Villanova looks to keep earning pollsters’ respect
When the FCS rankings came out earlier this week, Villanova found itself in rarified air. The Wildcats rose to No. 4 in both polls, the highest ranking in program history.
That and a $1.65 will get you a 24-ounce cup of coffee at Wawa, as far as Villanova coach Mark Ferrante is concerned.
“We don’t talk about the rankings or the stats,” Ferrante said. “Our players have talked about it but they’re saying records don’t mean anything, stats don’t mean anything and rankings don’t mean anything, whether they’re preseason (or) mid-season. The only thing that matters is when you get to the postseason.”
Making the playoffs have been the team’s focus all season.
“I really like the maturity of our team,” Ferrante said. “They seem to be focusing on the right things now. They seem to be saying the right things. We live in this world that you see it. They’re on their phones constantly so I’m sure they’re more than aware of where we are in the national rankings and those things, but it’s nothing that we talk about and it’s nothing that we really focus on.”
The attention this week is on William & Mary (5-2, 3-1), which will be looking to knock the Wildcats (6-1, 4-0) out of sole possession of first place in the CAA when the teams square off Saturday afternoon at Villanova Stadium (1 p.m.).
If history means anything, expect it to be a close one.
Seven of the last eight meetings have been decided by one score. The Wildcats (6-1, 4-0 CAA) have come out on top in four of those one-score games, but the Tribe have won the last two meetings at Villanova.
The Tribe comes in with the top rushing offense (211 yards per game) and the third-best scoring offense (24.6 ppg) in the conference, led by one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the league in Darius Wilson. The 6-3, 195-pound freshman is seventh in the conference in total offense (190.83 ypg). Wilson is especially tough on the run. He averages 6.6 yards per attempt.
The Wildcats should get some help on the defensive end. Defensive back Jalen Goodman and linebacker Mike Ruane are expected back from the injured list. Goodman has missed the last three games and Ruane the last two.
Meanwhile, leading rusher Justin Covington is still listed as day-to-day with a knee injury and a shoulder problem will keep left tackle Kofi Appah on the sideline. Jalen Jackson and DeeWil Barlee more than filled the void in Covington’s absence last week. The duo had 203 of Villanova’s 297 rushing yards in last week’s 44-0 victory over Rhode Island.
“We’re excited to be at home and we’re excited to hopefully put another game together where we play from start to finish like we did last weekend,” Ferrante said. “The consistency thing is something we talk about and hopefully we’ll be able to do that.”
CAPP Academy at Williamson, Noon
The Mechanics (4-2) look to bounce back from a loss to the New Jersey Gators and close out the season on a winning note.
This is the second meeting between the teams. Williamson pulled out a 20-6 victory on Oct. 9 behind a defensive performance that forced four turnovers and limited the Crusaders to seven first downs and just one third-down conversion.
Chris Meiklejohn (Marple Newtown) and Cole Hunter had interceptions, while Brandon Jessup and James Openshaw recovered fumbles. Quarterback Anthony Ellis (Sun Valley) made his first start of the season and threw for 113 yards and three touchdowns. Garrett Watkins had five receptions, one for a TD.