Football 10/14/2018 11:23:00 PM

Villanova/Maine Post-Game Notes

Maine 13, Villanova 10

TEAM NOTES

Villanova fell to 48-46 (.511) as an FCS member in games where both the Wildcats and their opponent are nationally-ranked. After the loss to Stony Brook, the Wildcats are 59-74 (.444) overall against ranked teams since becoming an FCS member in 1985.

Maine won the game on a 52-yard field goal by Kenny Doak as time expired. He became the first Villanova opponent to make a field goal of at least 50 yards since John Lunsford of Liberty connected on a 50-yard attempt on December 6, 2014 in the FCS playoffs. The last Wildcats opponent to kick a field goal of at least 52 yards was on September 3, 2010 when Brandon McManus from Temple made a 53-yard attempt in that year's season opener.

Villanova had not suffered a "walk-off" loss since October 25, 2008 when it fell at home to James Madison by a final score of 23-19. That game ended on a 35-yard touchdown pass by the Dukes with no time left on the clock, turning a 19-17 Wildcats lead into the four-point defeat.

OFFENSE

Senior running back Aaron Forbes scored the only Villanova touchdown of the game on a two-yard run with 2:07 to play in the third quarter. He has now scored a touchdown in four consecutive games and at least one rushing touchdown in three straight contests. Forbes' streak of scores began with a receiving touchdown against Towson on September 15, followed by two rushing scores against Bucknell a week later. He also rushed for a touchdown in last week's game at Stony Brook.

DEFENSE

Villanova had a season-high eight tackles for loss against Maine, led by senior linebacker Jeff Steeb who had two tackles for loss. Junior linebacker Drew Wiley and sophomore Amin Black each had 1.5 tackles for loss, while Steen and Black each recorded a sack.

Junior safety Julian Williams had both an interception and a fumble recovery versus the Black Bears, becoming the first Villanova player with that combination since Rasaan Stewart accomplished it last season, also against Maine.

Villanova forced three Maine turnovers, including an interception and a fumble recovery by Julian Williams as well as the first interception of the season by junior linebacker Keeling Hunter (Hunter had a team-high four interceptions last season). Through their first six games, the Wildcats own a +2 turnover margin and are tied for the CAA Football lead with nine interceptions.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Freshman punter Nathan Fondacaro punted six times for an average of 47.3 yards per punt, including a career-long 63-yard punt. He is averaging 42.7 yards per punt on 25 attempts in his rookie season, with nine punts inside the 20-yard line and five for 50 yards or longer.