Villanova wins Mark Ferrante's debut at Lehigh

BETHLEHEM – For the first time in just over three decades, a new era of Villanova football got going Saturday afternoon.

This is Mark Ferrante's program now. He takes over for Andy Talley, who compiled Hall of Fame credentials during his 32 seasons. And who coached Ferrante at Division III St. Lawrence, then made him an assistant who spent almost his entire career getting ready for his shot.

The Wildcats, ranked 10^th in FCS, beat No. 17 Lehigh, which almost beat them last September on the Main Line, 38-35, at Goodman Stadium. They never trailed. Twice they led by 14 points. But they had to run out the final 4 minutes, 43 seconds — after the Mountain Hawks scored to make it as close as it had been since 7-7 late in the first quarter — before Ferrante could take a deep breath.

Starting on their 14, they ran off nine plays. Seven were rushes. On third-and-1 from the 48, quarterback Zach Bednarczyk gained 9. They took two knees after that.

It's one Ferrante is never going to forget. But he had never made any of it about him.

" Mark just presented me with the game ball in the locker room," he said, referring to athletic director Mark Jackson.  "But I told them it wasn't my first win. It was our win. That's why I'm going to get everyone on the team to sign it. … People had faith in me to be the coach."

The last time the Wildcats opened at Lehigh was 1919. It was a 47-0 loss.

It's the most points Villanova has scored in any coach's debut. And if Lehigh – which is coached by former Penn assistant Andy Coen — had added another touchdown, it would also have been the most allowed.

"Fortunately it didn't come to that," Ferrante said with a smile.

The Wildcats, who play four of the first five on the road, next get Temple on Saturday in South Philly.

This is the first time they have opened against an FCS opponent since 2004. The last time they won an opener was 2009, when they beat the Owls and eventually won a national title.

Ferrante's wife is from here. So he had some 40 ticket requests from her side of the family.

"There was a lot of emotions," he acknowledged. "I haven't really felt that different with things. The most different I felt was taking the field."

The Wildcats took the lead four plays after taking the opening kickoff. It was 28-14 at the half, 35-28 after three quarters. A 32-yard field goal by Drew Kresge in his first career game with 12 minutes to go turned out to be the difference.

The teams combined for 959 yards. Lehigh's Brad Mayes threw for 406. Two of his targets, Troy Pelletier and Luke Christiano, had more than 140. Villanova's Matt Gudzak rushed for a career-best 142 and two TDs. Bednarczyk ran for 72 yards and a score and passed for 209 and two scores.

And they still had to eat up the clock at the end, just as the rain was starting.

"We were thinking first down, first down," said offensive lineman Louis Csaszar. "Punting was not a thought."

The Wildcats did just enough. That's all that counts. But it's merely a starting point.

"I'm not 1-0," Ferrante reiterated. "This team is 1-0. And we won't have much chance to celebrate."

Welcome to the next era.