Villanova defeats William and Mary, 28-17

It was an opportunity Villanova dreamed about - a matchup against a quality opponent on national television.

And yesterday at Villanova Stadium, the Wildcats showed why they are Football Championship Subdivision contenders.

Second-ranked Villanova defeated fifth-ranked William and Mary, 28-17, in a Colonial Athletic Association showdown telecast on Versus.

The Wildcats improved to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the CAA heading into Saturday's game at No. 6 New Hampshire. William and Mary fell to 4-1, 1-1.

"I [approached] this game as a playoff game," Villanova coach Andy Talley said. "I told our players, it would be similar to that same kind of atmosphere."

The Wildcats recorded four sacks and forced two turnovers that led to Villanova touchdowns.

Wildcat cornerback James Pitts was in on both takeaways, tipping a ball that was intercepted by linebacker Marquis Kirkland and recovering a fumble forced by defensive end Mario Johnson.

Pitts, who also finished with a game-high 15 tackles, dedicated his performance to several late family members, including his 4-year-old stepbrother, Kendall Flemming, who drowned while vacationing in Mexico last week.

"That's who I played for today," a teary-eyed Pitts said of Kendall. His death "was one of those gut shots."

The Wildcats scored on a flea-flicker on the first play from scrimmage.

Wideout Matt Szczur lined up at quarterback while regular quarterback Chris Whitney was flanked at wideout. Szczur handed to wideout Dorian Wells on a reverse and Wells tossed the ball to Whitney in the backfield. Whitney, in turn, completed a 57-yard touchdown pass to wideout Brandyn Harvey.

On its second possession, William and Mary had a chance to tie the game with a first and goal at the Villanova 7-yard line. But the Tribe self-destructed when Pitts tipped a pass from wideout Chase Hill in the end zone to the diving Kirkland.

Szczur's 5-yard touchdown run on the ensuing drive capped a 9-play, 80-yard drive. That march was advanced when Tribe cornerback Terrell Wells received a 15-yard unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty for helmet-to-helmet contact with Wells.

Pitts set up the Wildcats' next touchdown by returning a fumble 20 yards to the Tribe 29. Angelo Babbaro's 3-yard TD gave Villanova a 21-3 lead with 1 minute, 53 seconds left in the half.

Notes: Villanova safety Ross Ventrone (sprained ankle) and Wells (upper body injury) left the game, and neither returned. . . . Michael Gilchrist, a junior basketball player at St. Patrick (N.J.), sat with members of Villanova's basketball team. Gilchrist, the nation's top basketball recruit regardless of class, was on an unofficial visit.