Villanova takes care of business against Sacred Heart to end regular season on a high note

Villanova wrapped up its regular season in convincing fashion, dispatching Sacred Heart, 34–10, for its eighth straight win.

Villanova (9-2), which is ranked No. 7 in the Football Championship Subdivision Coaches Poll and No. 9 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25, has won 22 straight home games. The Wildcats sit in second place in the Coastal Athletic Association with a 7-1 record.

Sacred Heart (8-4) played an independent schedule this year, but will join the CAA next season. Villanova will leave the CAA for the Patriot League.

Graduate quarterback Pat McQuaide threw for 216 yards and two touchdowns, one each to sophomore running backs Ja’briel Mace and Isaiah Ragland.

Mace also scored two touchdowns on the ground, rushing for 165 yards on nine carries. Ragland compiled 71 yards on a team-leading 11 carries.

The Wildcats also honored their seniors in the final regular-season home game.

“I’m really proud of our team today,” said coach Mark Ferrante. “We talked this morning in the locker room before we took the field, and you always want to hopefully go out with a win on Senior Day, because the seniors are always going to remember their last home game of the regular season.

“Guys took care of business and we got the victory, and that’s the most important thing.”

The Wildcats had a rough start after Sacred Heart forced and recovered a fumble from Mace on just the second play of the game. It was a rare turnover for Villanova, which had conceded just four this season, the fewest in the FCS.

The Pioneers converted the turnover into a 37-yard field goal, while the Wildcats went three-and-out on their next possession.

However, Mace began a monumental first half with an 80-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter.

“We practice ball security, and there’s no reason why I should’ve fumbled the ball,” Mace said. “But [McQuaide] picked me up and said, ‘We’re going to go right back to you,’ and on the next play, I scored. But all the credit goes to the guys up front. They’re amazing.”

To start the second quarter, McQuaide launched a 57-yard pass to sophomore wide receiver Chris Colby, bringing Villanova to Sacred Heart’s 19-yard line. Mace delivered once again, taking the ball the rest of the way for a 14-3 lead.

The Wildcats finished the first half with a lengthy drive, covering 80 yards in 14 plays, and ending on a 10-yard touchdown pass from McQuaide to Mace with just 27 seconds left in the second quarter.

Mace finished the first half with 106 rushing yards on just four carries.

Three linebackers — redshirt freshman Anthony Hawkins, senior Shane Hartzell, and graduate Richie Kimmel — led the defense with six tackles each. Sacred Heart, ranked fifth nationally in FCS rushing, was limited to just 88 yards on the ground.

After keeping Sacred Heart out of the end zone through three quarters, Villanova allowed the Pioneers to score on a six-yard pass to open the fourth.

With 7 minutes, 37 seconds remaining, McQuaide completed an 11-yard touchdown pass to Ragland to extend the lead to 34-10.

The Pioneers threatened again, completing a 46-yard pass at Villanova’s nine-yard line. But the Wildcats forced a turnover as junior defensive back Jon Wyatt broke up quarterback Jack Snyder’s pass, and graduate defensive back Kaleb Moody intercepted it.

“There is a lot of confidence on this team, but sometimes that can turn into arrogance, and we’ve done a good job of holding that back,” Hartzell said. “As we keep rolling we gain confidence. The amount of energy that can come out in a game, that’s what is going to spark the big plays.”

The Wildcats will await a FCS playoff bid, which will be announced at the Selection Show at noon on Sunday (ESPNU).