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VILLANOVA, Pa. - Senior running back Javon White (Telford, Pa.) pushed his way through a pack of defenders for a two-yard touchdown run with 4:20 to play and No. 22 Villanova (1-1) used a dominant running game to rally past Lehigh (0-2) for a 26-21 victory at Villanova Stadium on Saturday evening. White ran for a career-high 155 yards and two scores as the Wildcats racked up their most rushing yards in a game (396) in nearly seven years.

Villanova head coach Andy Talley recorded his 250th career victory in the game, becoming the 22nd college football coach all-time regardless of division to reach 250 career victories. Talley, who is the active career wins leader among all FBS and FCS head coaches, is one of five active coaches at all levels of the game to have over 200 wins at his current school. His career record now stands at 250-152-2 (.621), including 222-134-1 (.623) with the Wildcats.

Villanova overcame deficits of 14-6 and 21-20 in the contest, with the lead twice changing hands in the fourth quarter. After the Mountain Hawks scored a touchdown with 8:03 remaining to take a one-point lead (21-20), the Wildcats drove 83 yards down the field on eight plays to retake the lead when White converted on fourth down for the game-winning touchdown. White had a three-yard touchdown run to open the scoring late in the first quarter, while sophomore running back Aaron Forbes (Newburgh, N.Y.) and second-year quarterback Adeyemi DaSilva (Edgewater, N.J.) also had rushing touchdowns.

The ground game marked a start contrast from the season opener at Pittsburgh last week, when Villanova registered just 53 yards on the ground. It nearly tripled that by halftime (157 yards) and then exploded for an even bigger second half on the ground (239). Sophomore quarterback Zach Bednarczyk (Wallington, N.J.) ran for 92 yards and Forbes finished with a career-high 87 yards. Sophomore wide receiver Jarrett McClenton (Bensalem, Pa.) added 46 yards on eight carries.

White's first touchdown of the game gave the Wildcats a 6-0 lead with 1:46 left in the opening period, but Villanova was unable to convert the point-after try. Lehigh scored 14 unanswered points in the second quarter on a one-yard touchdown run by Dom Bragalone and a six-yard scamper for a score by quarterback Nick Shafnisky.

Although the Mountain Hawks got the ball to start the second half, the Wildcats kept their deficit at 14-6 when Lehigh missed a 40-yard field goal attempt with 11:09 to play in the third quarter. Villanova went 77 yards on its first drive of the period and tied the game at 14-14 on a 20-yard touchdown run by Forbes and a successful rush by Bednarczyk for a two-point conversion. A one-yard run by DaSilva with 2:25 to play in the period put the Wildcats back in front, 20-14, but the Mountain Hawks blocked the extra point attempt.

Shafnisky threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Derek Knott with 8:03 to play to give Lehigh its final lead of the game.

The persistent rushing attack by Villanova allowed Bednarczyk to attempt just three passes in the second half. He finished 6-of-13 for 56 yards passing in the contest, and had just one completion after halftime (a 22-yard completion to junior wide receiver Taurus Phillips (Beacon, N.Y.) on the first play of the drive that culminated in DaSilva's touchdown run). In all, the Wildcats ran the ball on 26 of their 29 offensive plays in the second half.

Senior linebacker Austin Calitro (Danbury, Conn.) and junior linebacker Ed Shockley (Millville, N.J.) had 10 tackles apiece to lead Villanova defensively. Calitro came up big when it counted most, as he recorded five of his 10 tackles in the fourth quarter. Junior safety Rasaan Stewart (Collegeville, Pa.) had a career-high nine tackles and also recorded his first career interception in the contest. Senior defensive lineman Tanoh Kpassagnon (Ambler, Pa.) chipped in with five total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and the Wildcats only sack of the game.

Mountain Hawks receiver Troy Pelletier tallied 13 receptions for 121 yards, while Braglone ran for 90 yards and a score. Shafnisky was 29-of-41 through the air for 246 yards and a touchdown, in addition to running 11 times for a net total of 16 yards and a touchdown.

Villanova returns to action at home next weekend when it opens conference play with a 3:30 p.m. game against Towson. The contest will air live on Comcast SportsNet and various NBS Sports regional networks.