October 2, 2022 –
Persistent Penn Wins in 2OT, Villanova Back on Winning Track Behind the Watkins to Hayek Connection, 4th Quarter Unkind to Temple
Penn 23 Dartmouth 17 2OT
Noteworthy: Under Friday Night Lights Penn wins a thriller in 2 overtimes and start on the Ivy League portion of their schedule victorious. The game tested the resiliency of the team. The Quakers started well beginning the game with a 14-play, 75-yard drive in 7:45 for a touchdown. The Red and Blue tried to take full control in the second quarter, but were turned away twice on fourth down conversions. Dartmouth got a field goal at the end of the second quarter to post the first points scored against the Penn defense. In the fourth quarter behind quarterback Nick Howard the Big Green got a 10 – 7 lead, the first touchdown the Quaker defense allowed. Later, Penn got the ball back with 2:11 to play. Quarterback Aidan Sayin engineered a drive to the Big Green 18-yard line getting two completions of over 10 yards to Malone Howley and Trey Flowers. Penn almost won it at the end of regulation, but a pass with 7 seconds left went in and out of the hands of Sterling Stokes. But one second still showed on the clock. Kicker Graham Gottlieb split the uprights on a 35-yard field goal sending the game into overtime.
The teams traded touchdowns in the first extra period. On their overtime touchdown Dartmouth nearly missed the extra point which would have given the game to Penn. The kick appeared to be low at first glance, and the Quakers thought they won it. On further review the kick just got over the crossbar. The Big Green got the ball first in the second overtime. A field goal attempt was blocked by Garrett Morris. Penn got the ball and scored in four plays.
What the Numbers Say: Penn outgained Dartmouth 343 – 271, due to a 204 – 78 edge in the passing game. The Quakers came into the game giving up few yards on the ground. Dartmouth gained 193 rushing yards. Howard gained 108 yards on the ground scoring twice. Zach Bair ran for 68 yards.
Sayin completed 25 of 38 passing attempts, and continued showing ability to spread the ball to different receivers. Ten different players caught passes led by Flowers with 5 for 43 yards in registering 94 all-purpose yards.
Running back Trey Flowers scored 2 touchdowns including the game-winner.
On defense Jake Heimlicher made a game-high 13 tackles, 8 solo, and 2 for losses.
#14 Villanova 45 Maine 20
Noteworthy: The two-game losing streak was snapped behind huge games by wide receiver Jaaron Hayek and quarterback Connor Watkins. Hayek set a career-high with 4 touchdowns and 157 receiving yards. He became the third Villanova player to have four touchdown receptions in a single game joining Mike Siani and Changa Hodge. Watkins hooked up with Hayek on an 83-yard touchdown pass and to give Villanova a 24 – 7 lead. All four scores were consecutive for Hayek. It was the fourth-longest pass play in program history.
Defensive back Jalen Goodman returned an interception 23-yards for the first defensive points for Villanova this season.
What the Numbers Say: Watkins completed 13 of 16 passes for 255 yards and 4 scoring tosses, all to Hayek. Five completions for Watkins went for 60 yards or longer. The Wildcats ran for 211 yards with TD Ayo-Durojaiye leading the way with 51 yards. Jalen Jackson had 41 yards rushing and a touchdown.
On defense Nova held Maine to 108 yards on the ground and 201 through the air.
The Wildcats have scored in 18 of 20 quarters this season.
Memphis 24 Temple 3
Noteworthy: The game was expected to be a defensive battle and it was. Which offense was going to break through? It was Memphis who scored with 1:36 to play in the third quarter to take a 7 – 3 lead. The scoring play broke a streak of 6 consecutive quarters where the Owls defense did not allow a point. The fourth quarter tilted to the Tigers who would put 17 points on the scoreboard via a field goal and two touchdowns. Ten points came off a failed fourth down conversion and an interception. Temple starts American play 0 – 1. It may have been Temple to break through first. In the first quarter quarterback E.J. Warner connected with wide receiver Jose Barbon on a 78-yard completion. The Owls had the ball in the red zone. They got as far as the four-yard line of the Tigers, but turned the ball over on downs missing a golden opportunity to get the early lead. Temple did get a field goal at the end of the half, a 47-yarder by Camden Price, the first field goal by the Cherry and White this season.
What the Numbers Say: The Owls defense gave up 195 yards passing and sacked the Tigers quarterbacks 5 times costing them 37 yards. Five different players recorded the sacks. Yvandy Rigby made 9 takes, 7 solo. Kobe Wilson had 9 tackles, 4 solo. The defense had a scoreless streak spanning 118 minutes and 19 seconds.
Warner passed for 245 yards completing 18 of 37 passes, but he had 3 picked off. Barbon caught 5 passes for 134 yards. He was targeted 10 times. Adonicas Sanders hauled in 4 passes for 57 yards including a 30-yard reception. Temple ran for 52 yards. Six players gained yards on the ground.
RECORDS / SCHEDULE
Villanova and Temple on a bye week, Penn goes to the District of Columbia.
Villanova 3 – 2 overall, 1 – 1 CAA Next: idle
Temple 2 – 3, 0 – 1 American Next: idle
Penn 3 – 0, 1 – 0 Ivy League Next: at Georgetown
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