Trending
LEWISBURG -- With 12:06 remaining, Bucknell's Juan Garanton booted a 40-yard field goal and put the Bison ahead by two points and hoped to shift momentum.
But Villanova proceeded to take the next possession and drive into field goal range and, with 8:20 to play, it was Dominic LeBlanc who kicked a 22 yarder to give the Wildcats a 17-16 lead.
From there, Villanova's defense did the rest and held on to defeat Bucknell by a point in a close contest to secure the win and keep Bucknell winless so far this year.
Bucknell got one last chance to try and rally and got the ball at its own 25 after the Wildcat's go-ahead field goal. But the drive stalled in Villanova territory after a missed 29-yard field goal attempt which would have put the Bison ahead.
Villanova then ran the clock out inside of two minutes.
Christopher Dietrich went 29 for 39 for Bucknell with 245 passing yards and two touchdowns while Villanova was led by Pat McQuaide's 13 for 20 effort for 218 and two touchdowns. Bucknell's ground game couldn't get established as Michael Cadden had a team-high 37 rushing yards on nine attempts and Dietrich ran it 12 times for 18 yards.
Villanova was led by Ja'briel Mace's 70 rushing yards on 13 carries and Isaiah Ragland's 42 yards on 13 attempts.
Sam Milligan had a great day at receiver for Bucknell as he caught 13 receptions for 135 yards and two touchdowns. TJ Cadden had seven catches for 52 yards, Michael Cadden had seven catches for 30 yards and Owen Garwood caught two passes for 28 yards.
Brandon Binkowski had three catches for Villanova for 71 yards, Braden Reed had five for 68 and two touchdowns, Nolan Clayton caught two for 32 yards, Jake Hilton had two receptions for 26 and Isaiah Ragland caught a pass for 21 yards.
Bucknell will look to snap its two-game losing skid as the Bison travel to VMI next Saturday. Bucknell returns to Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19 vs. Penn.
Villanova 17, Bucknell 16
Villanova 7 7 0 3 -- 17
Bucknell 0 0 13 3 -- 16
First quarter
V--B. Reed 26 pass from P. McQuaide (D. LeBlanc kick), 5:24.
Second quarter
V--B. Reed 16 pass from P. McQuaide (D. LeBlanc kick), 1:10.
Third quarter
B--Sam. Milligan 1 pass from C. Dietrich (J. Garanton kick), 7:54.
B--Sam Milligan 10 pass form C. Dietrich (kick missed), 1:09.
Fourth quarter
B--Garanton 40 field goal, 12:06.
V--D. LeBlanc 22 field goal, 8:20.
TEAM STATISTICS
V B
First downs 16 22
Rushes-yards 33-87 30-60
Passing yards 218 245
C-A-I 13-20-0 29-39-0
Total yards 305 305
Fumbles-lost 1-0 0-0
Penalties-yards 5-45 6-55
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Villanova, Ja'briel Mace 13-70; Isaiah Ragland 13-42; Pat McQuaide 4-(minus 8). Bucknell, Michael Cadden 9-37; Chris Dietrich 12-16; Ty Stauffer 8-7; Sam Milligan 1-1.
PASSING--Villanova, Pat McQuaide 13-20-0 218 2 TDs. Bucknell, Chris Dietrich 29-39-0 245 2 TDs.
RECEIVING--Villanova, BRaden Reed 9-68; Brandon Binkowski 3-71; Nolan Clayton 2-32; Jake Hilton 3-26; Isaiah Ragland 1-21; Chris Colby 1-0; Brody Eaton 1-0. Bucknell, Sam Milligan 16-135 2 TDs; TJ Cadden 9-28; Michael Cadden 9-30; Owen Garwood 2-28; Jerry Harrison 2-0; Jack Bohm-Squicciarini 1-0.
SACKS--Villanova, Ugo Nwotite 2; Jamie Tyson 1. Bucknell, Jack Inserra 1; Nick Hoying 1/2; Brandon Biagiarelli 1/2.