Robertson's TD pass in final minute lifts Villanova over Delaware

NEWARK, Del. - John Robertson's late-game magic likely earned himself and his Villanova football teammates a week off.

Trailing by a point with under two minutes remaining, Robertson marched the Wildcats 68 yards on 10 plays during a drive that included two fourth-down conversions for a dramatic, 35-28 win over Delaware in a Colonial Athletic Association thriller on Saturday at Delaware Stadium.

Robertson hit Kevin Gulyas on a 21-yard scoring pass with 23 seconds left and then connected with Poppy Livers on the two-point conversion to complete the comeback.

Villanova (10-2, 7-1 CAA) likely earned a bye in the 24-team FCS playoffs that begin on Saturday. Delaware ended its season 6-6, 4-4.

The top eight seeds will earn byes. Villanova entered the game ranked No. 6 in two polls. The field will be announced Sunday.

"He's special, that is the only way you can describe him," Delaware standout defensive end Derrick Saulsberry said in describing Robertson.

The Villanova junior completed 14 of 25 passes for 217 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. He rushed for 117 yards on 23 carries.

On the winning drive, Robertson hit Livers for 23 yards to the 50-yard line on a fourth-and-15 play. Later, Robertson gained 10 yards to the Delaware 21 on fourth and 1.

On the next play, he hit a wide-open Gulyas on the 10-yard line. The Villanova receiver dashed into the end zone for his eighth touchdown reception.

"It was a mesh play, and I was fortunate to have my guy cut loose, and I think he went with Poppy and John was able to find me, and we got the score," Gulyas said

It turned out that a fear of failure motivated Robertson before the winning drive.

"I was thinking, 'Man, going in the playoffs with a loss is just a terrible way to do it,' " Robertson said. "We have something special going with our team, and we want to set ourselves up for the best positions, so I said: 'We can't lose.' "

Villanova scored on its first three possessions, earning a 20-0 lead when Robertson hit Livers deep for a 42-yard score on a fourth-and-4 play early in the second quarter.

Delaware made it 20-7 on tight end Nick Boyle's 10-yard scoring pass from Trent Hurley. It was the 100th career reception for Boyle.

Villanova went up by 27-7 when Kevin Monangai scored his third touchdown, a 1-yard run with 6 minutes, 4 seconds left in the third quarter.

Delaware, which blocked a PAT and a 32-yard field-goal attempt, took a 28-27 lead on the third touchdown of the game by Ridley's Jalen Randolph, a 1-yard run with 2:04 left.

The key play in the drive was a leaping, 32-yard reception by Jerel Harrison.

On the next series, Robertson went to work and likely gave his team a week off.

@sjnard