Villanova throttles Lehigh in football opener
The Wildcats romped, 47-3, in Bethlehem, Pa., behind three touchdown passes from Daniel Smith.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Daniel Smith threw for three touchdowns and Justin Covington ran for 156 yards and a pair of scores Saturday as Villanova beat Lehigh, 47-3, in the season opener for both teams.
Former Lehigh receiver Dez Boykin caught three passes — two for touchdowns — and collected 90 yards receiving for ‘Nova.
Villanova scored five touchdowns and kicked four field goals while outgaining the Mountain Hawks by a margin of 506 yards to 139. The defense forced six turnovers.
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After a pair of first-quarter field goals, the Wildcats established control of the line of scrimmage when Covington ran it in from 13 yards out early in the second quarter. Covington followed that effort with a 51-yard scoring run to cap a six-play, 89-yard drive with 3:57 left before halftime. He finished with 18 carries and averaged 8.7 yards per tote.
Smith threw touchdown passes of 15 and 61 yards to Boykin in a 24-point third quarter.
Cross Wilkinson threw for 134 yards for the Mountain Hawks and was intercepted three times.
Senior cornerback Christian Benford recorded the eighth and ninth interceptions of his career to lead the Villanova defense.