ORONO- Quarterback Connor Watkins completed his first 13 passes attempted and tossed four touchdown passes to Jaaron Hayek on Saturday afternoon, as the #14 Villanova Wildcats rolled past the Maine Black Bears 45-20 at Alfond Stadium in Colonial Athletic Association conference football action. It was the CAA opener for Maine.
Villanova (3-2, 1-1 CAA) scored on five of their six first half possessions with a field goal and four touchdowns to build a 17 point halftime lead. The Wildcats opened the game with the football and Matthew Mercurio connected on a 39 yard field goal 4:39 into play. They made it 10-0 on their second possession as Jalen Jackson scored on a five yard run. Maine would crack the scoreboard for the first time on their second possession, as Joe Fagnano connected with Montigo Moss for a nine yard touchdown pass. Moss made a great leaping one handed highlight catch in the back of the endzone. The Black Bears however couldn’t slow down the combination of Watkins and wide receiver Hayek. Watkins and Hayek connected for the first time on a four yard scoring play, that was helped by a Watkins scramble for 19 yards on a third down and 12 and also a fourth down and short conversion. After a three and out by Maine, the Wildcats who were backed up inside their own 20 and facing a third and 10 would use yet another big Watkins to Hayek play. Watkins found Hayek behind the defense down the right sideline, and the receiver did the rest with an 83 yard touchdown that made it 24-7. The hosts cut it to 10 again when Fagnano tossed his second TD of the first half, finding one of his favorite targets Xavier Scott for a 30 yard score. The pass was tipped by a defender around the five yard line, but Scott caught a break when the tipped ball found his arms and he walked in for six. It took the guests just 1:01 to respond to that, as Watkins found Hayek for the third time on an 18 yard TD that made it 31-14 at the break.
The scoring slowed down in the second half, but early on it was the same story. The Watkins to Hayek chemistry continued, as the quarterback found his target behind the defense over the middle for a 42 yard score 5:38 into the third quarter. Maine scored for the final time on the day on a trick play, as running back Elijah Barnwell threw a nine yard score to Shawn Bowman early in the fourth. The final score of the game was a defensive play by Villanova, as Jalen Goodman took his first career interception into the endzone from 23 yards out with 8:38 remaining.
Fagano finished 24-38 passing for 192 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. The Black Bears ground game went over total of 100 yards for the first time on the season, led by Barnwell who had nine attempts for 53 yards. Bowman (seven receptions, 55 yards), Kobay White (five-57), and Scott (three-45) were the leading receivers. Bowman and Scott each had a touchdown. White, the Boston College transfer, played his first full game with Maine. Xavier Mitchell had nine total tackles to lead the defense. Watkins was 13-16 for 255 yards for Villanova with all four of his touchdowns going to Hayek. He also added five rush attempts for 41 yards. TD Ayo-Durojaiye carried nine times for 51 yards, and Jackson had 10 for 41 yards and a touchdown. Hayek had a total of five receptions for 159 yards and those four scores, while Ethan Potter had a total of 11 tackles. The four receiving TDs by Hayek is tied for second most in a game in school history. His former teammate Chana Hodge had four against Delaware in 2019, as the Wildcats overall game record is five. Maine is now 0-4, 0-1 in the CAA and will head back on the road to face new conference member Hampton in Virginia next Saturday for a 2 p.m. kickoff.
