COMPLETE COVERAGE OF SATURDAY'S GAME AT RHODE ISLAND

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Game Notes: Villanova | Rhode Island | CAA
Social Media: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook VILLANOVA, Pa.--Through the first eight games of the 2015 season, the Wildcats defense has been a consistent strong point for the team. Villanova (4-4, 3-2 CAA Football) looks to keep rolling on both sides of the ball when it visits Rhode Island (1-7, 1-4 CAA Football) for a 12:30 p.m. kickoff at Meade Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The game can be heard live on 610 SPORTS (WTEL-AM), with Ryan Fannon and Kevin Reilly on the call.

Last week's 13-3 win over Maine marked the second time in the past three games that the Wildcats defense has not allowed a touchdown. Villanova leads CAA Football in scoring defense by allowing just 17.6 points per game on the season, and a big reason why is the Wildcats defense in the red zone. Villanova ranks second in the nation in red zone defense and has allowed the opposition to score on just 12 of 23 red zone possessions (52 percent). That figure includes allowing a touchdown on just 35 percent (8 of 23) of those possessions, while the Wildcats have also forced four turnovers in the red zone.

Junior defensive lineman Tanoh Kpassagnon (Ambler, Pa.) has been a big part of the team's defensive success of late. He had three tackles, including a sack, and registered his first forced fumble of the season in the win over Maine last week. Kpassagnon leads the team with 5.5 sacks this season and he also has recorded an interception, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick. Senior linebacker Don Cherry (Trumbull, Conn.) and junior Austin Calitro (Danbury, Conn.) top Villanova with 69 and 68 tackles, respectively.

Aside from the strong defensive effort, the Wildcats also had a dominant rushing attack against Maine last week. Redshirt freshman quarterback Zach Bednarczyk (Wallington, N.J.) ran for over 100 yards for the first time in his career and finished the night with 18 carries for 123 yards and a touchdown. He was also 12-of-21 passing for 143 yards and a score, with a 64-yard pass for a touchdown to senior wide receiver Aaron Wells (Ellicott City, Md.) accounting for the game's first points midway through the opening period. Senior running back Gary Underwood (Cincinnati, Ohio) added a season-high 92 rushing yards on 21 carries.

Villanova has had a great deal of success against the Rams over the years and enters Saturday's meeting with a 17-3 record in the all-time series. In last year's game at Villanova Stadium, the Wildcats scored six touchdowns and led 44-0 in the fourth quarter before Rhode Island got on the board with three late touchdowns. Villanova also was victorious in its last trip to Meade Stadium, having posted a 45-0 victory there on November 9, 2013.

A milestone will occur this weekend as soon as the game between the Wildcats and the Rams kicks off. Villanova head coach Andy Talley will be coaching his 400th career game on Saturday, including his 31 years with the Wildcats and five previous seasons at St. Lawrence. Talley enters the weekend with a 247-150-2 (.622) career record, including 219-132-1 (.624) at Villanova. He is one of six active coaches at all levels of college football to have over 200 wins at his current school. Talley is also the all-time CAA Football leader in conference games with 135 career league wins.

The game against Rhode Island on Saturday will mark the third road contest in the past four weeks for the Wildcats, who had played three straight at home prior to this stretch. Villanova returns home on November 14 to host Richmond in its annual Homecoming game at 3:30 p.m. The contest will mark the Wildcats first Homecoming game to be played in the month of November since 1996.