Villanova routs Towson

A ceremony before Saturday's Villanova football game against visiting Towson State honoring the Wildcats' 2009 national championship team was bound to invite comparisons between that squad and this season's edition.

It may be weeks before any conclusions can be reached, but since narrowly losing the season opener against undefeated Temple, the Wildcats have shown their dominance.

Villanova got its second straight win, 43-7, in its home opener against Towson. It was the first Colonial Athletic Association game for both teams. Last week, Villanova routed Lehigh, 35-0.

On Saturday, the rousing pregame ovation from 12,111 in attendance was reduced to golf-like claps by the second half. The Wildcats had essentially won the game by intermission, holding a 36-0 lead.

Villanova (2-1) limited Towson (1-2) to just two first downs in the first half and eight total. The Tigers' lone score was on a 59-yard pass from Bart Blanchard to Hakeem Moore in the third quarter.

The Wildcats also held Towson to a mere 17 rushing yards and 180 total yards, 145 coming in the second half with the game already decided. Meanwhile, the Wildcats amassed 405 yards (243 rushing, 162 passing).

"All in all, the result is tremendous," Villanova coach Andy Talley said. "We're where we want to be. We put some points on the board, played some defense when we had to."

In comparing the '09 champions to this year's team, perhaps the most telling measure would be on defense.

"I think we probably need a few more tests against some of the better teams in the league," Talley said when asked if this year's defense could surpass the '09 team. "I think we have the ability to. . . . I worry about the fact we're so thin on the defensive line. But on paper, when you get the No. 1s out there, and these young kids that are coming along on the edge, I think we could be very good."

Villanova quarterback Chris Whitney led the way for the Wildcats, completing 9 of 12 passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 53 yards on 14 carries and scored twice - first on a 9-yard run for a 9-0 first- quarter lead, then on a 1-yard keeper for a 43-0 advantage.

Villanova opened the scoring with a safety when Towson botched a punt snap. After Whitney's 9-yard touchdown run, Villanova's Aaron Ball dashed 57 yards to put the Wildcats ahead, 16-0.

Following a Towson turnover, Villanova's multipurpose offensive threat, Matt Szczur, connected on a 44-yard pass to Dorian Wells for a 22-0 lead.