#11 Villanova and #6 Incarnate Word clash in San Antonio in the Second Round of the FCS Playoffs
Written by David Szczepanski on December 7, 2024
SAN ANTONIO, TX—Last night, in preparation for its playoff game against Incarnate Word, Villanova conducted a walkthrough at the Alamodome, the same venue where Villanova men’s basketball won its 2018 National Championship over Michigan. The Wildcats cannot win the FCS National Championship yet, but they can advance to the Quarterfinals with a victory against the Incarnate Word Cardinals.
The Wildcats enter today’s contest with a 10-3 overall record this season. Their most recent win came against Eastern Kentucky last Saturday in Round 1 of the FCS Playoffs by a final score of 22-17. Villanova has won 16 consecutive games at Villanova Stadium, dating back to 2022.
Villanova’s three losses in the regular season were all road games.
Villanova’s win against Eastern Kentucky
In Villanova’s 22-17 win over EKU, Wildcats’ QB Connor Watkins threw for 177 yards and two touchdowns. He also committed two turnovers on an interception and fumble. Watkins, the sixth-year quarterback from Williamsport, PA, scrambled for 42 yards against Eastern Kentucky.
In Round 1 of the FCS Playoffs, Villanova defeated Eastern Kentucky, 22-17, at Villanova Stadium.
David Avit rushed for 94 yards. The Wildcats’ rushing attack ran for 147 yards, including 125 yards in the second half.
Devin Smith, a senior from Durham, North Carolina, recorded one reception for a 13-yard touchdown. James Welde, a senior from Havertown, PA, caught the first pass of his collegiate career for a touchdown in the third quarter.
Villanova outscored Eastern Kentucky, 22-3, from the start of the second quarter to the end of the game. The Wildcats barely survived a last-second pass to the endzone to end the game. Villanova made some key stops defensively in the second half and limited EKU’s Matt Morrissey to 75 passing yards.
Connor Watkins has completed 164 of his 315 passing attempts this season. He threw for 1,999 yards in the team’s first 13 games. He had 13 touchdowns and four interceptions.
David Avit, CAA Offensive Rookie of the Year, leads Villanova with 887 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. Jaylan Sanchez, a junior from North Bergen, NJ, has 468 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Devin Smith is first on the team with six touchdown receptions.
Villanova’s Shane Hartzell and Brendan Bell have combined for 223 total tackles this season. Isas Waxter, one of Villanova’s top defensive backs, is questionable to play today after suffering an injury against Delaware on November 23rd. The Wildcats’ defense has a tough task this afternoon against a surging Incarnate Word team.
Incarnate Word’s Nine-Game Winning Streak
Incarnate Word had a fantastic regular season with a 10-2 overall record and a 7-0 conference record. UIW is a member of the Southland Conference and earned a bye by winning the conference and grabbing the sixth seed in the FCS Playoffs.
The Cardinals lost two of their first three games, including a game against South Dakota State on September 7th. However, since their back-to-back losses in early September, Incarnate Word has won nine consecutive games.
Incarnate Word’s most recent game and victory was on November 23rd against East Texas A&M. The Cardinals defeated East Texas A&M, 38-24, on the road. They have not lost a home game in 2024.
Zach Calzada’s 3,300 Passing Yards
The Cardinals’ offense is the best offense Villanova has played this season. They average 37 points and 285 passing yards per contest. UIW’s quarterback, Zach Calzada, is one of the best in the FCS. He has 3,351 passing yards and 33 touchdowns. Calzada has just eight interceptions. He is in his second season with Incarnate Word after transferring from Texas A&M.
Incarnate Word’s rushing attack is also extremely dangerous, with 18 rushing touchdowns, including nine from Dekalon Taylor. Taylor, a junior running back from Longview, TX, has 909 yards on the ground in 2024.
UIW has two top wide receivers this season. Jalen Walthall and Roy Alexander have combined for 25 touchdowns. Walthall, a junior from Missouri City, TX, leads the Cardinals with 1,149 receiving yards. Walthall played his first two seasons with Hawaii. Alexander, a senior transfer from UAlbany, has 947 receiving yards in 2024.
The Cardinals’ Defense + Ability to stop the rushing attack
In addition to Incarnate Word’s excellent offensive stats this season, the Cardinals are also strong defensively. They allow 22.5 points per contest. The Cardinals’ rushing defense allows just 132 yards on the ground per game this season. Mason Chambers, a defensive back from San Antonio, TX, is UIW’s leading tackler with 77 total tackles.
Rain + Colder Weather in Texas
According to the Accuweather App, the temperature in San Antonio, TX, is just 49 degrees today. There will be rain around the area for most of the game. The colder weather and rain should benefit Villanova’s rushing attack and potentially limit Incarnate Word’s elite passing offense.
Game Information + WXVU’s Social Media Coverage
Kickoff at Benson Stadium is scheduled for 2 pm EST. The game can be watched on ESPN+.
WXVU will not have live broadcasting coverage of today’s playoff game, but there will be some social media coverage.
