McCloskey grateful for assistance as he preps for first ’Nova start
RADNOR » It was time for the special teams’ portion of practice so freshman quarterback Kyle McCloskey trotted to the sidelines to take his place with the other Villanova players not involved in the session.
McCloskey headed straight to offensive coordinator Sam Venuto and the two had a conversation that lasted several minutes. After Venuto left, Wildcats center Matt Donoghue walked over and chatted it up with the rookie QB. A few minutes later injured quarterback Zach Bednarczyk walked over on his crutches to speak with his replacement.
“Everyone has been so helpful,” McCloskey said. “They will give me advice anytime they see something wrong and they’ll answer any question I have. They have so much experience that whatever they say I take to heart and try to implement.”
Like most freshman quarterbacks, McCloskey expected to spend his first season as a redshirt. All that changed, however, when Bednarczyk suffered a season-ending knee injury against Towson four weeks ago.
Suddenly, the 6-3, 220-pound rookie from Germantown Academy became the backup to redshirt freshman Jack Schetelich. And when Schetelich proved ineffective in two starts, Villanova coach Mark Ferrante decided to elevate McCloskey to the first unit.
McCloskey will make the first start of his career when the No. 13 Wildcats (4-3 overall, 2-2 CAA) host No. 10 Elon (6-1, 4-0) in a crucial league battle at Villanova Stadium Saturday (3:30 p.m.).
“It’s pretty been crazy,” McCloskey said. “It’s going to be pretty awesome to get my first start. Ever since Zach Bednarczyk went down I’ve been preparing myself each week just in case I get the chance to play.”
Thanks to a bye week, McCloskey has had extra time to get ready.
“That’s been a huge help,” he said. “I got four or five extra practices and more time in the film room. It kind of happened at the perfect time that I could make a full progression all the way through for two weeks instead of just having three or four practices to prepare.”
McCloskey played the entire second half in a 30-8 loss at top-ranked James Madison two weeks ago. He capped an 18-play, 79-yard drive in the second half with the first touchdown pass of his career, a fouryard strike to tight end Todd Summers. McCloskey only completed 2 of 7 passes for 15 yards and one interception, but did carry the ball 16 times for 43 yards.
“It was great to get some experience in the second half against JMU,” McCloskey said. “Get those first couple of hits out of the way so I think I’ll be ready Saturday.”
It’s not the way McCloskey wanted to become a starter, but he can’t worry about that now. The Wildcats are still very much alive in the FCS playoff hunt and face three ranked foes in their last four games. After Elon, the Wildcats play No. 19 Richmond next week, Rhode Island and then close out the season against No. 23 Delaware.
The good news is that all the games against ranked opponents are at home.
“I wish ZB was still healthy and I wish he were playing,” McCloskey said, “but I’m going to take advantage of my opportunity and play to the best of my abilities. I’m going to give it everything I have.”
McCloskey comes from good bloodlines. His father, Mike, was a tight end at Penn State and played four years in the NFL with the Eagles and the Houston Oilers. His mother, Mimi, ran track at Penn State. His sister, Megan is on the track team at Penn State.
Kyle was the first player in the Philadelphia area to throw for 3,000 yards in football and score 1,000 points in basketball.
“As he showed in the James Madison game he can pull it down and run with it, and be pretty aggressive with that,” Ferrante said. “He just gives us a guy that we feel a little more confident in, going into the Elon game.”
In other action this weekend: WIDENER AT STEVENSON » The Pride (5-2, 5-1 MAC) are back in action after a bye week and need a win over the Mustangs (4-3, 4-2) to stay in the league championship hunt when they travel to Maryland for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
Although Widener leads the all-time series (4-2), Stevenson has won the last two meetings by a combined score of 7641. The Mustangs have one of the top passing attacks in Division III (No. 13, 322.3 yards per game).
Quarterback Daniel Williams ranks 14th in total passing yards (2,095) and passing yards per game (299.3). Wide receiver Preston Addo ranks seventh nationally in receiving yards (832) and eighth in receiving yards per game (118.9).
Widener’s defense, though, is 16th in points allowed (12.4 ppg.) and sacks per game (3.29). Defensive back Jordan Powell leads Division III with four defensive scores.
The Pride is also going for win No. 700 in program history. Widener would become the fourth Division III program to reach that milestone and the 35th in NCAA history in all divisions. CHEYNEY AT MILLERSVILLE » The Wolves (1-7, 0-5 PSAC East) have lost seven in a row and have been outscored 25438 in league play.
The Marauders (3-5, 2-3) had a two-game winning streak snapped in a 51-14 loss to Shippensburg last week. Kickoff is 4 p.m. VIRGINIA A&M AT WILLIAMSON » The Mechanics (3-4) look to snap a three-game losing streak when they host the Gators (2-4) in their season finale. Kickoff is 1 p.m.
One bright spot for Williamson has been the play of receivers Darnell Wideman (STEM/ Chester) and DeJuan Outlaw. Both are averaging over 20 yards per receptions.