Wildcats Scored Three Second Half Touchdowns in 31 – 3 Win Over the Aggies
VILLANOVA, PA. 11/9/2024 –
Villanova continues its home winning streak which now stands at 14 games. It was a close contest early, but #12 Nova scored three touchdowns on its first three possessions to defeat the North Carolina A&T Aggies 31 – 3 at Villanova Stadium. At halftime the Wildcats led 10 – 3. They took the ball to open the second half, got a touchdown. The next two drives resulted in two more scores. The Aggies had no answer on offense.
“We took the opening drive in the second half, was able to put another one on the board. That gave us the momentum back,” said Villanova Coach Mark Ferrante. “Real proud of the way our team competed for the whole four quarters.”
Sometimes One Play Can Turn the Game
That play happened for the Wildcats in their first possession of the third quarter. They drove to the ball to the 34-yard line of A&T. Deciding to go for it on 4th-and-nine, quarterback Connor Watkins dropped back. He was chased out of the pocket, scrambling to his right. Looking downfield he saw running back David Avit get open, and delivered the ball for a 21-yard gain and a first down. Two plays later Watkins capped the drive with a 13-yard run up the middle and a 17 – 3 lead. And it gave the lift Villanova needed.
“Anytime you can get a fourth down conversion when you’re in that kind of no man’s land area of the field, you’re going to go for it,” Watkins said about the decision to run a play. “It kind of broke down, at least I thought it did. David did an excellent job of making himself available when I got out of the pocket.”
The Momentum Was With the Wildcats From There
“Anytime you make a play like that, you’re going to get a lot of momentum,” Watkins said about the fourth down conversion play. “It’s going to juice the guys up on the sidelines. We ended up scoring. It was big for the momentum for us on offense.”
And it showed.
After forcing the Aggies to punt, the next drive saw running back Isaiah Ragland shake loose for A 55-Yard run to the NCAT 17-yard line. Watkins scored his second touchdown of the game, this time running 12-yards to cross the goal line.
Ragland got his reward on the following Nova possession going 4-yards for the score, the final scoring play of the game.
Defense Continues to Contain
Villanova limited the opposition to 3 points. But more impactful was the longest play for NCAT was 25-yards. The Wildcats gave up 119 yards on the ground, and only 50 through the air.
The Wildcats defense has shown the ability to limit the yardage and opportunities for the opponent. This unit has allowed 23 points over the last three weeks and the second time in that span that they did not give up a touchdown.
Experience seems to be the key factor.
“The defense, we’re strong, we’re old, so the fourth quarter, that’s where we drive,” said linebacker Brendan Bell. “We can tire them out. When you hold them to 170 yards, that’s going to be a W every time.”
What the Numbers Say
Watkins completed 18 of 27 passes to match his career-high for pass completions in a single game for the third time. He threw for 167 yards and one touchdown. Watkins ran for 31 yards scoring twice. Devin Smith caught 7 passes for 68 yards. He had a catch and run for 34-yards in the second quarter. Ragland led the ground attack with 82 yards with Avit adding 67.
Shane Hartzell led the defense with 10 tackles and Bell added 6 stops.
For the Aggies quarterback Braxton Thomas ran for 49 yards. He did turn in the longest gain for NC A&T with a 25-yard run.
Up Next
Villanova improves to 8 – 2 overall and 5 – 1 in the CAA. There are two games left in the regular season; next week at Monmouth, then the finale at home with Delaware. Richmond currently leads the league with a 6 – 0 record. Nova sits in a tie for second place at 5 – 1 with Delaware, Stony Brook and Rhode Island.
The Wildcats feel they are ready on both sides of the ball for this most important time of the season.
“I feel like our synergies really picked up,” Bell said. “That’s huge in November, the championship month.”
Written By: Glenn Papazian
Contact: Glenn@PhillyCollegeSports.com
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