Villanova vs. Stony Brook Recap | Connor Watkins throws four touchdowns

Villanova improves to 4-1 in CAA play (6-2 overall) after a dominant win on Homecoming Weekend against Stony Brook at Villanova Stadium. Villanova QB, Connor Watkins, completed 13 of his 19 passes for 361 yards (a season best) with four passing touchdowns. It was the first time this season that Watkins threw four touchdowns and only the second time in his career: first since October 1, 2022, against Maine. Watkins now has 1,623 passing yards and 12 touchdowns on the season. After throwing for more than 300 yards against Stony Brook, Watkins now has two games with at least 300 passing yards this season. The Wildcats scored 34 points in the first half.

Villanova vs. Stony Brook on a hot, fall Saturday during Homecoming Weekend at Villanova Stadium

With 158 rushing yards, Villanova finished with 556 total yards, including Tanner Maddocks’ 37 yards in relief of Connor Watkins. Rayjuon Pringle, Jaylan Sanchez, and Jaaron Hayek all had more than 100 receiving yards. According to Villanova Football’s Twitter, this is the first time since November 18, 2000, against Delaware that the Wildcats had three receivers with at least 100 receiving yards in the same game. Pringle led the team with 196 yards and a touchdown. Sanchez made four catches for 103 yards and one touchdown. After having just 11 receiving yards in the last two games, Hayek had 5 catches for 102 yards and two touchdowns against Stony Brook.

Jalen Jackson led Villanova’s running backs with 77 yards over eight carries. He also had a rushing touchdown on Saturday afternoon. In Saturday’s game against the Seawolves, Jackson officially reached 2,000 career rushing yards. TD Ayo-Durojaiye scored his fifth touchdown of the season and his fourth touchdown in his last two games.

After the bye week last weekend, Villanova’s defense did not miss a beat against Stony Brook. The Wildcats held the Seawolves to just 198 passing yards. Seawolves’ starting QB, Casey Case, was just 12-22 for 113 yards with one touchdown and one interception, which was caught by Danny Abraham. Case’s 113 passing yards was his lowest in a game this season. Stony Brook’s backup quarterback, Daron Bryden, played for most of the fourth quarter. Bryden was excellent going 10-15 for 85 yards and a very late touchdown pass. With this being said, Villanova had pulled most of their defensive starters when Bryden was on the field late in the fourth.

Stony Brook rushed 30 times for 96 yards. They averaged just 3.2 yards per carry and did not score a rushing touchdown. Roland Dempster led the Seawolves in rushing yards with 55 in 12 carries. WR Anthony Johnson, a sophomore from Burlington, NJ, had 11 receptions for 90 yards for Stony Brook. Dez Williams and Jayden Cook both had one touchdown in the game for the Seawolves.

Looking Ahead

Villanova will take on the New Hampshire Wildcats next Saturday (11/4) at 1pm in Durham, NH. WXVU will have live coverage of the game in New Hampshire beginning with pregame coverage at 12:30pm. On Thursday afternoon at 12pm, “Villanova Sports Talk” on WXVU will recap Villanova’s win against Stony Brook and look ahead to the matchup against New Hampshire.