Maine kicker Derek Deoul kicks off to Villanova to start their CAA contest on Saturday, November 5, 2016 at Alfond Stadium. Photo by Chris Lessner.
ORONO, Maine- Sophomore quarterback Zach Bednarcyk tossed for a career high 326 yards and three touchdowns Saturday afternoon as the #10 Villanova Wildcats ended a five game winning streak for Maine with a 26-7 CAA win at Alfond Stadium before 6,790 fans.
Bednarcyk was 23-31 passing, as the Cats didn’t turn the ball over, while Maine quarterback Dan Collins threw four interceptions as the Bears couldn’t find the offensive rythym in falling to 5-4 overall and 4-2 in the CAA. ‘Nova improves to 7-2, 5-1.
After a scoreless first quarter the Wildcats struck first as kicker Gerard Smith hit a career long 42 yard field goal to make it 3-0 with 13:23 left in second. Maine had a golden opportunity about three a half minutes later as Villanova return man Jarrett McClenton muffed a James Martini punt and Maine recovered at the Cats 22 yard line. The Bears marched to the Villanova 9 yard line before Patrick Leonard would attempt a 26 yard field goal attempt that would sail wide right. Leonard is now 1 for 6 in field goal attempts this season. “It’s not getting us anywhere. We gotta find ways to get into the end zone rather than miss the field goal”, said Maine Head Coach Joe Harasymiak.
Later in the quarter after a Collins interception at the Villanova 31 yard line, the Cats would go 69 yards on six plays to take a 10-0 lead as Brandon Chadbourne caught a 17 yard touchdown pass from Bednarcyk with just 11 seconds left in half. The key play was a Bednarcyk 34 yard pass to freshman receiver Changa Hodge.
The Black Bears responded quickly on the third quarter kickoff as Earnest Edwards took the ball from his own three yard line and cut through traffic and down the sideline for a 97 yard kickoff return to cut the Cats lead to 10-7. Villanova went 26 yards in seven plays after the Edwards score that led to a second field goal by Smith of 43 yards, to make it 13-7. Maine then went 40 yards on 11 plays to try to take their first lead. Maine got to the Cats three yard line for a first and goal situation, before a bad snap caused a seven yard loss, and then a penalty that set up a fourth and goal at the 13. The Bears would opt to go for it as Sterling Sheffield looked to either run or pass to tightend Jeremy Salmon in a “muddled huddle” type formation, but was tripped up by Villanova defender Austin Calitro to turn the ball over on downs. The Cats then went 79 yards on 8 plays in 3:32 culminating in a Bednarcyk to Ryan Bell 8 yard TD throw to make it 19-7 as the extra point was blocked.
Bednarcyk tossed his second touchdown pass to Bell in the fourth quarter from 7 yards out to make it a 19 point lead and put the game out of reach and end the scoring. “Maine played great. They played exactly how I thought they would play. Came in tough, hard nosed, gave us fits back and forth. It was one of those games where we knew we were gonna have to make some big plays in the passing game. Zach (Bednarcyk) played a tremendous game throwing the ball. So all in all to come to Maine, a tough place of play, and have a win like this, couldn’t be happier”, said Villanova Head Coach Andy Talley after the game. Edwards was the bright spot for Maine tallying a total of 232 all purpose yards. 152 yards on kickoffs and also three receptions for 54 yards and a rush for 26.
Maine will need a win at Stony Brook next Saturday AND a home win in their season finale against UNH in order to qualify for postseason play. “The kids know that and we know that. And it starts next week. New Hampshire doesn’t even happen without a win next week. It’s all about Stony Brook, tough place to play, but they will probably be in the same position where they need to win their last two as well”, added Harasymiak.
Maine will take on the Seawolves next Saturday in a must win game. Kickoff is at 2 p.m. Villanova returns home for a matchup with James Madison next Saturday at 1 p.m.
VIL 0 10 9 7-26
UME 0 0 7 0- 7
Total yards- Villanova 420 Maine 334
Turnovers- Villanova 0 Maine 4
Redzone- Villanova 4-4 Maine 0-5
Time of game- 2:52
