Football Falters In Second Half As No. 18 Villanova Rallies For Victory

Saturday, November 9

Villanova, PA

1:00 PM

University of Richmond

5-5 , 4-2

Villanova

7-3 , 4-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Richmond

Villanova

Photo by: Mikey Reeves

Football Falters In Second Half As No. 18 Villanova Rallies For Victory

11/09/2019 | Football

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VILLANOVA, Pa. – The University of Richmond football team was held scoreless in the second half as the Spiders dropped a 35-28 contest to No 18 Villanova Saturday afternoon at Villanova Stadium. It was a tale of two halves as the first 30 minutes was dominated by the offenses and the defenses took control in the second half. The Spiders fall to 5-5 overall and 4-2 in the Colonial Athletic Association with the loss while the Wildcats improve to 7-3 and 4-3 in league play.

Villanova scored the game's final 14 points in the victory with a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns as the Spiders were unable to generate much offense after its first drive in the second half. Richmond only recorded three second half first downs and were limited to just 47 total yards of offense in the final 30 minutes.

Redshirt junior quarterback Joe Mancuso (Blairsville, Ga.) led the way offensively accounting for four touchdowns in the first half. He finished Saturday's game with 17 carries and a team-high 89 yards on the ground, while throwing for 114 yards on 10-of-17 passing. He rushed for two touchdowns and threw for two to graduate wide receiver Keyston Fuller (Griffin, Ga.).

Fuller finished Saturday's game with three catches for 25 yards and his two scores. Freshman running back Savon Smith (Winchester, Va.) added 79 yards on seven carries on the ground as the Spiders lost two running backs in the game due to injuries. Graduate transfer Charlie Fessler (Erie, Pa.) added three catches for a team-high 51 yards.

Villanova quarterback Daniel Smith finished the game 20-of-28 through the air for 235 yards. Smith added 105 yards rushing on 14 carries and a pair of touchdowns. DeeWill Barlee added 114 yards rushing on 18 carries and a score as the Wildcats finished with 477 yards of offense.

Villanova got out of the gates fast as they took the opening kickoff 100 yards for the touchdown by Nowoola Awopetu. The Spiders answered the quick score with a five-play, 78-yard scoring drive of their own. Mancuso got the Spiders on the board from 25-yards out as the quarterback draw took him up the left hash and in for the score. The Wildcats followed with an answer, going 59 yards on six plays, capped Smith's 25-yard run.

Richmond tied it up on its next possession, needing less than two minutes to knot the score. Redshirt freshman running back Milan Howard (Charlotte, N.C.) moved the Spiders into Villanova territory with a 21-yard rush. Mancuso followed with a carry up the middle and ran through a pair of arm tackles to tie the game at 14 with 1:24 remaining in the first quarter.

The Spider defense forced a punt to start the second quarter for the Wildcats. After a low snap, it was ruled that the Wildcat's punter's knee was on the ground as he picked up the ball and the Spiders got the ball at the Villanova 31. After a 15-yard rush from Fuller, Mancuso used play action and dropped a pass in over the Villanova defender to Fuller to put the Spiders up 21-14 just over a minute and half into the second quarter of play.

Once again, the Wildcats had an answer with a touchdown drive of its own. Smith capped the 68-yard drive with a 37-yard run by Barlee tying the game at 21-21. The Spiders retook the lead, getting their fourth touchdown of the half and taking a 28-21 lead with 4:59 remaining in the half. Mancuso and Fessler connected on a 25-yard pass at the beginning of the drive and Mancuso moved the Spiders to the Villanova 1-yard line with a 22-yard run. Mancuso then hit Fuller on a four-yard touchdown pass for the 28-21 lead.

The second half started positive for the Spiders as they drove down the field with passes to Smith and Fessler for 15 and 17 yards, respectively. Howard rushed for 15 yards to the Villanova 24-yard line but was injured on the play causing a lengthy delay. Mancuso's next pass was intercepted by Villanova at the eight-yard line, ending the Spider threat.

The Spiders took the seven-point lead into the fourth quarter but Villanova tied the game with its first drive of the fourth. Smith had a big third-down conversion with a 17-yard pass to Changa Hodge down to the Spiders' nine-yard line. Smith capped the drive with a 9-yard rush, tying the game.

After a three-and-out by the Spider offense, Villanova took a 35-28 lead with a two-play, 68-yard drive. Smith connected with Hodge on a 48-yard pass before TD Ayo-Durojaiye rumbled 20-yards in for the go ahead score.

The Spiders were unable to move the ball in the ensuing possession, posting another three-and-out. Villanova got the ball back with 7:20 remaining and was able to run out the clock, drive 50 yards on 11-plays before being able to kneel out the remaining minute of play.

The Spiders are back in action next week as they head to No. 2 James Madison for a matchup with the Dukes in Harrisonburg Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

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