Villanova Football Drops Lafayette Behind McQuaide and Bursey

Villanova Football won their third game in a row on Saturday, Oct. 31, beating Lafayette 44-21 on the road with their best passing performance of the season.

Quarterback Pat McQuaide completed 23 of 32 passes for 293 yards and two touchdowns, finding Brandon Binkowski for a 49-yard score in the first quarter that gave the Wildcats (5-4, 4-2 Patriot League) a lead they never relinquished. Sophomore linebacker Omari Bursey pushed the lead to 17-7 three plays later, intercepting an attempted screen pass and returning it 27 yards to the house.

After two Leopards three-and-outs, Villanova running back Ja’briel Mace led the way on a 12-play drive that saw him gain 53 yards, including a one-yard dive on the final play after Nolan Clayton got downed before the goal line on a deep pass. Junior Chris Colby starred on the next drive as McQuaide spread the ball around, hauling in a 25-yard pass to set up his 18-yard touchdown, one that gave the Wildcats a 31-14 lead at the break.

Villanova’s offense slowed down in the second half, but managed to stay just out of reach with a pair of field goals; trailing 37-21 with 11 minutes to play, Lafayette tried to convert a fourth-and-6 in Wildcats’ territory, but Bursey sacked quarterback Eddie Jordan to get the ball back. Running back Isaiah Ragland led the way on the ensuing drive, burning up the clock and notching his own one-yard touchdown: true freshman quarterback Nolan DiLucia also got some snaps.

Up next, Villanova will host Richmond at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7, a game with critical postseason implications for the Wildcats.