Villanova Football Drops Brutal Matchup With No. 24 Louisville

Villanova Football traveled to face nationally-ranked Louisville on Friday, Sept. 11, a game that the No. 24 Cardinals won 59-13; the Wildcats (1-2, 1-1 Patriot League) showed signs of being able to go blow for blow with Louisville in the first quarter, holding them to a field goal on the opening drive after forcing a pair of incomplete passes.

The Wildcats (No. 18/No. 21 FCS) embarked on a long scoring drive of their own, using 12 plays to burn nearly six minutes off the clock, but quarterback Pat McQuaide missed Chris Colby in the end zone on third down, and Villanova had to settle for a 35-yard kick from Dominic LeBlanc. Louisville stormed downfield in response, quarterback Lincoln Kienholz completing a 34-yard pass before dashing to the end zone himself from 19 yards out.

Facing third-and-1 on the ensuing drive, Villanova turned to reserve quarterback Dylan Mills, their best mobile option. Mills got stuffed, the Wildcats punted, and Louisville pushed their lead to 17-3 on a short pass that tight end Jaleel Skinner took 69 yards to the house. Villanova answered on the first play of the second quarter, from a five wide formation: running back Ja’briel Mace ran a wheel route from the slot and hauled in a 65-yard touchdown pass… but the Cardinals also needed only two plays to score, quashing any hope of a rally.

Louisville led 31-10 at the half, adding two more touchdowns in the third quarter. A strip sack of McQuaide on the first drive of the fourth set up another quick touchdown, queuing both teams to rotate in their backups and giving true freshman quarterback Nolan DiLucia the first snaps of his career.

Villanova will return to action on the road against LIU at 12 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19.