Villanova Football Preview: Ground Game a Focus Against Morgan State

Villanova Football will wrap up their out-of-conference slate against Morgan State at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3, hosting the Bears (3-1) as they try to make it back above .500. The Wildcats (2-3, 1-2 Patriot League) have struggled mightily in the second half this season, and the Bears will give them one last chance to find their footing before the bulk of Patriot League play begins. As things stand right now, Villanova likely needs to run the table in order to feel good about a playoff spot: their loss to Colgate last week dropped them out of the Top 25 and, with only 24 playoff spots to go around, they’ll spend the rest of the season trying to dig themselves out of the hole that took just five weeks to create.

ESPN+ will carry the broadcast as the Wildcats try to generate positive momentum. For all their struggles, they enter as overwhelming favorites, listed at -579 on the money line and with a point spread of -11.5 per DraftKings; the over/under sits at 45.5.

Scouting the Bears

So far, Morgan State has taken care of business against CAA opponents like Towson and North Carolina A&T in FCS play; their lone loss came in the form of a buy game blowout at Arizona State. Looking at those two games, Bears quarterback Cameron Edge has completed 27 of 42 passes for 366 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.

With four carries for 12 yards, he isn’t much of a threat to run, but Morgan State does put a premium on the ground game. Running back Jordan Barnett (27 carries for 185 yards and two touchdowns) gets the majority of the touches; the Wildcats will also need to watch out for opportunistic explosive plays through the air, as leading receiver Joseph Towler has 144 yards and two touchdowns on just four catches. Justin Perry (seven catches for 127 yards and a score) is another candidate to break loose in the secondary, a unit that has given Villanova trouble so far this season.

The Bears averaged 3.5 sacks and six tackles for loss per game against their CAA opponents, so the Wildcats’ offensive line will need to keep Pat McQuaide clean. With just one turnover in two games, Villanova has a chance to play clean football… another one of their struggles through the first half of the season.

Scouting Villanova

After finding a rhythm late last season, veteran quarterback Pat McQuaide has struggled to keep the ball clean through five games this season, completing 79 of 131 passes for 1,069 yards, seven touchdowns and five interceptions. The Wildcats have lost four of their six fumbles, averaging nearly two committed turnovers per game. 

When they’re at their best, Villanova can rely on the two-headed backfield monster of Isaiah Ragland (57 carries for 269 yards and three touchdowns) and Ja’briel Mace (57 carries for 286 yards and two scores). They’re also able to take shots downfield behind receivers Brandon Binkowski (18 catches for 259 yards and a touchdown) and Jake Hilton (nine catches for 188 yards); slot receiver Braden Reed (24 catches for 288 yards and three scores) leads the team in receiving, and Mace (eight catches for 138 yards and three touchdowns) is another dangerous option out of the backfield.

The Wildcats have 32 tackles for loss through five games, shutting down opposing running backs — a potential major factor given the Bears’ tendency to run — but with just five sacks, they’ve struggled to get home to the quarterback.