Hamilton, NY – Collegefootballfan.com attended the opener of college football’s 150th season (our 40th) as Villanova knocked off No. 9 FCS Colgate, 34-14. Wildcat QB Daniel Smith, a former starting QB from Campbell, threw for 205 yards and three TDS. The Villanova defense sacked Colgate QB Grant Brenneman four times and applied pressure through gaps in the Colgate line seemingly at will. They held the Red Raider offense to 288 total yards.
Second period lightning strike
The two teams held each other scoreless during the first period. However, in the second, Smith opened the scoring early as his run-pass option fake around left end drew in two Red Raider defenders to leave RB Jalen Jackson wide open down the left sideline for an 18-yard scoring pass. Less than a minute later, the Cats struck again quickly as DB Jaquan Amos picked off Brenneman’s pass, under pressure from LB Forrest Rhyne, past the line of scrimmage and returned it 27 yards for a sudden 14-0 Wildcat lead.
Armor leg didn’t help
Colgate’s most effective weapon this day turned out to be Punter Barney Amor’s leg. His booming spirals averaged 50.6 yards on the day to keep ‘Nova deep in its own territory. Despite Armor’s performance, ‘Gate could not keep ‘Nova out of the end zone. Later in the second, WR Changa Hodge hauled in a 45-yard catch over the shoulder beating the Raiders pre-season All American DB Abu Daramy-Swaray for a touchdown. With only twelve seconds left in the first half, Davis tossed his third scoring pass for 15 yards to wide open WR Andrew Perez (Seton Hall Prep) for a dominant 27-0 halftime lead.
Cocktail time
My Colgate host and die-hard Colgate season ticket holder, Sam Cooper, and other Guest Game Analysts Bruce and Skip headed back to the parking lot for a cocktail at halftime to relieve their frustrations. They were unsure if they would return. Red Raider fans got spoiled last season by the Red Raiders fantastic 10-2 season, a home playoff FCS victory over James Madison, and an FCS-leading defense that allowed 9.3 points per game. Villanova had already put up 27. They didn’t expect this despite some key losses to graduation. Of the 4,519 fans in attendance, Villanova had a strong turnout.
Third period
By the time these shocked Red Raider fans returned to their seats, their defense had halted a Villanova drive and drove 68 yards for their first score. Brenneman connected with WR Nick Draught to finish the drive with a ten-yard scoring pass. Before the third ended, the Red Raiders forced a second turnover on downs and took over from their 23. A 38-yard “escape” by TB Mailk Twyman and a pass to long pass to TE Nick Diaco put ‘Gate at ‘Nova’s as the third expired.
Maybe a comeback?
Early in the final period, Brenneman faked a dive to the TB and dove in from the one to cut the Wildcat lead, 27-14. Our GGA’s all agreed the Raiders had to stop the Cats once again and get quick score by using the clock efficiently to have a chance to pull this out. Instead, Villanova controlled the ball with the help of some costly and repetitive offsides penalties. With 8:41 remaining, Smith ran an effective quarterback draw at the Colgate nine to take back the 20-point lead. The Raiders could not sustain its next drive. The Wildcats held on to keep the score intact even though HC Dan Hunt kept Brenneman and other starters on the field until the bitter end, 34-14.
Next!
Villanova awaits its home opener on September 7 when they host another Patriot League team, Lehigh, under its new HC Tom Gilmore. No let-up for Colgate though as they fly out to Colorado Springs to face FBS Air Force and its triple-option offense. Hopefully Colgate HC Dan Hunt started prepping his defense for this during the weeks leading up to this opener. Two weeks later, the Red Raiders very ambitious non-conference schedule continues at William and Mary, followed by 2018 FCS semi-finalist Maine at home, and then on to Ivy runner-up Dartmouth, 9-1 a year ago. Patriot League play starts after that for which Colgate is the anonymous choice to win it all. Sam Cooper is banking on it. In the infinite wisdom coined by Lee Corso, after what we saw yesterday, “Not so fast, my friend!” However, Surely Dan Hunt sees where improvements will have to be made and will start working on them right away.
Speaking of ambitious schedules
For CFF.com, we plan to travel to Long Island this Thursday night to see another Colonial Conference member, Stony Brook, host NEC member, Bryant University, on our slate for the first time. The Seawolves return eight starters on defense while the Bulldogs feature WR Jean Constant, returning first-team FCS return man. The next evening, we will watch UMass under its new HC Walt Bell try to build something out of the Minutemen’s 4-8 season a year ago after graduating some of the team’s best talent against Rutgers. Coming off an 1-11 season and sporting a 7-29 record after three years, HC Chris Ash sits on the proverbial hot seat. Then on Saturday at 4 pm, we are at Chestnut Hill, MA for an ACC match when Boston College takes on Virginia Tech. Toughness against quickness in this one. On Sunday, we top off the weekend with a South Carolina Gamecock wedding in New Hampshire of all places. Congratulations to Jocelyn and her husband to be!
Not sure when this report will be out as Monday (Labor Day) is going to be a long trip to get back to give you all the updates on these. Check back with us Wednesday. Two games follow the next weekend including Buffalo at Penn State on Saturday, September 7. We’re keeping pace to be sure our Game 600 takes place this October 19!