Villanova begins CAA slate with road contest against Monmouth

WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ–On Saturday, Villanova will attempt to do something it has never done before in program history—beat Monmouth. The Wildcats are 0-3 in their three battles against the Hawks, including a 40-33 loss to Monmouth last season at Kessler Stadium. The Wildcats will begin their 2025 CAA schedule against Monmouth, looking to end the losing streak.

Both teams enter Saturday’s contest ranked in the Top 25 of both major FCS polls. Villanova is ranked No. 11 and tied for No. 12 in the polls, while Monmouth is ranked No. 18 in the AFCA Coaches Poll and No. 21 in the Stats Perform FCS Poll.

Villanova (1-1 overall, 0-0 CAA) suffered its first loss of the season to Penn State, 52-6, on Saturday, September 13, at Beaver Stadium. Despite the score, Villanova still had some positive takeaways from that contest, including their commendable effort.

“Our guys played hard,” Villanova’s head coach Mark Ferrante said. “It’s just that they got worn down on defense, and offensively we missed some things. Our guys didn’t quit. They were resilient.”

The Wildcats’ defense also played well in the loss to the Nittany Lions. Villanova held No. 2 Penn State’s offense to 21 points at halftime, including a final-minute touchdown in the second quarter after a missed field goal. In addition to the defense, RB David Avit returned to his freshman form against Penn State. He finished the game with 10 carries for 53 yards. Avit became the 43^rd player in school history to rush for 1,000 yards.

Pat McQuaide was 7-for-15 for 27 yards and one interception. He was evaluated for an ankle injury in the first half and eventually returned to the game in the third quarter. He will be Villanova’s starting quarterback against the Hawks. McQuaide’s deep ball threat allows Villanova the chance to have a great day against Monmouth’s struggling pass defense.

Monmouth’s High-Powered Offense

Monmouth (2-1 overall, 0-0 CAA) lost to Charlotte, 42-35, on Saturday. The Hawks’ defense failed to hold a seven-point lead at halftime by allowing 35 points in the final 30 minutes. Monmouth won its first two contests of the season against Colgate and Fordham.

The Hawks are led by QB Derek Robertson and their offense. Robertson, a graduate student from Hartsdale, NY, was named Preseason CAA Offensive Player of the Year. He was 100-for-138 in the Hawks’ first three games with 14 passing touchdowns and five interceptions. He threw for 31 passing touchdowns in 2024.

Monmouth’s offense is the best in the CAA, averaging 42 points and 535 yards per game. Rodney Nelson is the lead running back for the Hawks with 57 carries for 326 yards and two touchdowns. He averages almost six yards per carry.

The Hawks also boast one of the best wide receiver rooms in the FCS, featuring Josh Derry, Gavin Nelson, and TJ Speight. Derry leads Monmouth with 357 receiving yards and a career-high six touchdowns. Nelson averages more than 102 receiving yards per contest, and Speight has 16 catches for 197 yards in 2025. Monmouth has three high-quality wide receivers who allow Robertson to excel in the passing game.

While the Hawks’ offense is one of the best in the FCS, Monmouth’s defense has been one of the worst in the first three games. The Hawks allow more than 36 points and 508 yards per contest. They allow almost seven yards per play and more than 15 yards per catch.

Jaeden Jones, a sophomore defensive back from Colonia, NJ, leads Monmouth with 27 total tackles. Josiah Graham and Lamont Lester Jr. have combined for six and a half sacks. Monmouth’s defensive line can get some pressure on the quarterback, but the Hawks’ secondary has struggled to stop any offense.

Monmouth has played in all high-scoring contests this season, with the Hawks’ three games averaging 78 combined points. Considering this stat and the shootout between these teams last season, this game will most likely be another offensive battle at Kessler Stadium.

Game Info + WXVU Broadcast

Villanova’s CAA opener against Monmouth will kick off at 1 PM on Saturday. WXVU’s pregame coverage will start at 12:30 PM.