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Szczur sparks Villanova offensive show, toppling No. 2 Appalachian State

BOONE, N.C. - Villanova continued a strong bid to defend its national championship with a definitive, 42-24 victory over top-seeded Appalachian State on Saturday on the Mountaineers' home turf.

Villanova's Matt Szczur ran for 104 yards against Appalachian State. (Rob Moore / For the Inquirer)
Villanova's Matt Szczur ran for 104 yards against Appalachian State. (Rob Moore / For the Inquirer)Read more

BOONE, N.C. - Villanova continued a strong bid to defend its national championship with a definitive, 42-24 victory over top-seeded Appalachian State on Saturday on the Mountaineers' home turf.

The Wildcats (9-4) advanced to the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision semifinals, where they will face Eastern Washington.

With Delaware's victory over New Hampshire in another FCS quarterfinal on Friday, Villanova and Delaware remain on a path to a title-game matchup in Frisco, Texas, on Jan. 7.

Villanova defeated Delaware in overtime in the last game of the regular season. The two teams have never met in the playoffs.

Wildcats senior wideout Matt Szczur scored or was part of five of the team's six touchdowns. Szczur tallied a career-high three rushing touchdowns, a 30-yard touchdown reception, and a 54-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Norman White.

"He makes a big difference for us," Villanova head coach Andy Talley said of the Lower Cape May product. "It's hard to believe that one player could have that kind of grasp over a team."

After Szczur missed seven games with a high-ankle sprain, Talley said the senior has proved to be a huge spark for the Wildcats' offense in the last three games.

"We knew if he could get back healthy, he'd have a helluva game," Wildcats quarterback Chris Whitney said. "It's just how he plays every week and is a credit to the kind of person he is and the kind of player he is."

Against the Mountaineers (10-3), Szczur rushed for 104 yards on 16 carries, completed 2 of 2 passes for 58 yards, and snagged five receptions for 45 yards.

"You never really know what he's going to do," Appalachian State linebacker Bobby Bozzo said of Szczur.

Bozzo added that much of Szczur's versatility is a result of Villanova's strong offensive line, which Bozzo compared to that of the University of Florida.

"They have great technique," Bozzo said. "A lot of times when you have big guys like that, their technique will lack."

Szczur's healthy presence and a strong performance from the offensive line allowed Whitney, who hadn't practiced during the week after suffering a hard hit at the end of Villanova's game against Stephen F. Austin last Saturday, to relax a little.

Whitney completed 12 of 16 passes for 106 yards and one touchdown. He also had 13 rushing attempts for 33 yards and a touchdown.

"I think that's a credit to our offensive line. They played unbelievable today," Whitney said. "Even when they came in the box, our offensive line got push on them all day. That was the key to us winning today."

The Mountaineers scored on their first possession, and followed with a 19-yard field goal. But Villanova took complete control after that, scoring four touchdowns and taking a 28-10 halftime lead.

For Villanova's defense, junior back James Pitts led in tackles with 14 overall, 11 solo and three assisted, as well as a fumble recovery.

FCS Playoffs

Last week's quarterfinals

FRIDAY

Delaware 16, New Hampshire 3

SATURDAY

Villanova 42, Appalachian State 24

Georgia Southern 23, Wofford 20

Eastern Washington 38, North Dakota State 31, OT

This week's semifinals

FRIDAY OR SATURDAY

Delaware (11-2) vs. Georgia Southern (10-4)

Villanova (9-4) vs. Eastern Washington (11-2)

Games will be played at 8 p.m. Friday or noon Saturday.

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