VILLANOVA, Pa.—Big running plays could come at a high premium on Saturday afternoon when two of the nation's top 10 teams in rushing defense meet in a CAA Football clash. Kickoff is at 3:30 p.m. at Alfond Stadium as No. 19 Villanova (3-2, 0-2 CAA Football) takes on No. 25 Maine (2-2, 1-0) in its second straight road game against a nationally-ranked opponent. 
 
In this week's national statistics leaders the Wildcats are ranked 10^th in rushing defense with an average of 97.6 yards and just four touchdowns allowed.  The host Black Bears have been even better at stopping the run through their first four games, limiting opposing teams to 53.0 yards per game on the ground and three scores.    
 
The all-time series between Villanova and Maine has often been an evenly matched one, with the Wildcats holding a narrow 12-9 edge in the all-time series.  The teams had never faced each other prior to Villanova joining CAA Football in 1988, but Saturday's game will be the 22^nd meeting in the last 31 seasons since then.  It will be the fourth time the Wildcats and the Black Bears face each other when both teams are nationally-ranked. 
 
Villanova is coming off a 29-27 loss at Stony Brook last week in which it was held below 400 yards of total offense for the first time this season.  Three different receivers caught touchdown passes from three different passers in the game, led by sophomore tight end Todd Summers (Murrysville, Pa.) who had a team-high 77 receiving yards and a score. Senior slot receiver Jarrett McClenton (Bensalem, Pa.) had three receptions for 65 yards to continue what has been a terrific start to the 2018 campaign. 
 
McClenton currently leads CAA Football and is tied for sixth in the country with five receiving touchdowns, while his team-high 388 receiving yards are second in the conference and 23^rd nationally.  He has been a big part of a powerful passing game, as the Wildcats have averaged 291.4 yards per game through the air.  Senior quarterback Zach Bednarczyk (Wallington, N.J.) has thrown for 1,319 yards and 12 touchdowns, both of which are CAA bests and rank in the top 10 in FCS football. 
 
Villanova has won its last four games against Maine and has also come away with a win in each of its last four trips to Alfond Stadium.  Sophomore safety Jaquan Amos (Philadelphia, Pa.) played a starring role in last year's 31-0 victory at Villanova Stadium when he tied an FCS record with a 99-yard fumble return for a touchdown.  Amos had a career-high eight tackles against Stony Brook last week and has 28 total stops on the year to go along with an interception and three pass breakups.
 
Both teams will be looking to get back in the win column on Saturday, with the Wildcats coming off the Stony Brook loss and the Black Bears having lost 35-14 at Yale last weekend.  Maine has held its first four opponents to an average of just 267.5 total yards per contest despite playing two of its games against FBS foes Western Kentucky and Central Michigan.  Six different defensive players have tallied at least three tackles for loss on the year, led by senior linebacker Sterling Sheffield who has 8.0 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. 
 
On the offensive end the trio of Jaquan Blair, Micah Wright and Earnest Edwards has combined for seven of the Black Bears' eight receiving touchdowns.  Blair leads the team with 198 receiving yards, while Wright leads the way with three touchdowns.  Redshirt junior Joe Fitzpatrick and redshirt freshman Ramon Jefferson have each topped 200 rushing yards through the first four games. 
 
Villanova will return home next weekend when it hosts James Madison on October 13 at 1 p.m.