Villanova uses big third quarter to thump Morgan State, 48-28

Villanova overcame a mistake-prone first half and dominated the second in its final nonconference game of the season, defeating Morgan State, 48-28, Saturday at Villanova Stadium.

The game was tied at 21 at halftime, but No. 5 Villanova (7-1) scored 27 unanswered points in the third quarter to secure the win.

"We preached at halftime that we've been down twice at halftime before, to both William and Mary and James Madison," Villanova coach Andy Talley said. "Let's manage this game a little better in the third quarter. Let's just keep on tapping the rock, basically."

Which is exactly what they did.

The Wildcats opened the third quarter with a 12-play, 75-yard drive, capped by running back Kevin Monangai's 1-yard touchdown run. Then, defensive tackle Pat Williams blocked a punt, which led to quarterback John Robertson's 4-yard touchdown run.

On the next possession by Morgan State (4-4), defensive back Jason Ceneus returned an interception 40 yards to the Morgan State 25, setting up a 4-yard scoring pass from Robertson to Poppy Livers.

Villanova's final score came on Monangai's 81-yard scamper with 2 minutes, 36 seconds left in the third quarter.

Robertson completed 13 of 18 passes for 143 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for two touchdowns and gained 99 yards on 11 carries.

Monangai carried 16 times for 170 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Robertson said there was no screaming or yelling in the Villanova locker room at halftime.

"We just said, 'Let's go out and do what we know that we can do,' " said Robertson, who ran for a 56-yard touchdown on the Wildcats' first play from scrimmage. "We all just looked at each other and said we can't be getting holding penalties every time we make a long run. Stuff like that was hurting us."

The victory extended the Wildcats' winning streak to seven games - their longest streak since they won nine straight to close their 2009 national championship season.

The win left first-year Morgan State coach Lee Hull - who played without injured starting quarterback Robert Council and leading rusher Herb Walker Jr. - saying that the Wildcats could be the best team in the nation.

"I thought they were the best team in the nation coming in," Hull said. "Their only loss was to Syracuse, and they should have won that."

The Wildcats lost the season opener to Syracuse in double overtime.

Their other two nonconference victories came against Penn, 41-7, and Fordham, 50-6.