Villanova Preview: Can ‘Cats Shut Down Talented Freshman QB?

After taking their bye week last week, Villanova Football will begin their final run of the 2025 regular season when they travel to face Towson at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8.

Winners of their last five games, the No. 8/No. 10 Wildcats (6-2, 5-1 CAA) currently occupy the third spot in the CAA, needing one loss from Rhode Island and two from Monmouth — in addition to beating Towson and Stony Brook — in order to win the CAA Championship in their final season in the conference. 

Towson holds a 4-5 record (2-3 CAA) and have shown alternating flashes of brilliance and moments of inexperience under true freshman quarterback Andrew Indorf, who put on the best performance of his young career after receiving a vote of confidence from head coach Pete Shinnick last week.

Indorf’s youth against veteran Villanova quarterback Pat McQuaide as the two face off against each their team’s respective 3-3-5 defenses could turn into the deciding factor in this conference matchup. While the top ten Wildcats are a far superior team on paper, oddsmakers expect a close game out of the bye week: FanDuel sets the point spread at -7.5, although Villanova (-295) is a heavy money line favorite; the over/under sits at 52.5.

FloCollege holds the telecasting rights for this game. Fans can also tune in to Villanova Sports Radio Network on iHeart Radio or 89.1 on the FM band.

Scouting the Tigers

Although Shinnick pulled Indorf from the Tigers’ loss against Stony Brook after a shaky first half, he went back to the true freshman against North Carolina A&T last week. Once again, Indorf didn’t play a full 60 minutes… but this time, it was because he blew the door off the Aggies, building up a 42-3 halftime lead.

Indorf has completed 141 of 230 pass attempts this season for 1,796 yards, 11 touchdowns and three interceptions, an excellent performance for a 19-year-old in his first nine games at the Division I level. Jaceon Doss is the Tigers’ leading receiver, a deep threat with 24 catches for 616 yards and five touchdowns, but John Dunmore (42 catches for 525 yards and five touchdowns) is hot on his heels.

The Tigers also have a two-headed monster at running back, with Al Wooten II (93 carries, 337 yards and four touchdowns) splitting time with Kemarrion Battles (64 carries, 287 yards and two touchdowns). 

Towson’s offense runs through Indorf, so the Wildcats can’t get too comfortable playing with the lead. They haven’t gotten to the passer much this season, with just nine sacks in 11 games, but do well to stop the run and have 36 tackles for loss.

Scouting the Wildcats 

Villanova Football, meanwhile, shows more balance on offense. Running back David Avit powers the Wildcats offense with 119 carries for 667 yards and eight touchdowns this season, but Isaiah Ragland (99 carries, 324 yards and a touchdown) gets short yardage snaps and Ja’briel Mace has big play potential with five total touchdowns, two of them on kickoff returns.

McQuaide captains the offense and has completed 130 of 206 passing attempts this season, picking up 1,727 yards and 13 touchdowns to just two interceptions in a career year. Fellow transfer Luke Colella is McQuaide’s leading target, hauling in 47 passes for 737 yards and five touchdowns for an average of more than 92 yards per game. The Wildcats will play without veteran center Jake Picard, a preseason All-CAA pick who is out for the season due to injury.