Memories of spring defeat helps push Villanova past Delaware
NEWARK, DEL. » For months Villanova had agonized over its loss to Delaware in the spring. The image of the Blue Hens celebrating the CAA championship at Villanova Stadium was seared into the minds of the Wildcats.
The roles were reversed this time. While the Widlcats were bound for no worse than an atlarge bid to the FCS playoffs, the Blue Hens looked to close out the 2021 fall campaign on a high note. Relegated to a spoiler role, Delaware was hoping to prevent the Wildcats from returning the favor and clinching the CAA title.
For three quarters the Blue Hens appeared to be on their way to a season-ending win. However, ‘Nova’s offense finally clicked in the fourth quarter. The ‘Cats struck for two touchdowns over five plays in the fourth quarter and rallied to regain the Battle of the Blue trophy with a 21-13 victory Saturday at Delaware Stadium.
“We have a Delaware wall in our locker room that we look at 365 days a year,” linebacker Forrest Rhyne said. “We have a permanent spot for the trophy because it belongs where we are at. Since I’ve been at Villanova, this is my fifth year, I had never not seen the trophy. So losing that trophy (in the spring) meant everything to us. And we got it back.”
Trailing 13-7 in the fourth quarter, ‘Nova took some deep shots and made the Blue Hens pay. Graduate quarterback Daniel Smith connected with wide receiver Jaaron Hayek, who sprinted 64 yards to the 1-yard line. Jalen Jackson then ran into the end zone for the touchdown to give the Wildcats a 14-13 lead.
After the Wildcats defense forced a three-and-out, Smith went right back to work, hooking up with junior receiver Rayjoun Pringle on a 41-yard pass and catch. On the next play Smith threw a bullet over the middle to Hayek, who was left all alone for a 24-yard touchdown.
Smith rebounded from a shaky first three quarters to engineer two quick scoring drives that required only five plays across 2:01. He finished 12 of 26 for 209 yards, but 126 of those yards came on the final two touchdown drives.
“I had that mindset of, it doesn’t matter what’s happened the rest of the game, we’ve got to make plays. We’ve just got to hit it and that’s what we did,” Smith said.
Leading 21-13, Villanova was content with killing clock and tried to gain one more first down to ice the win. But the Blue Hens pounced on a fumble off a botched snap on thirdand-long, giving the home team one more chance.
Anthony Paoletti, a Marple Newtown All-Delco and redshirt junior, picked up some big yards out of the wildcat to give the Blue Hens a goal to go in the final two minutes. On third-and-goal at the 2, starting quarterback Zach Gwynn tried to push the pile and sneak into the end zone, but was denied at the line of scrimmage. Paoletti then got the snap on fourth down and threw a quick shuffle pass to Mateo Vandamia, but the Blue Hens fell a yard shy of the goal line.
That close to possibly averting a last-game loss.
“Disappointing ending to a disappointing season,” Delaware coach Danny Rocco said. “It’s a game of inches and that’s kind of where this thing ended up today. … The idea of getting the auto bid, which they have by winning today, and then the idea of being able to pay back the loss from last spring, ... I’m sure both of those things factored into their motivation.”
Villanova (9-2) and James Madison each went 7-1 in CAA this year to finish tied for first place. The Wildcats win the tiebreaker thanks to their 2827 victory over the Dukes on Oct. 9.
“It feels great to call this team champions,” Villanova coach Mark Ferrante said. “I don’t want to get emotional but I’m super proud of everybody
on this team and the coaching staff and everyone involved with this program.”
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NOTES » Paoletti was the Blue Hens’ third-leading rusher of the game with 35 yards on eight carries. … Villanova junior DeeWil Barlee, an Episcopal Academy All-Delco, rushed for 23 yards on five carries. … Justin Covington (44 yards) ran for ‘Nova’s first TD of the game in the first quarter. … Hayek finished with five receptions for 117 yards. … Christian Benford and Ty Trinh had interceptions for the Wildcats. Opposing passers have attempted 203 consecutive passes without throwing for a touchdown, which matches the longest such streak by an FCS team since Colgate in 2018. It’s also the longest streak by a Villanova team in FCS history (since 1985).