’Nova’s Ferrante not worried about letdown
A lot of coaches would be worried about a letdown after a team had the kind of win Villanova had last week in its 19-17 comefrom-behind triumph over crosstown rival and FBS member Temple.
That is not a concern for Villanova’s Mark Ferrante as the 12th-ranked Wildcats prepare to take on Lehigh at 12:30 Saturday at Goodman Stadium.
“We looked past one or two opponents last year and things I heard the guys talking about in the offseason, through preseason and even after this victory is that we can’t look past anybody,” Ferrante said. “So I think we’re mature enough to handle that.”
There’s another reason for the Wildcats (1-0) to be on top of their game. Villanova needed a 32-yard field goal from Drew Kresge early in the fourth quarter to pull out a 38-35 victory over the Mountain Hawks (1-0). That’s the most points Villanova allowed in a game last season.
Quarterback Brad Mayes, who threw for 406 yards and four touchdowns in the game, is back for Lehigh, as is Dominick Bragalone, who ran for 1,388 yards and 18 touchdowns a year ago.
The Mountain Hawks (1-0) are coming off a 21-19 victory of St. Francis (Pa.). Bragalone’s 11-yard TD run with 2:02 left in the third quarter was the difference.
For Villanova, the return of quarterback Zach Bednarczyk, tight end Ryan Bell and wide receiver Changa Hodge, who suffered season-ending injuries a year ago, played a key role in the win over Temple. Bednarczyk completed 29 of 40 passes for 254 yards and three TD. Bell caught nine passes for 81 yards and one touchdown, while Hodge had six receptions for 40 yards.
The defense picked up where it left off last season. The Wildcats limited the Owls to 46 yards rushing and 251 yards in total offense, and just one offensive touchdown. Special teams, though, is a concern. Villanova had a field goal and extra point blocked and missed another PAT.
Lycoming at Widener 1 p.m. Saturday
Both teams are in search of their first win. The Pride is coming off of a 41-34 loss to Rowan in double overtime, while the Warriors fell to Susquehanna, 38-7, in their season opener.
Special teams doomed Widener against Rowan. Elijah Rehm returned a pair of kickoffs for touchdowns. Pride kicker Larry Eimer missed a 34-yard field goal with 27 seconds left in regulation that would have won the game.
The good news for the Pride was the return of running back Donte Harrell. He ran for 93 yards and two touchdowns in his first game since Oct. 15, 2016. The big question is the status of All-America defensive tackle Vince Char. He missed the opener with what Widener coach Mike Kelly called a “lower body injury.”
Turnovers killed Lycoming in its season opener. Freshman quarterback Elijah Shemgry threw four interceptions in his collegiate debut. Three of those picks led to touchdowns. The Warriors also lost two fumbles.