No. 18 Villanova Football Runs Over New Hampshire 37-7

No. 18 Villanova Football picked up their first road win of the 2025 season when they dismantled the New Hampshire Wildcats 37-7 on Saturday, Oct. 4.

Sophomore tailback Ja’briel Mace, who burst onto the scene against William & Mary with CAA Special Teams Player of the Week honors, continued to flash his home run ability with three carries for 34 yards and three touchdowns, finding the end zone every time he received a handoff. 

Veteran wide receiver Luke Colella hauled in nine passes for 139 yards, a career high, while running back David Avit added another touchdown, a 34-yard burst on Villanova’s (3-2, 2-1 CAA) first offensive play of the game. The star sophomore went on to clear the century mark for the third game in a row as the Wildcats’ didn’t log a single punt for the first time since Nov. 1, 2008.

Avit’s touchdown came on the heels of an interception from Anthony Hawkins, who lurked in coverage underneath where New Hampshire quarterback Matt Vezza couldn’t see him. Vezza got a lick back on the following drive, taking it himself for a 35-yard touchdown off a read option.

Villanova Hits Their Stride

After allowing 87 yards on New Hampshire’s first two drives, Villanova’s defense tightened to allow just 120 the rest of the way. New Hampshire converted just four of 11 third downs and failed their lone fourth down attempt, while defensive lineman Ugo Nwotite contributed a pair of sacks.

Mace did his best David Avit impression in the second quarter, scoring a 31-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage, then added a 2-yard score later in the quarter.

Obinna Nwobodo and Nwotite sacked Vezza on consecutive plays late in the half, pushing New Hampshire out of field goal range and giving Villanova another possession.  The drive showed promise with a 46-yard completion from quarterback Pat McQuaide to Colella that put Villanova in the red zone, but three straight incompletions queued a Jack Barnum field goal that made it 24-7.

The Wildcats came up half a yard short on a fourth down fake punt try out of the half, but the gamble didn’t backfire after New Hampshire missed a field goal. Mace made it 31-7 on a 1-yard shimmy off a direct snap early in the fourth quarter, then Isaiah Wright joined the fun with a late touchdown of his own as Villanova burned up the clock; Barnum missed his second kick of the day on the ensuing PAT.

Up next, Villanova Football will travel to North Carolina to face Elon, with that game set for 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18.