Villanova Football’s Late-Game Luck Stays Sour in Loss to Morgan State

Villanova Football dropped to 2-4 (1-2 Patriot League) on the season on Saturday, Oct. 3, kicker Dominic LeBlanc’s 47-yard attempt at a game-tying field goal sailing wide right as time expired in the Wildcats’ 38-35 home loss to Morgan State. The loss will likely keep the Wildcats out of the FCS playoffs this season and is their third loss decided on the final drive.

Villanova fell behind 17-7 in the first half as the Bears scored on each of their first three drives; the Wildcats found the end zone on a one-yard tote from Isaiah Ragland — his first of three touchdowns on the day — tying the game 7-7 midway through the first, but Morgan State pulled in front on a 45-yard catch-and-run. Wildcats’ quarterback Pat McQuaide threw an interception on a tipped pass during the following drive, setting the Bears up to tack on a field goal.

The Wildcats traded scoring drives with Morgan State on either side of the break, closing the gap to three points on another Ragland run before a 19-yard touchdown pass put the Bears in front 24-14 at the break. After his defense forced a three-and-out to open the second half, Villanova running back Ja’briel Mace amassed 71 yards on six touches, giving the Wildcats first-and-goal from the 1-yard line after a 42-yard snag before punching the ball into the end zone on the following play.

Back and Forth Blows

Ragland converted a fourth-and-1 to open the final quarter, then broke free for a 22-yard touchdown that gave Villanova their first lead of the day and setting off a frantic sequence that saw three touchdowns in six plays; Morgan State needed two plays to answer with a 64-yard deep shot from Cameron Edge to Joseph Towler, and Mace reeled off a 52-yard run that put the Wildcats back in front. 

Jamie Tyson intercepted Edge in the red zone with 2:45 to play, but a false start and a sack led to a three-and-out when Villanova could’ve run out the clock. Edge punched in the go-ahead score with a two-yard carry with 36 seconds to play and, although McQuaide set up LeBlanc at the Morgan State 30-yard line with a clinical hurry-up drive, the Wildcats couldn’t tie the game. 

Up next, Villanova will travel to face Fordham at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17.