Recap | Box Score | Notes

Villanova Head Coach Andy Talley

Opening Statement: We're very happy to win a playoff game. I thought that Saint Francis was as tough of a team as they played in the second half. They're very physical. We got some guys banged around. I think that it was important since we were coming off a high at Delaware that we played that way in the first half. I think that carried over into the second half not so well. I think it was a combination that Saint Francis played better and we were at 31 points. We had enough points at halftime with our defense to keep them at bay. I felt that if we played hard, we would have a chance to come out in good shape. I was very pleased with our team overall. I knew that our defense would hold us in. All in all, our kids played really well for an opening round football game. We're looking forward to going out to South Dakota.

On what he's seen from South Dakota State: I saw a little tape of them last week. I think they're a team very much like us. They're an 8-3 team, and I think they were seeded a hair higher than us. They've beaten North Dakota State, and I think that tells you how good they are. We're looking forward to it. It's a good trip for us. They're a tough team. I think at this point, when you get to the 16 teams that are left, anybody is really capable of beating anybody. I think that the CAA absolutely prepares you to play in the playoffs. I just think that we are in so many wars week in and week out, that when you get to the playoffs, it's like another CAA game.

On what he likes about his team heading into the next round: I think in order to win in the playoffs, you have to run the football and mix in a little bit of the passing game. Most importantly, you need to play defense. I think we are well-suited right now with a great defense and a pretty good offense.

On the running game: I think that it carried us, especially in the first half. Matt Gudzak was really at the forefront of that, and Zach Bednarczyk was able to pull the football and run the option, which opens up our passing game. Our offensive line also did a really good job.

On his last home game at Villanova: It's been a great career. I couldn't ask for anything more. So when you walk out of the stadium for the last time, you kind of look back and reflect. Mark Ferrante will be our new coach. This building is phenomenal. We're a playoff team. It's all good. I'll still be around next year. It's 32 years of building the program and now handing it over to a quality coach who has been here almost as long as me and a great staff. This is the cream of the crop here. I'm just really proud of everything we have built.

Quarterback Zach Bednarczyk

On the improvement the offense has made this season: You saw it in the first half. The second half was a little disappointing for us, offensively. The Delaware game gave us a lot of momentum. A lot of young guys are stepping up and making plays and you saw that in the first half of this game. We wished we could have put up some points in the second half, but we know that if we want to win next week, we're going to have to put together four good quarters of football.

On getting off to a good offensive start: We knew that we would have to start fast and put some points on the board. This is a tough defense. All season, they rarely let up any points. We knew that if we could get off to a good start, we'd be good. We would have liked to put some points on the board in the second half, but 31 points was able to be enough, luckily.

Tight End Ryan Bell

On what it feels like to become an important part of the passing game: I like it when they go to me, on the goal line especially. I like to be a big target for Zach. The past few games our offense has been clicking. We usually have either the run game or the pass game, but I think that we have been combining both of them well the past few games.

Linebacker Austin Calitro

On how the defense was effective: For the most part, we stuck with our base calls. We made some adjustments at halftime. I think that we were all pretty locked in and focused on our preparation throughout the week.

Saint Francis Head Coach Chris Villarrial

On what Villanova was doing that made today challenging: First of all, I want to congratulate Villanova, great team, great coaches, very well coached, very classy team. Basically they came out and went into their huddle and got us out of sync very quickly. We had some young guys in the back end and we got frustrated early on. It took a little to settle in, but Villanova had a great game plan and obviously it worked. Their defense, we were unable to get our run game going. They get the ball in the right time of possession, so they did a great job. Obviously, we have to learn from this and move on, but my hat's off to Villanova today.

On Villanova being a tough team to beat: They hold you true, you have to play a true defense. If you get out of your gab, they'll make you pay. If you get out of your coverages, they have a quarterback and he can read it and he'll make you pay. They're very fundamentally sound and they're very well coached. They stress you and they have a lot of motion. They're very big up front and they have a back that's very patient. He picks and chooses where he wants to go and they have a great scheme.

On what to build on the last two years: We have to be more consistent. We need to keep recruiting well. We have to learn how to finish drives. When you're playing a good team, you can't make mistakes. We had too many mistakes today and a couple big first downs that we had penalties on and you can't commit penalties in big games like this. It's just something we have to clean up and we have to become more consistent and more discipline. I think that's really what we have to take away from today.