Villanova looks to restart its engines

Villanova clearly was excited to play football in the first two weeks of the season, losing an overtime heartbreaker at Syracuse, an FBS team, and then rolling to a 44-point victory over Fordham, the 11th-ranked squad in FCS.

The Wildcats had nowhere to take all this energy in Week 3 because they were idle. And coach Andy Talley hopes that didn't bring their momentum to a halt going into Saturday's Colonial Athletic Association opener against James Madison at Villanova Stadium.

"The question is, 'Where are you as a team when you have a layoff?' " Talley said. "We were on a high two weeks in a row and now here you go trying to bring them back up. I told our players if we don't hit the field in the first quarter, this team will put 14 on us in a heartbeat because they're so fast."

The Wildcats (1-1) rolled to 514 yards of total offense against Fordham in their 50-6 victory, their highest margin ever over a nationally ranked opponent since 'Nova resumed football in 1985. The defense posted six sacks and held the Rams to minus-8 yards rushing.

The victory did come at a bit of a price. Quarterback John Robertson, a Walter Payton Award candidate, suffered a broken bone in his left (nonthrowing) hand early against Fordham but played the rest of the game. Talley said he will wear a soft cast on the hand.

"We can do the same things with him," Talley said. "He can run and throw, mix it up. Obviously if we could get our running game going without him, it would be great, but I doubt that. He's our best runner."

Under first-year coach Everett Withers, a former Ohio State assistant, the Dukes (2-1) have moved the football. They amassed 606 total yards - 322 on the ground - in a 31-28 win over Lehigh, and rushed for 338 yards in defeating St. Francis (Pa.) 38-22.

The roster includes 12 transfers from FBS schools. One is redshirt junior quarterback Vad Lee, formerly of Georgia Tech, who rushed for 174 yards in 18 carries last weekend.

"The kid can run and throw," Talley said. "He's a Georgia Tech kid. He was an option quarterback there. We have to find a way to keep him in check."

When: Saturday at 12:30 p.m.

Where: Villanova Stadium

Records: James Madison, 2-1; Villanova, 1-1. This is the CAA opener for both teams.

TV/Radio: Comcast Network; WFIL-AM (610).

Coaches: James Madison, Everett Withers (1st season, 2-1); Villanova, Andy Talley (30th season, 205-126-1).

Series: James Madison holds a 12-10 lead. The Dukes won last season's meeting, 31-21, in Harrisonburg, Va. The Wildcats' last victory came in 2012 at home, 35-20.

- Joe Juliano

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