Towson at Villanova, Mr. C's Official Game Thread

[Mr. C]

Game two of Mr. C's Philadelphia area doubleheader is on the Main Line where Villanova is hosting Towson for homecoming. I'm heading out of Franklin Field now to make the trip up Lancaster Avenue to Villanova Stadium.

For those wanting a bit of a preview on the VU-Towson game, check this story out at College Sports Journal:

http://www.college-sports-journal.com/index.php/ncaa-division-i-sports/fcs-football/475-after-loss-to-odu-towson-has-back-against-the-wall-at-villanova

Talk to you soon from Villanova.

[Mr. C]

Villanova and Towson traded TDs early in this one to make it a 7-7 game and Towson stopped VU on a three and out and then drove back down and just scored on a 22-yard strike from Grant Enders to Tom Ryan, who stretched it in for the score.

Towson 14, Villanova 7, 6:43 left in the first period.

[Mr. C]

Most people were expecting a defensive struggle between Villanova and Towson, but the offenses are shredding things. Norman White has made a couple of important catch and runs to get the Wildcats down to the TU 6.

[Mr. C]

10 plays, 80 yards on a TD drive for Villanova, with Kevin Monangui scored from six yards out on a screen pass. It was his second TD on a screen play, with the first one being from long range.

Villanova 14, Towson 14. 1:40 left in the first quarter.

[Mr. C]

Ronnie Akins thought he got away with a hold on TE James Oboh on a pass from the TU 18. A late flag nailed Akins, but the hold prevented a possible long touchdown.

[Mr. C]

Terrance West goes 78 yards for a TD catch, the longest of his career. Marlon Johnson lost contain after a near sack on Grant Enders and Enders found West. West was like a shark smelling blood when he got a step on the sideline.

[Mr. C]

On the kickoff, Akins was hit hard by Bryton Barr and the ball popped out and into the hands of Walter Dunston, who caught it on the fly. Towson ball at the VU 23.

[Mr. C]

As the second quarter starts, Enders makes a great read of his blocks and runs to the VU 14. 3rd and 1.

[Mr. C]

Enders made a huge bootleg fake on the third down and floated a pass to a wide-open Vaughan for the TD.

Towson 28, Villanova 14. 14:22 left before the half.

[Mr. C]

Villanova on the move again and its first down at the Wildcat 45.

[Mr. C]

Towson makes a couple of defensive plays and stops VU at the TU 48 on 3rd and 3. Big plays by Christian Carpenter and Telvion Clark (who had a pass breakup on the third-down pass) stopped the Wildcarts.

[Mr. C]

Enders threw a high pass in the middle and free safety Joe Sarnese took it 40 yards to the house. Unfortunately for the Cats, there was a chop block that wipes out the TD and moves the ball back to the VU 33.

[Mr. C]

30-yard catch for Joe Price on a pass from John Robertson takes the ball to the 8 for the Cats.

[Mr. C]

Robertson five yards on the bootleg run and it is Towson 28, Villanova 21, 9:56.

[Mr. C]

Towson is stopped, has to punt and Peppers nails a career-long 65-yard punt. VU ball at the 20.

[Mr. C]

KM for Villanova busts a run inside for 20 hard-fought yards. 1st down at the VU 45.

[Mr. C]

Robertson and KM with runs to the Towson 30.

[Mr. C]

Five yards pick up underneath for Norman White on a reception. 3rd and 7 and Dorian Wells gets lost and has a catch for 11 yards to the 16.

[Mr. C]

Flag pattern from Robertson to Joe Price, who runs a brilliant route for a 17-yard TD connection.

Villanova 28, Towson 28, 3:02 left in the half.

11 plays, 80 yards, 4:27 on the drive.

[Mr. C]

Towson has a nice drive going with a quick tempo in the final minute of the half and has moved to the VU 28 with 33 seconds left.

[Mr. C]

Completion for a 1st down to the 24 and another to the 11. Second time out for the Tigers with 17 seconds left.

[Mr. C]

Throwaway under pressure for Enders out of the end zone. 12 seconds left.

[Mr. C]

Enders misses an open Shepperd in the end zone. Third and 10 with 7 seconds left.

[Mr. C]

Fade route to Wilkins is perfectly thrown by Enders for an 11-yard touchdown.

12 plays, 73 yards, 2:55 on the drive.

Towson 35, Villanova 28 with two seconds left in the half.

[Mr. C]

Halftime after a squib kick to Dorian Wells.

[Nova09]

Fade route to Wilkins is perfectly thrown by Enders for an 11-yard touchdown.

12 plays, 73 yards, 2:55 on the drive.

Towson 35, Villanova 28 with two seconds left in the half.

Looked out from my seat. Thoughts?

[LetsGoNova]

Looked out from my seat. Thoughts?

My thought is that we better make some damn big halftime adjustments. Giving up 35 in a half to Towson--at home!--shouldn't happen. They are better than this.

[Mr. C]

Another poor kickoff return for Towson gives the Tigers the ball at the 14 to start the second half.

[Mr. C]

Three and out for Towson.

[Mr. C]

My thought is that we better make some damn big halftime adjustments. Giving up 35 in a half to Towson--at home!--shouldn't happen. They are better than this.

Towson has the ability to score like that. The Tigers just haven't executed this year before today.

[Mr. C]

Poppy Livers with a 50-yard punt return for VU to the 13.

[Mr. C]

Villanova had never had a punt return TD in Andy Talley's VU career until last week when Livers brought one back. We ribbed Talley this week that it was because of coaching.

[Mr. C]

Third and 2 from the 5 for Villanova a play fake by Robertson results in a TD pass to TE Earnest Pettway.

Villanova 35, Towson 35. 10:57 left

5 plays, 23 yards, 2:13 on the drive.

[Mr. C]

Towson returns the kick to the 26.

[Mr. C]

Nice throw from Enders to Blake in the seem for 34 yards to the VU 30.

[Mr. C]

Enders nearly loses the ball on a late zone read keep after a fake to West, but falls on it at the 24. Then he hits a 15-yard pass to the VU 4. 1st and goal.

[Mr. C]

West with another running TD. Soren got drilled on the PAT,

Towson 42, Villanova 35, 7:39 left in the third quarter.

[Mr. C]

Frank Beltre nails Robertson on a rush, but Robertson completes the pass to the VU 42 for a big first down.

[Mr. C]

Matt Morgan with a big sack to push VU out of scoring range. Punt to the Towson 36 after a big hit. 4:35 left.

[Mr. C]

14 carries for 108 yards and 2 TDs for Terrance West.

[Mr. C]

Ryan makes an incredible catch on the sideline, but it was called out bounds. Replay showed it was a catch in VU territory.

[Mr. C]

Enders with a nifty bunch of cuts as he runs to the VU 42. Ryan came up limping on a block.

[Mr. C]

Enders bursts up the middle for 40 yards and a TD. Towson 49, Villanova 35. 2:32 left.

64-yard drive.

[Mr. C]

Towson seems to be the team that has made the defensive adjustments this half, shutting VU down again. Towson ball at the 22 to start the next drive late in the third period.

[Mr. C]

After Three Periods

Towson 49
Villanova 35

[Mr. C]

West runs and then a nice throw to James Oboh takes Towson to the VU 35 after a 23-yard game.

Enders has 9 carries for 101 yards to complement West.

[Mr. C]

VU forces an Enders throwaway on third and 5 from the 30. 4th and 5 and Towson will go for it.

[Mr. C]

Enders had Wilkins open for a first down and the ball goes off Wilkins' right hand. Some discussion between QB and WR after the play. 12 minutes left.

[Mr. C]

Monangui is over 100 yards rushing, his third straight and fifth overall this season. First guy with three 100-yard rushing performances in a row since some guy named Brian Westbrook in 2001.

[Mr. C]

Tough coverage on third and 7 as Towson double-teams Norman White and breaks up a pass.

[Mr. C]

Villanova punts the ball back to Towson with 9:42 left. Tigers will start from the 21.

[Mr. C]

Towson didn't milk much clock and threw a couple of questionable passes before giving the ball back to Villanova with 6:47 left. VU ball at the Wildcat 20.

[Mr. C]

Robertson pass to Livers is broken up by Tye Smith and Christian Carpenter gets called for a hit on a defenseless player to take the ball into Tiger territory.

[Mr. C]

Another VU first down to the TU 39.

[Mr. C]

3rd and 3 from the 32 for VU.

[Mr. C]

A pass to Norman White is open briefly and Tye Smith makes a great breakup with help from Jordan Dangerfield. White is injured.

[Mr. C]

On fourth down, Brendon Gannon sacked Robertson for a 13-yard loss. Towson ball with under 5 minutes left.

[Mr. C]

VU calls a time out with 4:10 left. 3rd and 8.

[Mr. C]

Enders breaks tackles on a keeper and goes for a tough first down. That might be the ballgame.

[Mr. C]

Villanova's tackling has been very poor today and Enders breaks more tackles for a run to the 32. 2nd and 1. Booker is stopped short, 3rd and inches.

[Mr. C]

West is hit hard on the first down at the 30. He is banged up and is slow getting off the field after being down.

[Mr. C]

2:41 left and Towson can almost run things out at this point with 1st and 10 at the 30.

[Mr. C]

And Towson runs it down to zero.

Towson 49
Villanova 35

Final

[HailSzczur]

Wow we looked like ODU out there on defense today. Game came down to halftime adjustments. Towson D was able to come up with a 2nd half game plan for Robertson, while the Nova D didn't seem to change anything. Congrats to Towson on the win.

This puts us in a not so favorable situation of having to beat JMU and Delaware now if we want to make the playoffs

[Mr. C]

Towson was a matchup problem for Villanova and Andy Talley was worried all week about the physical play of Towson. This is the first time Towson has really had the offense working on all cylinders.

Towson was able to exert pressure on Robertson in the second half. Seven sacks. Four in the second half and a lot of hurries. Villanova seemed to be in constant third and long situations in the second half.

[Mr. C]

Here is the College Sports Journal column on the Towson-Villanova game:

http://www.college-sports-journal.com/index.php/ncaa-division-i-sports/fcs-football/477-towson-focuses-past-distractions-to-beat-villanova

[HailSzczur]

Towson was a matchup problem for Villanova and Andy Talley was worried all week about the physical play of Towson. This is the first time Towson has really had the offense working on all cylinders.

Towson was able to exert pressure on Robertson in the second half. Seven sacks. Four in the second half and a lot of hurries. Villanova seemed to be in constant third and long situations in the second half.

Not only did they pressure him in passing situations, his run game was seriously affected. He still was able to gain good yardage on draw plays, but his option/running around the tackle action wasn't working at all in the 2nd half. My question was why did we stop running screen plays for Monongai, they were working so well in the first quarter and the rest of the season.