Villanova runs over Richmond in a continued climb up the Patriot League standings
The Wildcats are in the driver's seat to earn an at-large bid into the FCS playoffs, but they'll have to earn a win next week on the road against Holy Cross.
Villanova got into a position where it needed to win out to make the playoffs, and it has done exactly that.
Villanova hosted Richmond at Villanova Stadium and shut them out, 30-0. It is the Wildcats’ (6-4, 5-2 Patriot League) first shutout since it defeated Elon, 21-0, in 2023.
Defensively, Villanova held Richmond to 140 yards of total offense.
Richmond (6-4, 4-3 Patriot League), entered tied for second place in the Patriot League with Villanova, but was unable to move the ball effectively with a new quarterback under center after starting quarterback Ashten Snelsire left last week’s game with an injury and ultimately was still unavailable for Saturday’s game.
The Wildcats totaled 417 yards. It was their fourth game of the season with 400-plus yards of total offense.
Graduate quarterback Pat McQuaide completed 11 of 17 pass attempts for 163 yards and three touchdowns.
Sophomore receiver Braden Reed led the Wildcats with five receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore receiver Brandon Binkowski caught a touchdown pass and would have had a second if it were not for an offensive holding call.
Playoff chances
The hunt for the Patriot League title is wide open. Villanova’s win over Lehigh two weeks ago has played a huge part in that. While Lehigh holds sole possession of first place with an 8-2 overall and 6-1 Patriot League record, second place is contested between Villanova and Holy Cross.
Coincidentally, the Wildcats head to Worcester, Mass., to play the Crusaders next Saturday (noon, ESPN+).
If Villanova wins out, it will be in a position to earn an at-large bid into the FCS playoffs. Patriot League tiebreakers for the playoffs are decided first by head-to-head records of common opponents.
The Patriot League schedule allows for each team to play each conference opponent. If Lehigh loses another conference game, Villanova would hold the tiebreaker over Lehigh for a spot in the playoffs.
Villanova’s defense locks it down
Villanova scored 20 points in the first half. Richmond had 20 yards of total offense in the first half.
The Spiders entered the game with an average of 305.1 yards of total offense per game. They finished with 140 against Villanova.
“I’ve said it before in some of the previous weeks as we’re going through the season, I think the whole team, as you asked specifically about the defense, I think they’re really just starting to come together,” Ferrante said. “You can’t duplicate the speed of the game in practice. So from week one to where we are now, it’s just a work in progress, and they just are more comfortable with each other. We’re seeing the progress, not just the defense, but the whole team is making as we’re starting to play together more and more consistently.”
Richmond’s longest drive of the game was 14 plays for 63 yards, and it ended in a turnover on downs after a failed fourth down conversion. The Spiders only crossed midfield twice, with one time being on Villanova’s 48-yard line.
“It means a lot,” sophomore defensive back Jamie Tyson said. “I mean, credit goes to all the coaches. They put us in great spots, a great game plan during the week to do our jobs. Played a lot of man this week, which is good for us. I mean, we like playing man. We always do our best when we are in man.”
Richmond was forced to punt on six drives.
Wildcat running back duo is ‘unselfish’
Redshirt junior running back Isaiah Ragland rushed for 125 yards on 17 carries. It was his fourth 100-plus-yard rushing performance of the season. He alos became the 15th player in program history to rush for 2,000 yards.
“It means a lot, honestly,” Ragland said. “I’m so grateful to God because we wouldn’t be here without him. And I think all credit goes to a line of coaches for putting me in a position to reach that.”
His partner Ja’briel Mace rushed for 77 yards and a touchdown. Mace is 47 yards short of 2,000 career rushing yards and currently sits at 1,953.
“It’s incredible,” McQuaide said when asked about the running backs. “I’ve been saying it all year that those two guys are obviously incredible players, and the thing that’s the coolest for me to watch is to watch them grow as leaders…They bring a level of energy and positivity that is unmatched by anyone else on our team, and to have the two of them be so unselfish. I’m very fortunate to get to play with them, and I know everyone at this university is very fortunate that they’re here with us.”
Mace has rushed for 724 yards and seven touchdowns this season. Mace has rushed for 619 yards and nine touchdowns. Both average five yards per carry.
