Villanova's Justin Covington
CAA Football Rewind - Sept. 21
Rob Washburn
Villanova 52, Towson 45 (ot)
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Highlights
Quarterback Daniel Smith contributed 349 yards of total offense and six touchdowns as Villanova (4-0, 1-0 CAA) pulled out a dramatic 52-45 overtime win at Towson in a battle of nationally ranked teams. Smith guided the Wildcats on a 65-yard drive in the final two mintues of regulation to set up a 45-yard field by Drew Kresge that tied the game at 45-45. In overtime, he scored on a 2-yard run to put VU up 52-45, and the Wildcats' defense was able to stop Towson on 4th-and-1 from the 7-yard line to end the game. Smith passed for 279 yards and 4 TD's and added 70 yards on the ground. VU's Justin Covington topped the 100-yard mark for the fourth straight game with a career-high 194 yards and a TD on 27 carries. Towson (3-1, 1-1 CAA) trailed 42-28 early in the fourth quarter before storming back to take the lead. Yeedee Thaenrat scored from 1-yard out with 9:08 to go and linebacker Robert Heyward intercepted a pass and returned it 49 yards for a game-tying TD less than a minute later. Aidan O'Neill put the Tigers ahead on a 34-yard field goal with 1:52 to play in regulaton. Tigers' quarterback Tom Flacco passed for 304 yards and a TD and ran for a team-best 110 yards and a TD on 13 carries. Shane Leatherbury caught five passes for 118 yards.
New Hampshire 27, Rhode Island 24
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Jason Hughes kicked a game-winning 29-yard field goal as time expired to lift New Hampshire (1-2, 1-0 CAA) to a 27-24 victory over Rhode Island. The Rams (0-3, 0-2), who trailed 24-10 early in the fourth quarter, drove 77 yards in 13 plays and tied the game at 24-24 on a 2-yard TD run by Zoe Bryant with 1:30 remaining. UNH freshman quarterback Max Brosmer responded by guiding the Wildcats 60 yards on seven plays, including a big 40-yard pass to Brian Espanet that set up Hughes' game-winning kick. Brosmer threw for 184 yards and 2 TD's and also ran for 11 yards and a score, while Evan Gray rushed for 123 yards on only seven carries. Rhode Island quarterback Vito Priore completed 28-of-38 passes for 312 yards and a TD. The Rams also got big nights from receivers Aaron Parker (9 rec., 144 yds.) and Isaiah Coulter (10 rec., 105, yds., 1 TD).
Maine 35, Colgate 21
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Earnest Edwards accounted for 256 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns to lead Maine (2-2, 0-1 CAA) to a 35-21 victory at Colgate. Edwards broke his own school record with 198 kick return yards, including returns of 100 and 95 yards for scores in the third quarter, and also had a 40-yard TD catch in the second quarter that gave the Black Bears a 21-7 halftime lead. Maine also got a big game from Joe Fitzpatrick, who rushed for 102 yards and a TD on 16 carries. Maine's defense recorded eight sacks in the game, which was its most since 2012. Max Roberts led the way with 2.5 sacks and Kayon Whitaker contributed a pair of sacks. Linebacker Taji Lowe made a career-high 12 tackles.
Delaware 28, Penn 27
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Quarterback Nolan Henderson completed 20-of-29 passes for a career-high 260 yards and three touchdowns as Delaware (3-1, 1-0 CAA) rallied past Penn, 28-27. The Blue Hens trailed 21-7 early in the third quarter, but pulled even as Henderson hit Gene Coleman with an 11-yard TD pass and found Bryce De Maille on a 17-yard scoring strike. Delaware took a 28-21 advantage on Will Knight's 6-yard TD run with 7:36 remaining. With just 2:24 to play, Penn blocked a punt and returned it 69 yards for a TD, but the Hens' defense was able to force a bad throw on a 2-point conversion attempt. UD receiver Thyrick Pitts finished with five catches for 128 yards, while Kedrick Whitehead paced the Blue Hens' defense with a career-high 14 tackles.
UAlbany 36, Lafayette 7
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Quarterback Jeff Undercuffler passed for 212 yards and four touchdowns as UAlbany (2-2, 0-0 CAA) cruised past Lafayette, 36-7. The Great Danes got off to a fast start as Donovan McDonald returned the opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown, setting a new program record. Undercuffler took over from there, throwing two TD's in each half to four different receivers. Running back Karl Mofor also had a big afternoon, rushing for a career-high 135 yards on 25 carries and making four catches for 58 yards and a TD. UAlbany's defense forced a pair of turnovers and only allowed a third-quarter TD. AJ Mistler had nine tackles, a sack and a forced fumble, while Eli Mencer had 2.5 tackles for loss.
James Madison 37, Chattanooga 14
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Quarterback Ben DiNucci contributed 313 yards of total offense as James Madison (3-1, 0-0 CAA) pulled away for a 37-14 road win at Chattanooga. DiNucci completed 19-of-25 passes for 264 yards and a TD, while Percy Ajyei-Obese rushed for a career-high 114 yards and 2 TD's on 19 carries. The Dukes took a quick 14-0 lead, but the Mocs drew even with a pair of TD's in the final minute of the first quarter. Three field goals by Ethan Ratke, including two over 40 yards, pushed JMU ahead 23-14 before DiNucci connected on a 48-yard scoring strike to Brandon Polk that put the Dukes in control. JMU's defense limited Chattanooga to 245 total yards and pitched a shutout for the final three quarters. Dimitri Holloway made a team-high seven stops, Ron'Dell Carter had 2.5 tackles for loss and D'Angelo Amos contributed a key interception that ended a Chattanooga drive in the third quarter.
Stony Brook 45, Fordham 10
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Stony Brook (3-1, 0-0 CAA) exploded for 601 yards of offense, including 368 on the ground, in a 45-10 triumph over Fordham. Quarterback Tyquell Fields completed 9-of-12 passes for 232 yards and 3 TD's, while the Seawolves had a pair of 100-yard rushers as Seba Nehket tallied a career-high 182 yards and 2 TD's on 20 carries and Isaiah White added 132 yards on 12 attempts. Stony Brook led 10-3 in the second quarter when Fields tossed a pair of TD passes to Isaiah Givens that put the Seawolves in command. Stony Brook's defense held Fordham to 223 total yards, including just 38 on the ground. Augie Contressa had 3.0 tackles for loss, including a sack. It was the 12th straight home win for Stony Brook.
Wake Forest 49, Elon 7
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Unbeaten Wake Forest rolled up 607 yards of total offense and defeated Elon, 49-7. The Phoenix (2-2, 1-0 CAA) got on the board late in the first quarter as Davis Cheek connected with Avery Jones on a 40-yard touchdown pass that trimmed the Elon deficit to 14-7. The Demon Deacons extended their advantage to 28-7 at the break and Elon was unable to score in the final 30 minutes. Cheek finished 9-of-18 for 74 yards and a TD, while DeSean McNair rushed for a team-high 49 yards. Defensively, Daniel Reid-Bennett recorded a career-high 13 tackles and an interception.
East Carolina 19, William & Mary 7
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Despite a strong effort from its defense, William & Mary dropped a 19-7 decision at East Carolina. The Tribe (2-2, 0-0 CAA) fell behind 7-0, but drew even midway through the second quarter on a 20-yard TD run by Tyler Crist. W&M's defense kept the Pirates out of the end zone the rest of the way, giving up four field goals. Crist ran for a team-high 52 yards and Owen Wright added 41. Quarterback Kilton Anderson came off the bench and passed for 94 yards, with Kane Everson making five receptions for 42 yards. Isaiah Laster made a team-best 10 tackles, while Gavin Johnson contributed nine tackles, a sack and a forced fumble.