Villanova's loss pushes season to brink

Villanova's season isn't over. But with three games left, it's almost on life support.

The Wildcats, who were coming off a bye, lost their second straight on Saturday against Elon at home, 19-14. They were ranked 13^th in FCS. The Phoenix (7-1), picked to finish next-to-last in the Colonial Athletic Association, came in at No. 10. Their loss was to FBS Toledo in the opener.

Villanova is 4-4, 2-3 in the league. A 7-4 record might be enough to get into the playoffs. Next up is Richmond (4-4, 2-3), which was 19^th before it lost at No. 22 Stony Brook (6-2, 5-1).

It will be an elimination game. But so will every remaining game for the Wildcats, who have been gutted by injuries to key players.

True freshman Kyle McCloskey (Germantown Academy) got his first start at quarterback. The Wildcats led by seven early and by four late in the third quarter. But on three possessions after that, they got one first down. That was with 14 minutes to go. They did have a chance when Tre Johnson returned a kickoff 65 yards to the Elon 35 with 4 1/2 minutes left. But after a holding penalty on first down, they went four-and-out.

Elon had taken the lead, 16-14, at 10:51 of the fourth quarter on a 21-yard pass from true freshman Davis Cheek to Tre Marsh. But the Phoenix missed the extra point. Owen Johnson made a 28-yard field goal at 4:45.

Villanova, which lost the field-position battle, had 12 fewer first downs and 225 less yards. The Wildcats did force the only two turnovers, both interceptions.

McCloskey, who was harassed a bunch, went 9-for-20 for 137 yards with two touchdowns. He rushed for 65 yards on 19 carries.

Cheek threw for 357 yards and two scores. Kortez Weeks had 11 catches for 65 yards. De'Sean McNair ran for 90 yards on 20 carries, as Elon became the first team in 10 games to gain more than 100 on the ground against Villanova.

Elon's wins have come by a total of 28 points. This was its fourth fourth-quarter comeback. This is the most points Villanova has scored in its eight losses the last two seasons.

"We have a lot of young guys out there," said first-year coach Mark Ferrante. "We just don't have enough in the tank right now."

They still have a reason to play other than pride.

"Nothing's over," said defensive lineman Rickey Young.

But it could be, with one more loss. They also lost to Temple on a late field goal and at Albany in overtime.

"The last game I started was in high school," McCloskey said. "I lot of things I did in those games I can't do in this game.

"Whether it was my first start or my 100^th, there were some plays that I needed to make. I made some. And others I left on the field."

The margin for that is now gone.