Villanova senior tight end Antonio Johnson’s 17-yard overtime touchdown gifted Villanova a 30-27 win over Stony Brook at Villanova Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 15.
The Wildcats (8-2, 7-1 Coastal Athletic Association) stretched their home win streak to 21 – the longest active streak in Division I – and now have won seven straight. Stony Brook (5-6, 3-4) hit a field goal with 42 seconds left in regulation to send Villanova into its first overtime since 2021. On the first drive of overtime, the Seawolves hit another field goal, but Villanova responded with a game-sealing touchdown drive.
“We talk to the guys all the time about winning games that are hard,” Villanova head coach Mark Ferrante said. “Especially in [conference] games. And I couldn’t be prouder of this team with the resilience they’ve shown throughout the whole year.
Johnson missed the entire 2024 season with an injury. Against Stony Brook, he had a career-best game, totaling four receptions for 58 yards and a touchdown.
“He’s just a weapon for us,” Villanova graduate quarterback Pat McQuaide said. “I think each game, when you look at our wins, we have different guys that show up and kind of take over and make plays. And I just think that today was [Johnson’s] day, and it’s a testament to what he’s done in practice. Like I said, he got banged up, and he came back and just got right back to work.”
McQuaide threw for 18 completions on 30 attempts for 280 yards and four touchdowns. It was his sixth game of 200 or more passing yards this season. McQuiade currently averages 212.7 passing yards per game.
Redshirt sophomore Isaiah Ragland led Villanova’s rushing game with 15 carries and 97 yards. Sophomore running back David Avit missed the game with a knee injury.
Villanova got off to a hot start on its first drive of the game. The five-play drive was capped off with a 37-yard touchdown pass from McQuaide to freshman receiver Braden Reed. It was Reed’s first collegiate touchdown. Reed has made an impact as a true freshman as a punt returner. He currently ranks in punt returns across the entire Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), averaging 18.6 yards per return.
Stony Brook responded with a touchdown of its own on the next drive with a 64-yard touchdown pass from Quinn Boyd to Jayce Freeman. Then both offenses fell silent and struggled to move the ball past midfield. Villanova did not make any red zone trips in the first half and settled for a 39-yard field goal from Jack Barnum.
Villanova led Stony Brook at halftime, 10-7.
In the final two minutes of the third quarter, Stony Brook drove 42 yards on six plays to score a touchdown. The Seawolves took a 14-10 lead over the Wildcats.
Regulation concluded with a fourth-quarter thriller, in which the teams traded scoring drives.
Seconds into the fourth quarter, McQuaide connected with graduate receiver Luke Colella for a 10-yard touchdown pass to take a 17-14 lead.
Stony Break drove 75 yards down the field on the next drive to retake the lead, 21,17.
After a Villanova turnover on downs, Stony Brook took possession of the ball with 5:47 left in the game. On the first play of the drive, Villanova senior safety Christian Sapp forced and recovered a fumble.
Villanova took advantage of the turnover. McQuaide found Colella for a 21-yard touchdown, giving Villanova a 24-21 lead.
Stony Brook wasted away the clock on its 12-play final drive. The Seawolves settled for a field goal after Villanova sophomore defensive back Zahmir Dawud broke up a pass in the end zone on third and 3.
Dawud had four pass breakups and three crucial ones late in the game.
“Especially that one in the end zone that held them to the field goal attempt,” Ferrante said. “As opposed to [Stony Brook] getting the touchdown. He is one of the guys who was forced to play for us a little earlier in his career. We ask our guys to do a lot in man coverage, and we try to get pressure on the quarterback, and that puts those guys on an island a little bit.”
Villanova and Stony Brook headed into overtime. The Wildcats won the toss and elected to defend. Stony Brook was forced to settle for a field goal on its first drive. Then, Johnson caught Villanova’s game-winning touchdown.
“[The pass] is a look that we work on almost every week in practice,” Johnson said.
It was Vilanova’s final CAA regular-season game. The program is moving to the Patriot League next season.
For its final game of the regular season, Villanova now prepares for Sacred Heart (8-3) in a non-conference matchup on Nov. 22 at Villanova Stadium (1 p.m., FloSports). It will be the first time in history that the two programs face off.
