Late-season meeting with Long Island a rarity for ’Nova
Villanova coach Mark Ferrante admits it’s a little odd to have a non-conference game this late in the season. Call it a quirk in the schedule.
A standard provision in the NCAA bylaws allows FCS teams to play 12 games in years where there are 14 Saturdays between Labor Day (Sept. 2 this year) and the last Saturday in November. Villanova could have elected to have a third bye week instead of a 12th game, but Ferrante did not want that.
Instead of playing another CAA opponent in week 11 though, the No. 13 Wildcats (7-4) will take on Long Island Friday (7 p.m.) at Villanova Stadium.
“It’s really different,” Ferrante said. “Normally you have (nonconference games) in the first four or five weeks and then it’s all league games after that. … But regardless of who you’re playing you have to line it up and get it going.”
Long Island (0-8) is in its first year in the FCS. The program came to be when the university merged the athletic programs at LIU Brooklyn and LIU Post (formerly C.W. Post). While the Sharks have struggled, the history of the former C.W. Post program is strong. The Sharks had five straight winning seasons, including years of 12-1 in 2016 and 10-1 last year before making the jump to the FCS.
“They’ve had some real close games and it’s hard to get a feel for who they are and who they want to be, because they’ve had so many moving parts,” Ferrante said. “I told our guys they have to prepare the same, and go out there and continue to bring that energy and enthusiasm we had this past weekend.”
Villanova rallied for a 35-28 victory over Richmond to snap a three-game losing streak and improve its chances of earning an at-large bid to the FCS playoffs. Quarterback Daniel Smith had a monster game. He threw for 235 yards and ran for 105 yards and two scores.
Freshmen running backs DeeWil Barlee (Episcopal Academy All-Delco) and TD Ayo-Durojaiye continued to fill in nicely following injures to Justin Covington (knee) and Jalen Jackson (thumb). Barlee ran for 114 yards and one TD and Ayo-Durojaiye added 41 yards and a score. Jackson could return to action this week.
“They both have a great maturity about them as far as them being true freshmen,” Ferrante said. “They’ve picked up that slack big time.”
Widener at Delaware Valley
More than the Keystone Cup will be on the line when the Pride (5-4 overall, 4-3 MAC) visit the Aggies at noon Saturday. Widener has a chance at its first winning season and first post-season appearance since 2017.
The Pride is alive for a spot in the Centennial/MAC Bowl series, which pits the top three teams from the Centennial and Middle Atlantic Conferences that do not make the NCAA Division III playoffs.
“I think our kids are excited anytime they can get into the postseason or an 11th game, it would be great,” Widener coach Mike Barainyak said. “Our kids know what’s at stake. If we win we control our own destiny.”
That task, though, is a daunting one. Delaware Valley (8-1, 7-0) clinched the league title for the third year in a row, and is ranked No. 9 by the American Football Coaches Association and No. 13 by D3football.com.
The Aggies lead Division III in total defense (169.4 yards per game), are second in rushing defense (41.9 ypg) and fourth in scoring defense (9.1 ppg). Del Val’s only loss was a 24-18 decision to No. 12/14 Wesley in four overtimes. The Aggies have allowed three points and 298 total yards in their last three games.
Widener quarterback Sean McGaughey continues to lead Division III in passing yards (3,046), while senior James Gillespie is first nationally in receiving yards
(1,247).
Delaware Valley has won the last four meetings and is 12-4 in the series since 2003.
“Delaware Valley is a great football team,” Barainyak said. “There’s no other way to put it. They’re top 10 in the country, No.
1 defense in America, not many weaknesses if any weaknesses across the board. … We’re excited to go compete at Del Val. I think it will be a great measuring stick for where we want to take our program.”