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

[Mr. C]

After a quick hour-long dash from Lehigh, I'm settling into the Villanova press box for the battle of the Schuykill between Penn and Villanova. Both teams flashed their defensive prowess on a series by the Wildcats and one from the Quakers.

Kevin Monangai dashed for 23 yards on VU's second possession to give the Wildcats their initial first down and a couple of John Robertson runs, the last for 11 yards has given the Cats a first down at the Penn 45 on a glorious evening on the Main Line.

[Mr. C]

A completion to Joe Price and a KM run moves the ball to the Quaker 32, first and 10. 9:19 left.

Austin Medley adds a run of 4 to the 28.

[Mr. C]

John Robertson evaded trouble in the backfield, broke a couple of tackles and completed a brilliant run to the Penn 6. First and Goal.

Monangai to the five.

[Mr. C]

Robertson rolls right, but misses Rahman in the corner of the end zone. Also holding on VU to make it 2nd and goal from the 15. 7:57 left.

[Mr. C]

Nice moves by Joe Price to get by his man in the end zone and Robertson's soft pass hits Price for the TD. Hamilton's PAT is perfect.

Villanova 7, Penn 0

7:52 first period

9 plays, 83 yards, 3:19 on the drive.

[Mr. C]

Kick return from the end zone to the 21 for Penn

[Mr. C]

Billy Ragone is flushed from the pocket and runs back to the line of scrimmage.

[Mr. C]

Play fake holds the LBs, but Ragone's pass goes between a pair of receivers around midfield. 3rd and 10 for Penn.

[Mr. C]

Another play fake, Ragone lofts a pass high and Connor Scott hauls it in for a nice first-down catch at the 31.

False start on Penn on first down. 1st and 15 from the 26.

[Mr. C]

Brandon Colavita runs inside for 4. 2nd and 11.

Ragone pass to Ty Taylor for 8 on the sideline

3rd and 3

[Mr. C]

Stretch play right, SPencer Kulcsar tries to cut back and is met by a VU LB.

Shanked punt by Max Kurucar gives the Cats the ball at the VU 46, but a penalty for running into punter gives Penn a first down at the UP 42.

[Mr. C]

Run of 4 to the Penn 46 on 1st down. Ragone's pass is slightly tipped and broken up nicely by SS Jerry Miles

[Mr. C]

Ragone to Scott for a 3rd-down and 6 conversion. 12 yards to the VU 43.

[Mr. C]

Nice post pattern by Scott and Ragone hits him for 18 yards to the VU 25.

[Mr. C]

Offset I to the left for Kulcsar, but there is great play up front by VU to blow the play up. Loss of 4. 2nd and 14, Ragone dumps down inside to Mitchell to the 25, 3rd and 10.

[Mr. C]

Double slot motion left, but Cherry breaks up the Ragone pass. 4th and 10 from the 25 and here comes Connor Loftus for a 42-yard field goal.

[Mr. C]

12 players on the field for VU, now it will be a 37-yard FG try

[Mr. C]

Penetration through the center of the line, Rakim Cox blocks the kick and Craig James is off to the races for a 73-yard TD return.

[Mr. C]

Mark Hamilton's PAT is good

Villanova 14, Penn 0
1:14 left in the first period

Slightly high snap for Penn.

[Mr. C]

Penn starts at the 22 after the kickoff. Ryan Becker in for Penn at QB in a planned move. Colavita runs to the 23.

[Mr. C]

Another run gets little against that fine VU defensive middle. Kulcsar to the 26. 3rd and 6 as the first period ends.

[Mr. C]

2nd quarter begins , pass Becker to Kulcsar to the 29. 4th down. Punt time.

[Mr. C]

61 yard punt from Kurucar of Penn on the punt. It got a great roll to the VU 10.

[Mr. C]

Nice block springs Poppy Livers on the bubble screen for 16 to the VU 26.

[Bogus Megapardus]

Click Here:

http://http://apps.ohlulz.com/ncaa/?f4m=http://cbsicollege-lh.akamaihd.net/z/406859_nova9GOEA@133681/manifest.f4m

[Mr. C]

Nice deep throw from Robertson to Rahman goes through Rahman's hands inside the Penn 35. Rahman had a step on the DB.

[Mr. C]

Nice run for Medley and then a pass on the sideline for 11 yards and a VU first down at the VU 43.

[Mr. C]

Rahman's jet around the edge results in a loss of four. 2nd and 14 from the 39. Good protection, good coverage and Livers grabs a pass at the midfield stripe.

[Mr. C]

Long count, throw to Livers on the sideline, who cuts it back across the field and scores on the 50-yard strike from Robertson.

[Mr. C]

Hamilton's kick is good

Villanova 21, Penn 0

11:08 in the second quarter

7 plays, 90 yards, 1:02 on the drive


Villanova is hitting on all cylinders

[Bogus Megapardus]

How the heck did we lose to these pathetic Quackers?

[Mr. C]

The Villanova team that has played at home the past two weeks against Stony Brook and now Penn (two very good opponents) looks like that squad a lot of us expected to compete for the national championship.

Penn coach Al Bagnoli said this week that Villanova reminds him of the 2009 national championship team, talent-wise.

[Mr. C]

How the heck did we lose to these pathetic Quackers?
Penn dominated Lafayette last week, but Villanova is very good, based on these two home games.

I think it might be a very long year for the Leopards, sorry to say. Talk in the press box at Lehigh today was whether Frank Tavani could survive a rough year and a loss to Lehigh.

[Mr. C]

Back to football, Penn behind Ryan Becker at QB has moved to a 3rd and 7 at the VU 34, mixing runs and passes.

[Mr. C]

Acrobatic interception for VU's CB Corey Reeder at the VU 10 on the bomb.

[Bogus Megapardus]

Penn dominated Lafayette last week, but Villanova is very good, based on these two home games.

I think it might be a very long year for the Leopards, sorry to say. Talk in the press box at Lehigh today was whether Frank Tavani could survive a rough year and a loss to Lehigh.

Frank will get to coach #150 vs Lehigh next year, but beyond that . . . .

[Mr. C]

Two-yard run on first down for the Cats, nicely set up bubble screen to the right out of trips for 26 yards for Livers, who just scored his first career TD reception on the last drive.

Deep ball inside the 25 to Mike Burke and an over-the-shoulder catch attempt goes barely incomplete.

[Mr. C]

Frank will get to coach #150 vs Lehigh next year, but beyond that . . . .
I certainly hope so. I really like Frank and shutter to think what would have happened to the Lafayette program without him at the helm.

[Mr. C]

Big run by Robertson is negated by a VU hold. I know the Cats are still looking for better play out of their veteran line.

[Mr. C]

High throw on the sideline from JR, but Clay Horne makes a leaping catch to make it third and 1 for VU at the Penn 44.

Monangai is wrapped up by Joey Grosso for minus-one. VU goes for it on 4th and 2.

[Mr. C]

FB Gary Underwood is hit in the backfield on a zone play, bounces off and runs for a hard-fought first down at the Penn 35.

[Mr. C]

Penn holds as Grosso makes a nice open-field tackle at the 35. 4th and 10 and VU goes for it.

[Mr. C]

Livers crossing catches a pass for 5 yards and Penn takes over with 3:09 left in the second period at Quaker 30.

[Mr. C]

Ragone keeps a play alive with his feet, but throws low on 1st down and a pass to Mitchell deep on the post is disrupted by a hit on the Penn QB. 3rd and 10.

[Mr. C]

Ragone drills one over the middle for 12 to Connor Scott at the Penn 42.

[Mr. C]

Scott with 8 on a nice out route.

[Mr. C]

Joey Harmon slashes through from his LB position to stop Kulcsar near a first down. Penn calls time out No. 1 with 2:13 left as the ball is a half-a-length-of-the-ball short. 3rd and inches.

[Mr. C]

Ragone with the QB draw for a first down at the VU 47. Antoine Lewis with the tackle.

Ryan Mitchell loses a pass in the setting sun.

[Mr. C]

Pass breakup from Craig James on Scott. 3rd and 10 from the Penn 47. 1:51 left in the half.

[Mr. C]

Ragone has Mitchell open at the 31, but missed him inside the left hash. 4th down.

[Mr. C]

Penn's punt is downed at the VU 1 with 1:35 left in the first half.

[Mr. C]

Robertson throw out of the end zone goes out of bounds with no one open and a short run gets the ball to the 3 on second down. Penn calls time out with 1:25 left in the half. Surprised VU threw on first down.

[Mr. C]

Penn has one more time out left with VU pinned deep. 3rd and 8. Robertson throws to Burke on a stop route that is inches short of the first down at around the 10-11. VU will punt after a Penn time out.

[Mr. C]

Hamilton will punt from his end zone with 1:06 left in the first half.

[Mr. C]

Huge punt by Hamilton of 49 yards leads to a fair catch at the Penn 41. 1:00 left in the half.

[Mr. C]

Connor Scott crossing with a catch for 15 to the VU 44, but Patrick McGowen sacks Ragone at the Penn 38.

Ragone runs out of bounds at the VU 48. 3rd and 14.

[Mr. C]

Ragone pass is knocked down at the line by Reggie Paris. 4th and 14 with 14 seconds left.

[Mr. C]

Deep comeback route to Cam Countryman is well short and VU has it at the Cat 48 with 8 ticks left.

[Mr. C]

Hail Mary pass is well thrown by Robertson, batted around a couple of times and is CAUGHT by Burke at the two, but he fumbles trying to get up and the half ends.

[Mr. C]

Halftime

Villanova 21
Penn 0

[Mr. C]

Second half is underway with Penn starting at the 23.

[Mr. C]

First Half stats

Villanova 37 plays, 327 total offense (11 rushing, 216 passing)

Penn 41 plays, 146 total offense (15-13 rushing, 133 passing)

[Mr. C]

Penn can't get untracked on offense and punts the ball to VU at the Cat 31.

[Mr. C]

Robertson nice run is again negated by a hold.

[Mr. C]

Just watched a great fourth quarter during halftime here between Maine and Richmond. Maine held on for a 28-21 win in the final 40 seconds with an interception at the goal line. The Black Bears came back to score late on a 40-yard or more TD pass after Richmond had tied it with a TD pass and 2-point conversion.

[Mr. C]

Still another penalty call on Villanova. 3rd and 23, but after the first down is picked up on a pass, it is wiped out by another penalty.

[Mr. C]

Hamilton with another booming punt. Penn takes over at the Quaker 15. Another penalty is going to screw things up.

Good game by the officials. Sloppy play by the players on penalties.

[Mr. C]

Nice leaping catch as he is hit by Penn's Ty Taylor at the Penn 35.

[Mr. C]

Near disaster on a WR screen as Ragone makes an errant throw.

[Mr. C]

Connor Scott with another great catch for Penn. He's looked like an All-American the first two games. 4th and inches near the midfield stripe.

[Mr. C]

First down run for the Quakers at the 47.

[Mr. C]

Controlled passing is helping Penn move the ball down the field. 3rd and 2 for Penn at the 45. Colavita runs close to a first down, but VU also gets 15 yards on a face mask penalty. Penn is down to the VU 29.

[Mr. C]

Nice throw through traffic from Ragone to Scott for a 1st down at the 8, 21 yards on the play.

[Mr. C]

Ragone to Mitchell King on the fade incomplete.

Ragone to Ryan Mitchell complete at the 9.

[Mr. C]

Third and goal and Kulcsar scores after racing around the corner.

Villanova 21, Penn 6 after a missed PAT

7:08 3rd Quarter

[Mr. C]

Villanova is on the move on the ground. 1st down at the Penn 45 behind Monangai.

[Mr. C]

3rd and 1 from the Penn 36, Robertson fakes the jet sweep and runs 36 yards for the TD.

[Mr. C]

Villanova 28
Penn 6

5:08 third quarter

5 plays, 65 yards, 1:53 on the drive

[Mr. C]

Ron Moore missed a seam inside on the kickoff return, but found one to the outside and races to the VU 46.

[Mr. C]

Ragone completion to the 41. Colavita runs to the 40. 3rd and 4.

[Mr. C]

Kulcsar breaks tackles after a catch for 26 yards to the 15.

[Mr. C]

Ragone throws into double coverage on a post in the end zone and Joe Sarnese picks it off. Too many mistakes for the Quakers in this one.

[Mr. C]

Nice run through traffic by Monangai to midfield.

[Mr. C]

3rd and 1 for VU at the Penn 41. Monangai bowls to the 39.

[Mr. C]

John Robertson pulls the ball out late on the read option and dashes for 36 yards to the Penn 3. Second straight week over 100 yards for JR.

[Mr. C]

Bad snap is recovered by the Cats at the 5 as the third quarter ends. It will be 2nd and goal from the 5.

[Mr. C]

Dan Davis with a nice tackle to stop JR on second down at the 5.

[Mr. C]

Slant pattern by Livers for the TD pass

Villanova 35
Penn 6

14:18 left in the fourth quarter

[Mr. C]

10 plays, 80 yards, 3:59 on the drive

[Mr. C]

Penn starts its next drive at the 28.

[Mr. C]

43-yard bomb from Becker to Mitchell for the Quakers moves it to the 27, but a Becker pass bounces off a receiver near the end zone and Sarnese picks off his second of the evening for Villanova.

[Mr. C]

Andy Talley is just 13 minutes away from his 200th career win at Villanova. This was just the fourth game EVER where two coaches with over 220 career victories faced off.

Including his years at St. Lawrence, Talley had 227 victories coming in and including his work at Union, Al Bagnoli had 229 (143 at Penn).

In 1983, Eddie Robinson of Grambling (308 wins) met John Merritt of Tennesssee State (228 wins). In 2007, Mike Kelly of Dayton (245 wins) met Bob Ford of Albany (225 wins) and in 2012, Talley (220 wins) met Bagnoli (222 wins).

[Mr. C]

An exchange of punts and Penn will have the ball again at the Quaker 8 with 8 and half minutes left.

[Mr. C]

Biggest hit of the day by VU's DE Noble Ajakaiye blows up a zone read play at the Penn 13

[Mr. C]

Chris Polony is on at QB for Villanova.

[Mr. C]

Javon White with a nice 16-yard run for VU to the Penn 23.

[Mr. C]

Robertson (132 yards rushing) and Monangai (101) will both finish with over 100 yards on the ground. Robertson also had 266 yards passing with 3 TDs, to go with his one score on the ground.

[Mr. C]

Villanova turned the ball over on down deep in Penn territory and Penn is running out the final two minutes.

[Mr. C]

8 receptions, 121 yards and 2 TDs for Poppy Livers, who had a real breakout game.

[Mr. C]

Senior DB John Maughan of VU is being helped off with what looks like a serious leg injury. Hate seeing kids get hurt, particularly in late-game situations like this.

[Mr. C]

Final from the Main Line

Villanova 35
Penn 6

[Mr. C]

Congrats to Andy Talley for his 200th career win at Villanova.

[VUCats02]

Nova looking really good now. Next week will be yet another test against W&M. After many many close UPenn - Nova games in the last 5 years, feels good to win in this fashion. All around great performance today by the cats.

[CHIP72]

I still can't believe that this game was not televised by Comcast (and despite the lopsided score and Penn loss, I'm still not happy about that either). That of course explains the lack of non-Mr. C comments in the thread.

A few thoughts based on the outcome/statistics:

1) Keeping in mind that Villanova's last two games were at home, I'm beginning to think their Fordham loss was a bit of a fluke. Fordham is a good team this year, but Villanova looks like they could be very good. Villanova's other loss was at FBS/Division I-A Boston College in a relatively close game; BC just gave Florida State a tough game today before losing.

2) Villanova is going to still be a bear in the CAA. I like their chances against William & Mary at home next week (even though W&M looks like a good team themselves), and their game at Towson the following week (a game I plan on attending) should be a titanic clash.

3) Penn still will likely be a very good team this year; they always lose to Villanova but almost always bounce back. The Quakers kick off Ivy League play with a home game against Dartmouth next week. (Side note #1 - Penn, Villanova, and Temple will all be playing at home at the same time, or at least mostly the same time, next week. I wish one of those games was a late afternoon or evening start so I could have done a doubleheader. Oh well. Side note #2 - I'm probably going to add the 11/9 Penn/Princeton game at Franklin Field to my in-person game schedule this year, in part because I'll also be able to see the Penn/Temple basketball game at the Palestra the same day.)

4) Semi-off topic, but Lafayette's three opponents so far this year (Sacred Heart, William & Mary, and Penn) are a combined 9-2, with the only losses coming against FBS/Division I-A West Virginia (William & Mary) and Villanova (Penn). Sacred Heart is now 5-0 after shutting out Bucknell today.

[Mr. C]

Considering the historical aspect of the game, it is criminal that Comcast, or SOMEONE, didn't pick this game up. Only the fourth time EVER that two FCS coaches with more than 220 wins had done battle on the same field.

[Fordham]

...

1) Keeping in mind that Villanova's last two games were at home, I'm beginning to think their Fordham loss was a bit of a fluke. Fordham is a good team this year, but Villanova looks like they could be very good. Villanova's other loss was at FBS/Division I-A Boston College in a relatively close game; BC just gave Florida State a tough game today before losing....
How could their loss to us be a "fluke"? Did you watch the game?

Glad that they're doing so well since playing us but not sure why our win would be considered a fluke.

[HailSzczur]

How could their loss to us be a "fluke"? Did you watch the game?

Glad that they're doing so well since playing us but not sure why our win would be considered a fluke.

Fordham's a good team. They played a better game than us. We couldn't get a consistent drive going and didn't take care of the ball. Do I think we are much better than what we put forward in that game? Hell yes. But it wasn't a fluke. Fordham out played us 3 weeks ago plain and simple.

[CHIP72]

How could their loss to us be a "fluke"? Did you watch the game?

Glad that they're doing so well since playing us but not sure why our win would be considered a fluke.

As I noted above, I think Fordham is a good team this year (though struggling with St. Francis today is not a good sign for the Rams). I just think Villanova will ultimately prove to be a somewhat better team than Fordham this year. That does not mean Fordham did not deserve to beat Villanova when the two teams played.

One thing is for sure - next week's Lehigh/Fordham clash is a very big game. You have to think the winner of that game will be the class of the Patriot League this year.

[Ivytalk]

I weep for Penn.

:D

[BlueHenSinfonian]

As I noted above, I think Fordham is a good team this year (though struggling with St. Francis today is not a good sign for the Rams). I just think Villanova will ultimately prove to be a somewhat better team than Fordham this year. That does not mean Fordham did not deserve to beat Villanova when the two teams played.

One thing is for sure - next week's Lehigh/Fordham clash is a very big game. You have to think the winner of that game will be the class of the Patriot League this year.

St. Francis gave JMU fits too, and JMU came out strong (though eventually succumbed) vs Delaware tonight. St. Francis probably isn't good enough to be considered good, but they seem better than their traditional level of bad.

[ngineer]

St. Francis appears to be in the 'norm' of NEC teams...SHU, Monmouth, Duquesne, Robert Morris,etc. Usually some very good athletes, so with the right opportunities they can make like miserable and bite you in the rear. Overall, usually not enough talent depth to make the long haul, but they have shown themselves to be very competitive.

[Nova09]

How could their loss to us be a "fluke"? Did you watch the game?

Glad that they're doing so well since playing us but not sure why our win would be considered a fluke.

Because losing 5 fumbles in one game would statistically be considered a "fluke" occurrence? Because 7-8 fumbles hitting the ground and the same team recovering all of them would statistically be considered a "fluke" occurrence?

I'm really not trying to take anything away from Fordham, they played a great game against us, backed it up with a great game against Temple, haven't lost yet. They really should make the playoffs, we've put ourtselves in a position while good enough to be "playoff caliber" might not make it. Margin for error is razor thin with a schedule as tough as ours, and we made all the mistakes we could afford against Fordham. All that said, I would love to get another shot at Fordham in the playoffs because I do not see the "fluke" occurrences reoccurring.