Nov 9, 2002

Final Stats

BROOKLINE, Mass. (AP) - Tim Gale rushed for 123 yards and three touchdowns as Northeastern beat Villanova 38-13 Saturday, tying the school record with its eighth win of the season.

The Huskies (8-2, 5-2 Atlantic 10) matched their single-season mark for wins, set in 1963 and 1997, and enhanced their chances of qualifying for the 1-AA playoffs for the first time.

Villanova (7-3, 4-3) wasted a good performance by Brett Gordon, who threw for 310 yards on 30-of-44 passing.

Northeastern took a 7-0 lead when Art Smith returned the opening kickoff 100 yards. Villanova tied the game at 7-7 on a 13-play, 77-yard drive capped by a 5-yard pass from Gordon to Brian White.

Northeastern took control with a 21-point second quarter. Gale sandwiched TD runs of 4 and 3 yards around a 90-yard interception return by Neil Anderson.

A 33-yard field goal by Miro Kesic increased the lead to 31-7. Shaz Brown scored for Villanova on an 8-yard pass from Gordon, but that was offset by Gale's third touchdown on a 34-yard burst in the fourth quarter.

Brown caught nine passes for 94 yards and a touchdown for Villanova.