Villanova overwhelms Lehigh

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - We might not find out how Villanova would fare on the Football Bowl Subdivision level.

That's because the Wildcats ultimately could decide to decline an invitation to join the Big East Conference for football.

But Lehigh found out Saturday that, for the time being, Villanova is arguably the class of the Football Championship Subdivision. The defending national-champion Wildcats defeated the Mountain Hawks, 35-0, in a nonconference mismatch at Goodman Stadium.

With the win, Villanova (1-1) has won 10 consecutive and 19 of 21 games against FCS opponents, dating to 2008. The Wildcats also nabbed their fourth straight victory over the Mountain Hawks (1-1) and hold a 7-5 series advantage.

As expected, there has been plenty of discussion about Villanova's Big East invite. Wildcats coach Andy Talley let on at the postgame news conference that it's bothersome.

"For us, it is a distraction," said Talley, whose squad is ranked second nationally in The Sports Network/Fathead.com FCS top 25 poll.

"I'm not even talking to our team about it, because we are in the [Colonial Athletic Association]," he said. "We are trying to win a championship. And we were 0-1 [heading into the game] and needed a win. So it came at the worst time, frankly."

The Big East talk sure didn't appear to distract his defense.

Villanova held Lehigh to 29 rushing yards and surrendered just eight first downs and 215 yards of total offense.

For the Wildcats, senior free safety Fred Maldonado finished with a team-high seven tackles. Redshirt freshman defensive end Rakim Cox, sophomore strong safety Ronnie Akins, and junior cornerback Kelvin Johnson each recorded interceptions.

"This was special going into Towson and kicking off our CAA" conference schedule, Maldonado said of getting a boost for next Saturday's home opener.

On offense, the Wildcats' Dorian Wells caught three passes for a career-high 99 yards and a touchdown. Senior running back Aaron Ball had 102 of Villanova's 330 rushing yards, plus an 11-yard TD. Senior Matt Szczur, an all-American wideout/wildcat quarterback, finished with 95 rushing yards. Senior running back Angelo Babbaro added 68 yards and a score.

Scoring on two of their first four possessions, the Wildcats took a 14-0 first-quarter lead. Villanova's second touchdown came on quarterback Chris Whitney's 39-yard pass to a streaking Wells.

A 46-yard reception by Wells to the Lehigh 8 set up the Wildcats' next score, an 8-yard run by Babbaro, which put Villanova ahead by three TDs at halftime.

Still, the game didn't stop the talk in the stadium about Villanova possibly joining the Big East.

"People that maybe have an affinity for athletics are really energized by the thought of us moving up," Villanova athletic director Vince Nicastro said. "But I also think there's a segment of the population that is showing some concern about the resources it might take to play at that level."

Notes. Villanova's football team and women's cross country team, the defending NCAA champion, will be honored by President Obama on Monday at the White House.