BRONX, N.Y.—Just over 11 minutes into the game the running back duo of seniors
Isaiah Ragland (Alexandria, Va.) and
Ja'briel Mace (Somers Point, N.J.) had each rushed four touchdowns already and Villanova (3-4, 2-2 Patriot League) was off to the races in a 38-17 victory over Fordham (2-6, 2-3) at Moglia Stadium at Jack Coffey Field on Saturday afternoon. Four touchdowns total before halftime set a tone for the Wildcats most complete game of the season as they won their eighth straight road game against an FCS opponent.
Sixth year quarterback
Pat McQuaide (Solon, Ohio) was 18-of-24 for 235 yards and two touchdowns and scored his first touchdown of the season on a four-yard run with eight seconds left before halftime. Over the last two games against Morgan State (October 3) and this afternoon, he is a combined 40-of-52 for 461 yards. McQuaide began the day ranked second in the Patriot League in both completion percentage (63.5%) and passing efficiency (141.03), both numbers which will improve after his latest performance. He topped 9,000 passing yards for his collegiate career during Saturday's game.
It was business as usual for Mace and Ragland, who combined for 22 carries and 153 yards on the ground. Mace rushed 13 times for 79 yards and Ragland ran nine times for 74 yards in addition to making two catches for another 27 yards. He surpassed 100 all-purpose yards for the third time this season and second game in a row. Even McQuaide had a 15-yard run as the trio of him and the two star running backs averaged 6.9 yards per carry.
After receiving the kickoff to open the second half, the Rams went three-and-out and had to punt less than two minutes into the third quarter. Sophomore wide receiver
Braden Reed (Pottstown, Pa.) returned that punt for 12 yards and then Villanova went seven plays and 55 yards on a scoring drive that culminated with a one-yard touchdown pass from McQuaide to fifth year running back
Julian Glantz (Scarsdale, N.Y.) who had a large contingent of family members in attendance for the game.
Two plays later, fifth year linebacker
Garrett Rogan (Mercer Island, Wash.) intercepted Fordham quarterback Gunnar Smith near midfield and the Wildcats went eight plays and 42 yards before junior kicker
Dominic LeBlanc (Dawsonville, Ga.) made a 25-yard field goal for a 38-10 advantage with 4:58 to play in the third quarter.
It would have been a tall task for the Rams to try and get back into the game from that point, but if there was a window it occurred in the fourth quarter when Smith scored on a three-yard run with 8:35 to play. Fordham attempted an on-side kick and Villanova was called for an offside penalty as the Rams set up for another offensive possession. They reached first-and-goal at the eight-yard line with just under five minutes to play, but four straight incomplete passes to the end zone turned the ball over on downs with the outcome well-secured.
Through the first half of Saturday's game, the Wildcats had only recorded six sacks and forced five turnovers all season. Villanova's defense then proceeded to tally four sacks and an interception on Fordham's first 10 snaps of the second half. Even more encouraging for the Wildcats: those five plays came from five different players. Senior defensive end
Capri Martin (Harlem, N.Y.), like Glantz playing as close to home as his collegiate career can get him, started the sequence with a sack on the first offensive play of the second half.
Junior defensive tackle
Ivan Murray Jr. (Paulsboro, N.J.) also had a sack on the opening drive of the second half before Rogan's interception shortly later. Sophomore defensive end
AJ Koukou (Havertown, Pa.) and junior cornerback
Newton Essiem (Frederick, Md.) had sacks later in the third quarter.
The game was the kind of defensive effort that Villanova needed. In the second and third quarters combined, the Wildcats allowed just 10 total passing yards and had as many sacks as the Rams had completions. Junior linebacker
Omari Bursey (Broomfield, Colo.) led all players with 14 tackles, his fourth double-digit game in seven outings this season and the third time he has had at least 14 total stops.
A rematch of last year's FCS playoffs awaits Villanova next week as it returns home to host Lehigh at 3:30 p.m. on Homecoming Weekend.
