From the Other Side: UNH Head Coach Rick Santos Previews Villanova Matchup

CAA head coaches held their weekly media availability on Monday, Sept. 29, recapping their weekend games and preparing for the week ahead. New Hampshire head coach Rick Santos, who will host No. 18 Villanova Football at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4, gave an idea of what the visitors will face when he discussed his team’s performance last week.

Santos spoke at length about his defense, which powered New Hampshire (3-2, 1-0 CAA) to a 24-6 win over Albany, praising their ability to finish tackles and stop the run despite a young group of linebackers. Facing Villanova (2-2, 1-1 CAA) tailback David Avit, the CAA Offensive Rookie of the Year last season and the proud owner of six touchdowns in his last two games, that matchup could tip the scale in either side’s favor. Santos alluded to that when discussing his team’s tackling.

“We have to tackle extremely well this week,” Santos said. “We’ve got to make sure that we’re really disciplined with our eyes in the second and third level.”

Villanova head coach Mark Ferrante, for his part, praised New Hampshire’s tough identity under Santos’ leadership.

“Yeah, they’re always going to be physical, Coach Santos and his staff up there. They’re always going to play hard,” Ferrante said. “They always have we’re tougher than you mentality.”

Throwback Football

Speaking about his offense, Santos praised New Hampshire’s ability to hang on to the football, chewing more than 15 minutes off the clock with their first two drives of the game. Villanova’s defense has struggled to get off the field this season, so that could turn into another critical matchup: expect gritty ground-and-pound offense on Saturday as both teams try to establish their identity.

Santos said that Villanova’s 3-3-5 base defense helps them disguise their plan of attack, and that that starts up front with their defensive line.

“I mean, just extremely well coached like they always are with Coach Ferrante. You look at it from a defense perspective, it’s always tough with that 3-3 stack. I think based on their personnel, they can make it look like a four down front, present as a three down front, very stout up front,” Santos said. “That’s one thing you always know about them. Their defensive line, physically imposing, long body guys. Do a great job against the run.”