CAA Football Recap - Dec. 6
Rob Washburn
Villanova 14, Lehigh 7
Box Score
Braden Reed caught a game-winning 28-yard touchdown pass from Pat McQuaide with 2:56 remaining and Villanova’s defense delivered big plays all afternoon as the No. 12 Wildcats rallied for a 14-7 victory at No. 5 Lehigh in the second round of the FCS playoffs. Villanova moves on to the quarterfinals for the third time in five years and will face Tarleton State.
The Villanova defense held a Lehigh offense that was averaging 33.8 points per game to a season-low seven points and forced the first two fumbles of the season by the Mountain Hawks’ offense, including one knocked free by Obinna Nwobodo and recovered by Shane Hartzell on the VU 11-yard line with 1:49 remaining.
Both defenses dominated in a scoreless opening half. Villanova’s Anthony Hawkins came up with the huge play of the half, stopping a Lehigh fake field goal attempt on its opening drive of the game.
The Mountain Hawks went on top, 7-0, after driving 75 yards on their first drive of the third quarter. Villanova was able to draw even on a 1-yard TD run by Ja’briel Mace with 2:29 left in the period. The drive was set up after Richie Kimmel forced a fumble that was recovered by Josh Oluremi, setting the Wildcats up on the VU 41-yard line.
Villanova’s offense, which was held to 238 yards in the game, was able to put a drive together late in the fourth quarter. McQuaide connected on a 12-yard pass to Luke Colella before firing the 28-yard scoring strike to Reed on a crossing route to make it 14-7. Lehigh drove to the VU 14-yard line on the ensuing possession before Hartzell’s fumble recovery and then ran out the clock.
McQuaide finished 18-of-28 passing for 208 yards, with Colella making eight catches for 71 yards and Reed adding three grabs for 70 yards. Omar Bursey had a team-high eight tackles for the Wildcats and Hartzell added six stops and a sack.
MORE TO COME AS RHODE ISLAND FACES UC DAVIS TONIGHT