Connor Watkins' 197 total yards, 2 TDs lead Villanova over Youngstown State 24-17 in opener
PHILADELPHIA -- — Connor Watkins carried it 10 times for 107 yards and two touchdowns, and he completed six passes for 90 yards to help Villanova beat Youngstown State 24-17 on Thursday night in a season opener for both teams.
Watkins, the Coastal Athletic Association preseason offensive player of the year, scored on a 29-yard run in the third quarter to extend the lead to 24-3.
Youngstown State battled back to get within seven points with 4:24 left in the fourth quarter. Then Villanova was forced to punt on its next possession, but Ethan Gettman booted a 62-yarder that was downed at the Youngstown State 6-yard line.
Richie Kimmel sealed it for Villanova with an interception.
Beau Brungard was intercepted two times for Youngstown State. He finished with 152 yards passing and a touchdown.
Villanova opened the scoring on Ethan Gettman’s 42-yard field goal in the first quarter — his eighth career make from 40-plus yards. Watkins added a 14-yard touchdown for a 10-0 lead. Isaiah Ragland also had a rushing touchdown in the first half from 3-yards out.
Zahmir Dawud intercepted a pass with 1:27 remaining in the first half and Villanova took over near midfield. The Wildcats led 17-3 at the break, aided by two Youngstown State turnovers.
It was a rematch of last year’s second round playoff game when Villanova tallied its third win in the all-time series with a 45-28 victory to begin its 2023 playoff run.
------
Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
Game Information
2024 Missouri Valley Football Conference Standings
Team | CONF | OVR |
---|---|---|
Illinois State | 0-0 | 2-1 |
North Dakota | 0-0 | 2-1 |
North Dakota State | 0-0 | 2-1 |
Northern Iowa | 0-0 | 2-1 |
South Dakota State | 0-0 | 2-1 |
Southern Illinois | 0-0 | 2-1 |
South Dakota | 0-0 | 1-1 |
Indiana State | 0-0 | 1-2 |
Missouri State | 0-0 | 1-2 |
Murray State | 0-0 | 1-2 |
Youngstown State | 0-0 | 1-2 |
2024 Coastal Athletic Association Standings
Team | CONF | OVR |
---|---|---|
Villanova | 1-0 | 3-0 |
Delaware | 1-0 | 2-0 |
Rhode Island | 1-0 | 2-1 |
Monmouth | 1-0 | 1-2 |
Hampton | 0-0 | 2-1 |
New Hampshire | 0-0 | 2-1 |
Stony Brook | 0-0 | 2-1 |
William & Mary | 0-0 | 2-1 |
Bryant | 0-0 | 1-2 |
Elon | 0-0 | 1-2 |
Richmond | 0-0 | 1-2 |
UAlbany | 0-0 | 1-2 |
Campbell | 0-1 | 1-2 |
Maine | 0-1 | 1-2 |
North Carolina A&T | 0-1 | 1-2 |
Towson | 0-1 | 1-2 |