OWINGS MILLS, Md. - A career-high 241 passing yards for Stevenson football sophomore John Gasparovic (Newark, Del./Appoquinimink) proved not to be enough to overcome four turnovers as the Mustangs fell to the Widener Pride on Saturday at Mustang Stadium, 31-10.

The Mustangs (3-2, 2-2 MAC) have now lost two in a row after winning their first three games to open the 2013 season.

Despite a 53-yard drive to start the game, a botched snap on a field goal attempt led to a turnover on downs for Stevenson, though the Mustangs would get the ball right back on a Widener punt five plays later.  On the first play from scrimmage on his own seven-yard line, Gasparovic was sacked in his own end zone by Stacey Sunnerville for a Widener safety.

Widener (3-2, 3-1 MAC) drove 66 yards on the ensuing possession and scored a touchdown on a 40-yard completion from quarterback Seth Klein to junior Anthony Davis.  Stevenson came back to score a field goal, a 40-yard kick by senior Charlie Cornell (Turnersville, N.J./Washington Township) before the end of the first quarter.

Down 9-3 to start the second quarter, the Mustangs tied the game on a one-yard touchdown run by sophomore William Hill-Pensamiento (Chantilly, Va./Chantilly), his second of the season, and took a 10-9 lead following the extra point.

After a turnover on downs for the Pride, Stevenson junior Marcus Holley (York, Pa./York County) fumbled the ball in the red zone on the Widener five yard line, recovered by Widener linebacker Colin Masterson.

On the subsequent possession, Stevenson junior Alphonso Mayo (Baltimore, Md./Northwestern) and senior Tre'von Wilks (Baltimore, Md./Calvert Hall) combined for a tackle for a five yard loss, forcing yet another turnover on downs for the Pride.

Widener would take the lead again with 1:01 left in the second quarter on a 16-yard pass from Klein to Jermaine Quattlebaum, Klein's third touchdown pass of the game, followed by a two point conversion.

The first half came to a close with a score of 17-10 after a Gasparovic interception.

The third quarter saw a touchdown only 47 seconds in, as  Davis caught anoter Klein pass for 55 yards to the end zone, his second score of the day.  The next two possessions for each team ended in punts.

Gasparovic would throw his second interception of the game in Pride territory with 3:29 left in the quarter.  The Mustangs got the ball back one play later, as senior Marlon McLain (Baltimore, Md./Milford Mill) forced a Widener fumble, recovered by junior Shane Clough (Sudlersville, Md./Queen Anne's).

The ball changed hands three more times entering the fourth quarter, and with 7:01 left on the game clock, junior Couve LaFate rushed 17 yards for the Pride's fourth touchdown of the day.  That would prove to be the last points added by either team on the day with a final score of 31-10 in favor of Widener.

Stevenson freshman running back Trey Lee (Lusby, Md./Patuxent) tacked on 115 rushing yard on 21 carries, his third 100-yard rushing game of the season, while senior Jeromie Miller (Reisterstown, Md./Franklin) led the team in receiving with 81 yards on five receptions.

Junior captain linebacker Donnell Brown (Baltimore, Md./Poly Tech) led the defense with 11 total tackles.  Junior Dondre' Brown (Somers Point, N.J./Mainland Regional) and sophomore Brandon Ludwig (Mt. Airy, Md./South Carroll) each had two sacks on the day.

The Mustangs controlled the ball for 34:56 compared to Widener's 25:04, though the momentum from the Pride's pass-heavy offense helped them to quick scoring drives.

Looking forward, Stevenson has a bye week upcoming followed by a home matchup against King's (Pa.) on Saturday, October 19 at Mustang Stadium beginning at 1:00 p.m.