cut inside and into the end zone for his seventh career rushing touchdown and his first of the season. Evans' second PAT of the game made it 14-0 with 13:16 to go in the half.

After the two teams traded punts, Widener used back-to-back long passes to get on the scoreboard. One play after a 32-yard pass put the ball at the LVC-45, Campbell found Schild wide open down the middle of the field for a touchdown as the Pioneers cut the lead in half.

A 22-yard pass from Kelly to Brossman late in the half put the Dutchmen at the Widener-18. But a holding penalty backed the Valley to the Widener-28, and a 45-yard field goal attempt by freshman Dan DiBona missed wide right as time expired.

Lebanon Valley held a 10-2 advantage in first downs in the opening half and limited the Pioneers to 10 yards rushing on 10 attempts.

Widener used a pair of big plays to take the lead early in the second half. Elliott White returned the opening kickoff 54 yards, setting up the Pioneers at the LVC-36. Two plays later, Schild made a diving catch into the end zone for a 36-yard touchdown reception, as the Pioneers tied it up at 14 just 1:30 into the stanza.

On Lebanon Valley's first possession of the second half, Widener came up with a fumble recovery at the Dutchman-32. The Pioneers faced a first-and-goal from inside the 1-yard line after a personal foul penalty, but the Dutchmen defense held. Widener settled for a 21-yard field goal by Tom Laurich with 5:55 left in the third quarter, but it the Pioneers the lead for good at 17-14.

After forcing the Dutchmen to go three-and-out on the ensuing possession, Widener extended its lead to 24-14 with 39 seconds remaining in the quarter when Campbell found Schild for a third touchdown, this time on a 58-yard scoring strike down the middle of the field.

Lebanon Valley appeared to have something going early in the fourth quarter when Brossman broke free for a 37-yard run on a fake punt. But the drive dissolved when Widener recovered another LVC fumble, this time on a third-and-five at the Widener-16.

The Pioneers added an insurance touchdown when Campbell lofted a pass into the end zone for Schild, who hauled in the 34-yard aerial for his fourth TD of the game with 2:56 left in the game.

Todd Fairlie had a game-high 12 tackles for Widener while junior linebacker Terry Kaufman recorded eight tackles for the Dutchmen.

Vinju finished with 146 all-purpose yards while Brossman averaged 41.2 yards on five punts, including a season-long 64-yarder.

Lebanon Valley hosts Delaware Valley at 1 p.m. next Saturday on Homecoming.

[Photo - Junior Clint Vinju, who had a 78-yard punt return for a touchdown against Widener on Saturday]

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