# 2024 Villanova Wildcats football team

The 2024 Villanova Wildcats football team represented Villanova University as a member of the Coastal Athletic Association Football Conference (CAA) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Wildcats were led by eight-year head coach Mark Ferrante and played home games at Villanova Stadium located in Villanova, Pennsylvania.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| August 29 | 6:00 p.m. | No. 25 Youngstown State* | No. 6 | Villanova StadiumVillanova, PA | FloSports | W 24–17 | 5,421 |
| September 7 | 6:00 p.m. | at Colgate* | No. 5 | Andy Kerr StadiumHamilton, NY | ESPN+ | W 28–3 | 2,619 |
| September 14 | 3:30 p.m. | Towson | No. 5 | Villanova StadiumVillanova, PA | FloSports | W 14–13 | 4,219 |
| September 21 | 12:00 p.m. | at Maryland* | No. 5 | SECU StadiumCollege Park, MD | BTN | L 20–38 | 38,006 |
| September 28 | 6:00 p.m. | LIU* | No. 6 | Villanova StadiumVillanova, PA | FloSports | W 24–10 | 6,111 |
| October 5 | 3:30 p.m. | at Stony Brook | No. 6 | Kenneth P. LaValle StadiumStony Brook, NY | FloSports | W 42–24 | 6,142 |
| October 19 | 1:00 p.m. | at Maine | No. 5 | Alfond StadiumOrono, ME | FloSports | L 7–35 | 6,860 |
| October 26 | 3:30 p.m. | New Hampshire | No. 13 | Villanova StadiumVillanova, PA | FloSports | W 14–6 | 5,015 |
| November 2 | 1:00 p.m. | at Hampton | No. 13 | Armstrong StadiumHampton, VA | FloSports | W 20–14 | 1,454 |
| November 9 | 1:00 p.m. | North Carolina A&T | No. 12 | Villanova StadiumVillanova, PA | FloSports | W 31–3 | 4,009 |
| November 16 | 12:00 p.m. | at Monmouth | No. 9 | Kessler FieldWest Long Branch, NJ | FloSports | L 33–40 | 2,856 |
| November 23 | 1:00 p.m. | Delaware | No. 15 | Villanova StadiumVillanova, PA (Battle of the Blue) | FloSports | W 38–28 | 7,105 |
| November 30 | 2:00 p.m. | No. 22 Eastern Kentucky* | No. 12 | Villanova StadiumVillanova, PA (NCAA Division I First Round) | ESPN+ | W 22–17 | 1,722 |
| December 7 | 2:00 p.m. | at No. 6 Incarnate Word* | No. 12 | Gayle and Tom Benson StadiumSan Antonio, TX (NCAA Division I Second Round) | ESPN+ | L 6–13 | 1,926 |
| *Non-conference gameRankings from STATS Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Eastern time ||||||||

## Game summaries
### vs. No. 25 Youngstown State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 25 Penguins | 0 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 17 |
| No. 6 Wildcats | 10 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
at Villanova Stadium, Villanova, PA
* Date: Thursday August 29, 2024
* Game time: 6:00 PM
* TV announcers (FloSports): TBD
| Statistics | YSU | VILL |
| First downs | 21 | 15 |
| Total yards | 321 | 336 |
| Rushing yards | 169 | 246 |
| Passing yards | 152 | 90 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 18-25-2 | 6-17-0 |
| Time of possession | 36:12 | 23:48 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Youngstown State | Passing | Beau Brungard | 18/25, 152 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Youngstown State | Rushing | Beau Brungard | 16 carries, 82 yards |
| Youngstown State | Receiving | Cyrus Traugh | 3 receptions, 42 yards, TD |
| Villanova | Passing | Connor Watkins | 6/17, 90 yards |
| Villanova | Rushing | Connor Watkins | 10 carries, 107 yards, 2 TD |
| Villanova | Receiving | Jabriel Mace | 1 reception, 35 yards |

### at Colgate

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 5 Wildcats | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 28 |
| Raiders | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
at Andy Kerr Stadium • Hamilton, NY
* Date: September 7, 2024
* Game time: 6:00 p.m.
* Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
* TV: ESPN+
| Statistics | VILL | COLG |
| First downs | 20 | 18 |
| Total yards | 379 | 264 |
| Rushing yards | 132 | 86 |
| Passing yards | 247 | 178 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 18-28-0 | 24-42-1 |
| Time of possession | 29:09 | 30:51 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Villanova | Passing | Connor Watkins | 18/28, 247 yards, 2 TD |
| Villanova | Rushing | Isaiah Ragland | 12 carries, 58 yards, TD |
| Villanova | Receiving | Devin Smith | 6 receptions, 116 yards, 2 TD |
| Colgate | Passing | Michael Brescia | 16/32, 140 yards |
| Colgate | Rushing | Michael Brescia | 14 carries, 57 yards |
| Colgate | Receiving | Treyvhon Saunders | 5 receptions 54 yards |

### vs. Towson

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tigers | 7 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 13 |
| No. 5 Wildcats | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
at Villanova Stadium, Villanova, PA
* Date: Saturday September 14, 2024
* Game time: 3:30 p.m.
* TV announcers (FloSports): TBD
| Statistics | TOW | VILL |
| First downs | 17 | 20 |
| Total yards | 394 | 351 |
| Rushing yards | 161 | 235 |
| Passing yards | 233 | 116 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 20-38-0 | 14-25-0 |
| Time of possession | 26:57 | 33:03 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Towson | Passing | Sean Brown | 20/36, 233 yards, TD |
| Towson | Rushing | Devin Matthews | 14 carries, 135 yards |
| Towson | Receiving | Carter Runyon | 6 receptions, 88 yards, TD |
| Villanova | Passing | Connor Watkins | 14/25, 116 yards, 2 TD |
| Villanova | Rushing | Isaiah Ragland | 17 carries, 141 yards |
| Villanova | Receiving | Jaylan Sanchez | 4 receptions, 59 yards, 2 TD |

### at Maryland (FBS)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 5 Wildcats | 0 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 20 |
| Terrapins (FBS) | 17 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 38 |
at SECU Stadium • College Park, MD
* Date: Saturday September 21, 2024
* Game time: 12:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Clear • Temperature: 77 °F (25 °C) • Wind: S 6 mph
* Game attendance: 38,006
* Referee: Greg Sujack
* TV announcers (BTN): Mark Followill (play-by-play) and Anthony Herron (analyst)
| Statistics | VILL | MD |
| First downs | 20 | 25 |
| Total yards | 231 | 497 |
| Rushing yards | 75 | 159 |
| Passing yards | 156 | 338 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 16–33–0 | 29–34–1 |
| Time of possession | 32:16 | 27:44 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Villanova | Passing | Connor Watkins | 12/29, 106 yards, TD |
| Villanova | Rushing | Ja'briel Mace | 2 carries, 24 yards |
| Villanova | Receiving | Devin Smith | 5 receptions, 62 yards, TD |
| Maryland | Passing | Billy Edwards Jr. | 28/32, 328 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Maryland | Rushing | Roman Hemby | 14 carries, 67 yards, TD |
| Maryland | Receiving | Tai Felton | 14 receptions, 157 yards, TD |

### vs. LIU

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Sharks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 10 |
| No. 6 Wildcats | 10 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
at Villanova Stadium, Villanova, PA
* Date: Saturday September 28, 2024
* Game time: 6:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 68 °F (20 °C) • Wind: NE 8 mph
* Game attendance: 6,111
* Referee: Todd Bowman
* TV announcers (FloSports): TBD
| Statistics | LIU | VILL |
| First downs | 10 | 22 |
| Total yards | 176 | 392 |
| Rushing yards | 96 | 264 |
| Passing yards | 80 | 128 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 11–24–0 | 10–19–0 |
| Time of possession | 22:55 | 37:05 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| LIU | Passing | Luca Stanzani | 11/24, 80 yards |
| LIU | Rushing | Ludovick Choquette | 9 carries, 62 yards |
| LIU | Receiving | Michael Love | 3 receptions, 36 yards |
| Villanova | Passing | Connor Watkins | 10/18, 128 yards |
| Villanova | Rushing | David Avit | 24 carries, 160 yards, TD |
| Villanova | Receiving | Jaylan Sanchez | 2 receptions, 55 yards |

### at Stony Brook

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 6 Wildcats | 7 | 7 | 14 | 14 | 42 |
| Seawolves | 7 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium • Stony Brook, NY
* Date: Saturday October 5, 2024
* Game time: 3:30 PM EST
* Game weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 6,142
* Referee: Paul Matt Overton
* TV announcers (FloSports): Jonny Wincott (play-by-play), Brandon London (analyst) and Matt Levine (sideline)
| Statistics | VILL | STBK |
| First downs | 19 | 18 |
| Total yards | 432 | 310 |
| Rushing yards | 280 | 163 |
| Passing yards | 152 | 147 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 9–19–0 | 22–32–1 |
| Time of possession | 28:02 | 31:58 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Villanova | Passing | Connor Watkins | 9/19, 152 yards, TD |
| Villanova | Rushing | David Avit | 13 carries, 183 yards, 4 TD |
| Villanova | Receiving | Jaylan Sanchez | 3 receptions, 38 yards |
| Stony Brook | Passing | Tyler Knoop | 22/32, 147 yards, INT |
| Stony Brook | Rushing | Roland Dempster | 24 carries, 115 yards, 3 TD |
| Stony Brook | Receiving | Cal Redman | 3 receptions, 50 yards |

### at Maine

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 5 Wildcats | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Black Bears | 21 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 35 |
at Alfond Sports Stadium • Orono, ME
* Date: Saturday October 19, 2024
* Game time: 1:00 PM EST
* Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
* TV announcers (FloSports): TBD
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Villanova | Passing |
| Villanova | Rushing |
| Villanova | Receiving |
| Maine | Passing |
| Maine | Rushing |
| Maine | Receiving |

### vs. New Hampshire

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| New Hampshire | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| No. 13 Villanova | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
at Villanova Stadium, Villanova, PA
* Date: Saturday October 26, 2024
* Game time: 3:30 p.m.
* TV announcers (FloSports): TBD
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| New Hampshire | Passing |
| New Hampshire | Rushing |
| New Hampshire | Receiving |
| Villanova | Passing |
| Villanova | Rushing |
| Villanova | Receiving |

### at Hampton

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 13 Wildcats | 3 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 20 |
| Pirates | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
at Armstrong Stadium, Hampton, VA
* Date: Saturday November 2, 2024
* Game time: 1:00 p.m.
* TV: FloSports
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Villanova | Passing |
| Villanova | Rushing |
| Villanova | Receiving |
| Hampton | Passing |
| Hampton | Rushing |
| Hampton | Receiving |

### vs. North Carolina A&T

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Aggies | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| No. 12 Wildcats | 7 | 3 | 14 | 7 | 31 |
at Villanova Stadium, Villanova, PA
* Date: Saturday November 9, 2024
* Game time: 1:00 p.m.
* TV announcers (FloSports): TBD
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| North Carolina A&T | Passing |
| North Carolina A&T | Rushing |
| North Carolina A&T | Receiving |
| Villanova | Passing |
| Villanova | Rushing |
| Villanova | Receiving |

### at Monmouth

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 12 Wildcats | 7 | 7 | 3 | 16 | 33 |
| Hawks | 6 | 13 | 14 | 7 | 40 |
at Kessler Field • West Long Branch, NJ
* Date: Saturday November 16, 2024
* Game time: 12:00 PM EST
* Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
* TV announcers (FloSports): TBD
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Villanova | Passing |
| Villanova | Rushing |
| Villanova | Receiving |
| Monmouth | Passing |
| Monmouth | Rushing |
| Monmouth | Receiving |

### vs. Delaware (Battle of the Blue)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Fightin' Blue Hens | 0 | 21 | 7 | 0 | 28 |
| No. 15 Wildcats | 14 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 38 |
at Villanova Stadium, Villanova, PA
* Date: Saturday November 23, 2024
* Game time: 1:00 p.m.
* TV announcers (FloSports): TBD
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Delaware | Passing |
| Delaware | Rushing |
| Delaware | Receiving |
| Villanova | Passing |
| Villanova | Rushing |
| Villanova | Receiving |

### vs. No. 22 Eastern Kentucky (NCAA Division I playoff–first round)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 22 Colonels | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| No. 12 Wildcats | 0 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 22 |
at Villanova Stadium, Villanova, PA
* Date: Saturday November 30, 2024
* Game time: 2:00 p.m.
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Mike Corey (play-by-play) and Jordan Reid (analyst)
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Eastern Kentucky | Passing |
| Eastern Kentucky | Rushing |
| Eastern Kentucky | Receiving |
| Villanova | Passing |
| Villanova | Rushing |
| Villanova | Receiving |

### at No. 6 Incarnate Word (NCAA Division I playoff–second round)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 12 Wildcats | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| No. 6 Cardinals | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 13 |
at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium, San Antonio, TX
* Date: Saturday December 7, 2024
* Game time: 1:02 p.m.
* Game weather: Temperature: 46 • Wind: NE 6 mph • Weather: Rain
* Game attendance: 1,926
* Referee: Kelly Holman
* TV: ESPN+
* Box Score AP Recap Villanova Recap
| Statistics | VILL | UIW |
| First downs | 9 | 25 |
| Total yards | 138 | 441 |
| Rushing yards | 35 | 259 |
| Passing yards | 103 | 182 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 12–27–1 | 22–37–0 |
| Time of possession | 23:45 | 36:15 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Villanova | Passing | Connor Watkins | 12/27, 103 yards, INT |
| Villanova | Rushing | David Avit | 10 carries, 36 yards |
| Villanova | Receiving | Jaylan Sanchez | 6 receptions, 54 yards |
| Incarnate Word | Passing | Zach Calzada | 22/37, 182 yards, TD |
| Incarnate Word | Rushing | Lontrell Turner | 18 carries, 120 yards |
| Incarnate Word | Receiving | Jalen Walthall | 6 receptions, 75 yards |