Football Falls to Villanova, 14-7

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Bronx, N.Y. – It was the first ever meeting between the previous year's NCAA FCS Player of the Year, Villanova senior quarterback John Robertson, and the NCAA FCS Rookie of the Year, Fordham sophomore running back Chase Edmonds. In the end the experience won out as the second-ranked Wildcats defeated the #16 Rams, 14-7, on a wet Jack Coffey Field.
 
Coming off one of their biggest wins in school history, Fordham came up just short of pulling off a win over the highest-ranked opponent on Jack Coffey Field. But the Fordham offense couldn't get on track as the Rams were held to 182 yards of total offense.
 
After holding Fordham to a three-and-out on the first series of the night, Villanova took over on its own 31 and Robertson moved the Wildcats down field, eventually getting to the Fordham six where he hit Kevin Gulyas with a scoring strike to give Villanova a 7-0 lead with 8:31 left in the period.
 
The game remained 7-0 until early in the second when Robertson capped a 56-yard, seven-play drive for Villanova with a four-yard run to put the visitors up 14-0 2:32 into the second.
 

Later in the second, a Joe Pavlik punt trapped Villanova on its own five and the Wildcats lost two yards on three plays, with Caleb Ham coming up with two straight stops, and punted the ball back to Fordham.
 
The Rams took over on the Villanova 43 following the punt and Fordham pulled off a trick play as wide receiver Cory Caddle became a passer and found Tony Patrignelli with a 26-yard pickup. Three plays later it was Caddle on the receiving end of a pass as he hauled in a 20-yard touchdown strike from Kevin Anderson to pull the Rams to within seven, 14-7, with 3:52 left in the half.
 
A Stephen Hodge tackle for loss and Niko Thorpe sack backed Villanova up to its own 15 on the ensuing possession but Robertson was able to find Aaron Wells with a 38-yard pass to give the Wildcats the first down at midfield. Villanova made it to the Fordham seven where an incomplete pass on third down forced the Wildcats to settle for a Steve Weyler 24-yard field goal attempt which was wide left.
 
The Wildcats took the second half kickoff and moved to the Fordham 25 but on fourth-and-ten, Manny Adeyeye sacked Robertson back to the Fordham 42.
 
On their next possession, the Wildcats again moved deep into Fordham territory but a 27-yard Weyler field goal was short.
 
The Rams drove into Villanova territory three times in the fourth quarter but couldn't capitalize.
 
Villanova took over on its own 45 with 3:41 left after the Rams couldn't convert a fourth down play and moved to the Fordham 36 where the Wildcats faced a fourth and two. Robertson converted the fourth down with a three-yard run with 2:32 left and the Wildcats were then able to run out the clock.
 
Edmonds gained 74 yards on 16 carries and caught four passes for ten yards for the Rams while Caddle grabbed four passes for 49 yards and the score.
 
Defensively, Jihaad Pretlow led Fordham with ten tackles, eight solo, including one for loss, while Caleb Ham made nine solo stops, including one for loss, and Niko Thorpe had seven solo tackles, including three sacks, and recovered a fumble.
 
The Rams return to action next Saturday, September 19, as they host the Columbia University Lions in the annual Liberty Cup game on Jack Coffey Field at 1:00 p.m. in a game that will also serve as Homecoming for Fordham.
 
Notes

• Villanova was the highest ranked opponent to play the Rams on Jack Coffey Field. The next highest was also Villanova who came in ranked eighth in 2013.

 

• The game was the lowest scoring game between two teams since Villanova and Fordham combined for 18 points in 1920 (a span of 16 games).

 

• The Rams have been held to single digit scoring only twice in the Joe Moorhead era, both times at the hands of Villanova.

 

• Punter Joe Pavlik kicked six times for 267 yards (44.5 yards/kick) and placed four of his six inside the Villanova 20.

 

• The Fordham defense recorded 12 tackles for loss and six sacks.