’Cats run streak to 7 vs. Delaware

NEWARK, DEL. >> The Battle of the Blue Trophy did not stay in Delaware long. Less than a day to be precise.

That’s the way it’s been for the last four trips to Newark after Villanova’s 42-21 triumph over No. 17 Delaware at Delaware Stadium Saturday.

Villanova dusts the trophy off, brings it to the game and then takes it back to put on display in the football office for another year. The Wildcats beating the Blue Hens has become an annual event.

This victory was the seventh straight for the Wildcats, the longest stretch in the 52 meetings between the teams. It marked the 12th time Villanova has claimed prize in the 13-year history of the Battle of the Blue.

Delaware’s only win in that span came in 2011.

“We take a lot of pride not losing to Delaware,” linebacker Drew Wiley said. “The guys before us, when I was a freshman, wanted to make the playoffs, but we always made sure we wanted to beat Delaware.”

The victory also was a glimpse of what could have been for the Wildcats (5-6 overall, 2-6 CAA). A season that started with a 19-17 win over bowl-bound Temple unraveled into another injury plagued campaign that quickly knocked the Wildcats out of the FCS playoff race.

Saturday’s win was the first time since the Bucknell game on Sept. 22 that the Wildcats had 20 of their original 22 starters on the field. The only original starters who did not play were offensive tackle Brandon Hitner (Garnet Valley) and safety Terrell Vassel. Hitner sat out with a concussion and Vassel has been plagued by an ankle injury.

“After the Temple game, I had high hopes for our offense,” Villanova quarterback Zach Bednarczyk said. “Things didn’t always go according to plan, but I’m proud of the guys. I think today we showed what we were capable of all season.”

The offense was efficient and diverse. Bednarczyk, who missed two games with an injury to his left (throwing) shoulder, threw for 269 yards and a touchdown. Running back Aaron Forbes topped the

100-yard mark for the third time his season and the sixth time in his career. The senior finished with 138 yards and three TDs. Tight end Ryan Bell, who missed half the season with a wrist injury, caught four passes for 54 yards.

The Wildcats piled up 459 yards and were 5-for-11 on third-down conversions.

“That’s the team that beat Temple,” Delaware coach Danny Rocco said.

The defense did its part, too. The Wildcats held the Blue Hens

(7-4, 5-3) to 344 yards and forced four turnovers, two interceptions and two fumbles. Delaware did have some injury issues.

Starting quarterback Pat Kehoe left the game in the first quarter with a concussion and did not return. His replacement, Nolan Henderson, also spent some time on the sideline, which brought J.P. Caruso into the game. The offense, though, wasn’t the problem. Delaware’s defense could not stop Villanova’s offense.

The Blue Hens cut the deficit to a touchdown twice in the second half, only to have the Wildcats respond with a TD on their next two possessions.

Forbes added his third touchdown on an 11-yard run with 4:42 to play in the game to make sure the Battle of the Blue Trophy was on the bus for the ride back to Villanova.

“We’re all undefeated against Delaware in our careers and we wanted to keep it that way,” Bednarczyk said.