No player in Villanova school history has scored an offensive and defensive touchdown in the same game, until graduate linebacker Brendan Bell.
On Saturday, Nov. 23, Villanova took down Delaware, 38-28, in what might have been the final game in a historic rivalry. Delaware will move to Conference USA in the FBS next season.
Bell’s performance propped up Villanova’s offense and defense to retain the “Battle of the Blue” trophy and earn a possible playoff berth.
Late in the first quarter, Bell was in the right spot at the right time to pick off Delaware quarterback Nick Minicucci and return 38 yards for a touchdown.
“It’s kind of sweet,” Bell said. “Five years [of college football] accumulated, in the biggest game, it paid off. So my emotions are going to the roof right now.”
The game’s outcome carried a lot of weight for the rivalry and the playoffs, but for Bell and others, a loss would have been the last time he put on the Wildcat uniform. With that and the rivalry in mind, the stakes were high against Delaware.
“I wish we could play with the same emotion coming out of the locker room every other week,” Villanova coach Mark Ferrante said. “It just seems like this one is just a little different. If we could just bottle it up and then uncork it in the other ten weeks of the season, that would be awesome.”
That emotion drove Bell to finish the game with two touchdowns while leading the Wildcats with 11 tackles.
Bell contributed more to the win and Villanova’s 9-3 season than the stat sheet shows. He is a leader and a vocal player in the locker room, sideline and on the field. Ferrante has noted that the defense is the mature side of the program due to its years of experience.
In the latter part of the season, Bell became a part of its goal line package, running in his first career touchdown in Villanova’s 20-14 win against Hampton on Saturday, Nov. 2. From there, Bell found himself in the backfield more frequently.
Late in the fourth quarter against Delaware, Villanova was up by three points with 7:50 left in the game. Bell’s number was called and he joined the Wildcat offense on Delaware’s six-yard line.
Bell took a handoff from graduate quarterback Connor Watkins and ran it six yards for the touchdown, stretching Villanova’s early lead to 10.
“I mean, personally, I love both sides of the ball,” Bell said. “Five years of not playing offense kind of hurt, so it feels good. I can’t decide whether [offensive coordinator] Chris Boden calls my name or not, but if he does, I’m gonna block my heart off and if he gives me the ball, I’m going to get in the end zone.
Watkins noted that Bell has been wanting a bigger role in the offense — a bigger role than he already has as a defensive-oriented player.
“[Bell] wants to be involved more in the offense,” Watkins said. “He complains all the time that he’s involved enough.”
Bell, along with the rest of the Villanova linebacker trio, has been a stalwart during the 2024 season. Bell’s average of 8.3 tackles per game is tied for 37th in the FCS. His teammate, junior Shane Hartzell, is on the list alongside him with 8.5 tackles a game.
Contributing on both sides of the ball is rare in college football. Colorado’s Travis Hunter is well-known for being on both sides of the ball, playing wide receiver and defensive back. Villanova possibly has its own Hunter in Bell.
Bell and Villanova will wait to hear the selection committee’s decision on whether or not the Wildcats will earn an at-large bid for the FCS playoffs. If Villanova does make the playoffs, Bell’s wishes of having a bigger role on offense might just come true.
