Football Game Preview: Villanova

Saturday, November 20

Newark, Del.

1 p.m.

University of Delaware

No. 6/9 Villanova

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Photo by: Mark Campbell

11/16/2021 4:26:00 PM | Football

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW?
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» Saturday will be the 55th edition of the Battle of the Blue. The Wildcats lead the longtime rivalry with a 31-22-1 record, but the Blue Hens won the most recent matchup in April, a 27-20 victory at Villanova Stadium. The win not only snapped an eight-game winning streak in the series for Villanova, but also clinched the CAA Regular Season Championship for Delaware.

» In last season's victory over the Wildcats, Nolan Henderson had a pair of touchdown passes as he connected with Jourdan Townsend and Bryce De Maille. Khory Spruill also found the end zone on a three-yard run and Ryan Coe kicked a pair of field goals. Thyrick Pitts caught five passes for 104 yards, and Gene Coleman II has seven receptions for 78 yards. Noah Plack led the defense with seven catches, while Niguel Hill had an interception.

» Pitts had a career day in Delaware's game at Richmond last Saturday, hauling in a career-high 11 catches for a personal-best 169 yards. It was his third 100-yard receiving game of the season and the fifth of his career. He caught his team-leading seventh touchdown pass, which ranks third in the CAA. Zach Gwynn finished with career highs of 25 completions for 331 yards and two passing touchdowns. He rushed for two touchdowns, the first two rushing scores of his career. Plack also set a career high, leading the Delaware defense with 14 tackles.

» The kicking game for the Blue Hens has been a strength this year as both punter Tyler Pastula and placekicker Ryan Coe have put together solid seasons. Pastula leads the CAA in punting, averaging 42.7 yards per punt, has 12 kicks of more than 50 yards and has pinned the opponent inside their own 20-yard line 21 times. Coe is 34-of-37 on all kicks and owns three of the five longest field goal makes (53, 51, 48) in the CAA this season. On 44 total kickoffs, he has 30 touchbacks.

» Villanova enters Sunday's game with an 8-2 overall record and a 6-1 mark in the CAA, sitting in a tie with James Madison atop the conference standings. The Wildcats are in the top 10 of both FCS national polls, ranking sixth in the STATS Perform Media Poll and ninth in the AFCA Coaches Poll.

» The Wildcat offense is second in the CAA in both scoring, averaging 32.8 ppg, and total offense, compiling 391.7 ypg. The defense leads the conference by allowing opponents to score just 15.3 ppg, and is second in total defense, giving up just 253 ypg.

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