On Homecoming Weekend, the Villanova Wildcats fell to the New Hampshire Wildcats 34-0. 

Despite getting starting quarterback Zach Bednarczyk back, the Wildcat offense was unable to get anything going and were shutout for the 2^ndconsecutive game. The Villanova offense was only able to manage 164 total yards, including 103 through the air for Bednarczyk in his return. Even more alarming was the 13 rushing yards on 21 attempts, certainly not a sustainable formula for winning football games.  

Head coach Mark Ferrante was obviously disappointed. “The only thing I’ll say is I thought we would, after a bye week and getting some of our guys back, come out and perform a little better than what we did today.” 

Villanova kicked off to start the game, and on the first play from scrimmage New Hampshire running back Carlos Washington Jr. took it 75 yards to the end zone to give UNH a quick 7-0 lead. 

Neither offense could do much on the ensuing two drives, and New Hampshire was set to punt, but Villanova defensive back Darryl McDaniel got a hand on the punt, giving Villanova excellent field position at the New Hampshire 25. The Nova offense could not move the ball, however, and kicker Drew Kresge missed a 41-yard field goal wide right, keeping Villanova down a touchdown. 

The next New Hampshire drive saw the Wildcats go 56 yards in 10 plays, and kicker Jason Hughes hit a 37-yard field goal to extend New Hampshire’s lead to 10-0. 

The teams traded punts for the next few drives into the middle of the 2^ndquarter, before New Hampshire was able to put together another strong drive. New Hampshire went 61 yards in 5 plays, capped off by an 11-yard rush from quarterback and CAA preseason Offensive Player of the Year Trevor Knight, giving New Hampshire a 17-0 lead. 

New Hampshire continued to pile on with a 16-yard rushing touchdown from Washington Jr., his 2^ndof the game, giving UNH a 24-0 lead which they would carry into halftime. 

New Hampshire drained the clock in the 3^rdquarter with a 12 play, 70-yard drive spanning 7:27. The drive ended with a 7-yard rushing touchdown from Knight, his 2^ndof the game, to put New Hampshire up 31-0. New Hampshire’s next trip ate up another 7:27 off the clock and ended with a 26-yard field goal, pushing their lead to 34-0.

The defensive side of the ball for Villanova was not much better, as they allowed 404 total yards of offense. Washington Jr. led the way for New Hampshire with 179 yards rushing and two touchdowns, averaging 10.5 yards per carry. 

With the loss, Villanova’s record falls to 3-5 on the season and 0-5 in the CAA. The Wildcats return to action Saturday, November 3^rdat Richmond.