Aug. 30, 2001

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VILLANOVA, PA - The Villanova football team won its sixth consecutive home opener, as senior running back Brian Westbrook had yet another record setting day in leading the Wildcats to a 38-14 victory over Colgate on Thursday, Aug. 30, at Villanova Stadium.

The game was stopped with 10:31 remaining in the fourth quarter due to lightning and was finally called after a 51-minute delay.

Westbrook totaled 337 all-purpose yards and a career-high five touchdowns on the night for the `Cats who improved to 1-0 on the season with the victory. In addition, he tied the NCAA I-AA record with his fifth career kickoff return for a touchdown and went over the 3,000 yard rushing mark for his career. With his outstanding contest, Westbrook vaulted himself into 21st place on the college football career list for all-purpose yards with 7,026.

After a Casey Hannon 24-yard field goal gave Villanova a 3-0 lead at the 10:26 mark of the first quarter, the Colgate offense marched down the field. A 13-play, 76-yard drive resulted in a two-yard rushing touchdown by Matt Kobelski to give the Raiders a 7-3 advantage.

With the Wildcats trailing 7-3, Westbrook returned the next kickoff 98 yards for a Villanova touchdown to help Villanova reclaim the lead at 10-7. Beginning with that score, the Wildcats went on to score 35 straight points with all five touchdowns coming via Westbrook.

Colgate would tack on a late score on a six yard touchdown pass from Rob Markett to Joe Parker, but it was too late as the Wildcats surged to a 38-14 victory.

Joining Westbrook in leading the Villanova offensive attack was junior quarterback Brett Gordon, who completed 19-of-33 passes for 175 yards and one touchdown.

In the loss for Colgate (0-1), Parker caught three passes for 28 yards and a score, while Markett came off the bench to complete all three of his pass attempts for 19 yards and a touchdown.

Villanova will get back into action on Saturday, Sept. 8, hosting Northeastern at 1:00 p.m.