Villanova Football Rolls Past William & Mary On the Legs of David Avit

VILLANOVA, Pa.— Villanova Football snapped a two game losing skid in their CAA home opener on Saturday, Sept. 27, knocking off William & Mary 31-24 behind a massive game from sophomore running back David Avit.

Avit had six carries and a reception all go for more than 10 yards, ending his day with 144 yards and three touchdowns on just 18 touches. Receiver Luke Colella added six catches for 88 yards, while Shane Hartzell picked up two quarterback sacks and 4 tackles for a loss, helping the Villanova (2-2, 1-1 CAA) defense rebound after 50 point outings against Penn State and Monmouth. Hartzell came up with the game clinching sack, touching William & Mary quarterback Tyler Hughes down as he slipped in the rain on the last play of the game.

The win extends the Wildcats’ home winning streak to 18 games, the second-best mark in college football.

William & Mary won the coin toss and elected to receive, but the Wildcats managed a stop near midfield. Taking over at their own eight, Villanova engineered a 92 yard touchdown drive with a quartet of chunk plays, including long completions to Braden Reed and Nolan Clayton.

Avit began the game with his hair on fire, carrying for 15 and 16 yard gains. The latter play saw him chased out of bounds at the goal line, but he put the Wildcats in front with a one-yard dive on the ensuing play.

William & Mary marched downfield in response as the Wildcats’ defense struggled to contain Hughes.

Villanova Settles In

The Tribe surged in front 14-7 with consecutive touchdowns, a ten-yard screen pass to Tariq Sims and a one-yard keeper from Hughes as Villanova’s offense stalled out. The Wildcats’ playmakers woke up midway through the second quarter as quarterback Pat McQuaide found Luke Colella for completions of 23 and 14 yards, the latter on third-and-long, which set up Avit to rumble into the end zone from 15 yards out.

The Wildcats slowed down Hughes and held William & Mary to a field goal, but couldn’t respond with the own score despite driving deep into Tribe territory before the end of the half. An offensive pass interference penalty on Colella on the penultimate play of the second quarter pushed them out of kicker Jack Barnum’s range: his 56-yard try went short and wide.

Running back Ja’Briel Mace began the third quarter with the sixth 100-yard kickoff return in Wildcats history, giving the home team their first lead of the afternoon. They never relinquished it. Villanova’s defense set the tone for the second half with a three-and-out and, although both Avit and second string running back Isaiah Ragland ran with authority on the following possession, the Tribe limited them to a 43-yard field goal to push the lead to 24-17.

Shane Hartzell sacked Hughes on third down to give Villanova the ball back and the Wildcats continued to dink-and-dunk down the field, culminating in a three-yard touchdown from Avit. William & Mary scored on another Hughes keeper to make it 31-24 and, while the Wildcats burned the clock down to 1:05, Barnum’s 36-yard field goal try sailed wide and gave the Tribe one last drive, setting up Hartzell’s heroics.

Villanova Football will continue their season at New Hampshire on Saturday, Oct. 4, with the opening kickoff set for 1 p.m.