Villanova travels to Happy Valley for its toughest matchup against Penn State
The Wildcats’ second game of the season figures to be the most challenging, as they’ll need to establish their run game and hope for another positive showing by transfer quarterback Pat McQuaide.
After a successful season opener last weekend, Villanova faces its toughest matchup this season: Penn State.
Villanova (1-0) will travel to Beaver Stadium to take on No. 2 Penn State (2-0) on Saturday (3:30 p.m., FS1). The most recent game between these two programs was four years ago, on Sept. 25, 2021, when the Nittany Lions cruised past the Wildcats, 38-17.
Villanova’s all-time record against Penn State is 3-6-1.
Here are three things to watch as the Wildcats look to compete with a College Football Playoff contender:
Amping up the run game
Villanova has a talented running back group, which coach Mark Ferrante commonly refers to as a “three-headed monster.”
Sophomore David Avit, redshirt sophomore Isaiah Ragland, and redshirt sophomore Ja’briel Mace make up the trio.
Avit, the 2024 CAA Offensive Rookie of the Year rushed for 923 yards, a Villanova freshman record, and had nine touchdowns on 173 carries last year. He also had 175 receiving yards on 11 catches.
Last weekend against Colgate, Avit rushed for 49 yards on 15 carries, while Ragland ran for 26 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries.
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The 5-foot-9 Ragland has shown his ability to play around the edge and up the middle. Against Colgate, he picked up a late first down to seal Villanova’s 24-17 win.
Keeping a clean slate
One of the biggest positives from Villanova’s season opener was limiting penalties. The Wildcats only gave up 15 yards on two penalties against Colgate, one in each half.
In the first quarter, Villanova sophomore defensive back Zahmir Dawud was called for pass interference, resulting in Colgate getting 5 yards and a first down.
The Wildcats then were flagged for holding in the third quarter, which negated a 12-yard Avit touchdown and put them on the 22-yard line.
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Villanova ended up settling for a field goal.
Last season, Villanova was ranked 86th in the FCS in penalties per game (6.79) and 106th in penalties (95).
QB success
Graduate quarterback Pat McQuaide proved himself to be a strong successor to Connor Watkins.
McQuaide, who transferred from Nicholls State, set the record for most passing yards (299) in a Wildcats debut and had the longest run of his collegiate career on a 28-yard rushing touchdown last week. He also completed 18 of 28 pass attempts.
This weekend, he will compete on the same field as a former high school opponent, Penn State senior quarterback Drew Allar. McQuaide played defensive back and quarterback at Solon High School in Ohio, while Allar was a star quarterback at Medina High School. The schools played in the same conference until 2024.