CAA Football

Villanova Football In The FCS Playoffs: Wildcats Head to UIW

Villanova Football In The FCS Playoffs: Wildcats Head to UIW

Villanova seeks its third trip to the FCS Playoffs quarterfinals in four years when the Wildcats visit UIW.

Dec 5, 2024 by Kyle Kensing
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In each of its last two FCS Playoffs appearances, Villanova has advanced to the quarterfinals. The Wildcats are a win away from returning to the final eight for the third time in four years but must navigate through tough Texas terrain when they visit No. 6 overall seed Incarnate Word.

The upstart UIW program returns to the Playoffs for the fourth time, all coming since 2018. All the more impressive is that current Cardinals head coach Clint Killough is the third coach to guide UIW to the postseason, joining predecessors Eric Morris and GJ Kinne.

Villanova's Mark Ferrante, in contrast, became the program's second head coach ever when he took over for longtime colleague Andy Talley in 2017. Ferrante has been part of the formative moments throughout Villanova football history, including the Wildcats 2009 national championship. 

That was the last title awarded before the FCS National Championship Game moved to Frisco. All 16 teams remaining in the postseason have designs on Texas, and Villanova's pursuit takes it through the Lone Star State via San Antonio for the round of 16. 

Villanova at UIW

Offense

UIW built its reputation on employing one of the most prolific offenses in the FCS during the latter half of the 2010s. Former Cardinals coach Eric Morris, a product of the Texas Tech air-raid family, brought a potent passing attack to San Antonio that GJ Kinne continued in his tenure with UIW. 

Clint Killough, a UIW alum and assistant to both Morris and Kinne, tabbed another product of the vast Tech coaching tree as offensive coordinator, Conner McQueen. McQueen worked with Lincoln Riley at Southern California during Caleb Williams' Heisman Trophy-winning 2022 campaign. McQueen's offenses at UIW have continued the program's tradition of high-tempo offense with an aggressive aerial attack. 

Quarterback Zach Calzada had a solid 2023 upon transferring from Auburn, but stepped his game up to another level as one of the top passers in FCS this season with 3,351 yards and 33 touchdowns. Calzada's the best passer Villanova has seen outside of Monmouth's Derek Robertson, with the added layer of his ability to make plays in the run game. 

Calzada has rushed for at least 28 yards six times and scored four touchdowns to supplement a Cardinals run game with backs Dekalon Taylor and Lontrell Turner combining for more than 1,300 yards. Taylor, who scored nine touchdowns in the regular season, likely would have broken 1,000 yards had he not missed the season finale vs. East Texas A&M. 

Like UIW with Calzada, Villanova's offense features its own dual-threat quarterback in Connor Watkins. The veteran Watkins rushed for 437 yards after his 42-yard effort in the 1st Round vs. Eastern Kentucky. He's also carried for eight touchdowns in 2024. 

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He’s a big part of a multifaceted rushing attack along with breakout freshmen David Avit, who’s carried for 887 yards and nine touchdowns; and Isaiah Ragland, who has 508 yards and four scores despite missing two games in the regular season.

Although Villanova’s passing attack has been less electric than it was in 2023, Devin Smith established himself as a solid option along with last season’s standout Jaylan Sanchez. Tight end James Welde making his first grab of the season with a touchdown against Eastern Kentucky also helps establish a potential building block for Villanova, particularly in the red zone.

Defense

The Villanova defense has at times in 2024 been the most dominant in the nation. The Wildcats head to San Antonio ranked No. 14 in scoring defense at 18.6 points allowed per game, their 1st Round win over Eastern Kentucky marking the eighth time they held an opponent to 17 points or fewer. 

Linebackers Brenan Bell and Shane Hartzell played significant roles in the playoff win, as they have all season, each making a tackle for loss against the Colonels. Bell also recovered a fumble and factored into special teams with a blocked kick. But the Villanova defense is more than its two outstanding linebackers as the 1st Round reemphasized. 

Richie Kimmel, who had a team-leading eight tackles, also forced a fumble. Ty Trinh, Zahmir Dawud, and Jason Hall all had tackles for loss, and Hall forced a fumble. The depth of Villanova's defense is part of what has made the Wildcats strong on that side of the ball all season, and facing UIW's explosive offense, it's all hands on deck. 

While the Cardinals have staked their reputation largely on offense, UIW's defense is as talented as any Villanova has or will see this season. Linebacker Mister Williams is a force, having produced 13 tackles for loss to lead UIW in racking up 82 as a group, and he's forced five fumbles; most in the FCS. 

Williams' production has made the Cardinals one of the most effective turnover-generating defenses in the country, as well, with 28 takeaways through 12 games. Defensive backs Mason Chambers and Darius Sanders have five combined interceptions, and Chambers has forced a fumble to contribute to UIW's outstanding turnover numbers. 

Special Teams

Villanova kicker Ethan Gettman has pulled double-duty in 2024 as both punter and placekicker. In the former role, he's thrived with 16 punts pinned inside the opponents' 20-yard line. In placekicking duties, Gettman is 11-of-17 with two kicks blocked. 

On the flipside, Bell's block vs. Eastern Kentucky gave Villanova three thus far on the season. 

Wildcats coverage will have to watch out for UIW's Taylor. If the running back is available, he can flip the field quickly with a punt return average of 15 yards and one taken back for a touchdown. 

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When Do The 2024 FCS College Football Playoffs Start?

The FCS playoffs begin on November 30, 2024.

The 2024 Division I FCS College Football Championship game will be played on January 6, 2025, at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.

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