Bednarczyk, Villanova avenge loss to Towson

In last week's five-point, come-from-behind victory over visiting Lehigh, Villanova rushed for nearly 400 yards while throwing for 56.

In Saturday afternoon's 40-21 home win over Towson in a Colonial Athletic Association opener, the Wildcats - ranked 21st in FCS - got a 20-for-26 passing performance from redshirt sophomore Zach Bednarczyk, for 230 yards and three touchdowns.

The bulk of that came in the first half, when the Wildcats scored on all four of their possessions (and missed their third extra-point of the season) to take a 26-14 lead into intermission.

In last year's 28-21 road loss to the Tigers, Bednarczyk had two interceptions that were returned for scores, including the game-decider midway through the fourth quarter.

"Whether he admits it or not, [this] game was on his calendar," said Towson coach Rob Ambrose. "It's [another] chance to play us."

He would not be wrong.

"Watching film [of that game] this week was really frustrating," said Bednarcyzk, who also accounted for 37 of Villanova's 152 yards on the ground on nine attempts. "So it was definitely in the back of my mind.

"You don't want to say it was a redemption game. But it kind of was."

And it puts the Wildcats (2-1, 1-0 Colonial Athletic Association) in a very good position. They should be favored in their next three games - at Lafayette on Saturday night, at Elon, and at home against Rhode Island - before they head to No. 2 Richmond on Oct. 15.

"[Towson's] exactly like us," said coach Andy Talley. "So this one tips you one way or the other."

The Tigers (1-2, 0-1) scored first, after they returned the opening kickoff to the Villanova 47. From then on it was relatively one-sided, although Towson stayed in the game by stopping the Wildcats on a fourth and 3 from the 8-yard line early in the third quarter.

Early in the fourth, Villanova's Trey Johnson came up with an end-zone interception after the Tigers had reached the 18. The Wildcats scored with 4 minutes, 50 seconds to go, after stopping Towson on a fourth and 2 from its 28.

And a little less than a minute and half later, Rob Rolle ran an interception back a school-record 100 yards.

Eight Wildcats caught a pass. Junior Taurus Phillips had seven receptions for 110 yards, both career bests, and added the first two touchdowns of his career. Javon White, a senior, rushed for 80 and two scores on 20 attempts.

Villanova converted 7 of 7 third downs in the first half.

"The only way we can be a great team is to have a balanced offense," Bednarczyk said. "That makes my job easier."