Hartzell Career Day Leads Villanova Defense in Win Over New Hampshire
Tagged under: News, Pennsylvania Colleges, pfn
Willie McGonigle | October 29, 2024
Entering Saturday’s CAA conference battle with New Hampshire, Villanova’s Head Coach Mark Ferrante knew his team would be in for a battle. Thankfully for Ferrante, his defense, in particular Shane Hartzell, answered the bell and came to play. Hartzell had a career-high 20 tackles, and the Villanova defense made two goal-line stands, allowing them to celebrate a hard-fought 14-6 homecoming victory.
“”We knew it was going to be a hard-fought game and it sure enough was,” Ferrante said adding that “”I say to the guys all the time, the only stats that matter to me are points for, points against, and turnovers. So, I have to tip my hat to the defense. My takeaway is that our guys are tough and resilient; they came out and were fighting. We played a heck of a game, and our guys came out on the right side.”
With his team clinging to a 7-3 lead in the fourth quarter Villanova’s defense got their second goal line stand on the afternoon with UNH facing a fourth and goal from the Nova 3 UNH attempted to run with QB Barry Kleinpeter but he was stuffed at the one-yard line by CB Isas Waxter.
Following the defensive stop Nova marched 99 yards on nine plays and provided a little extra padding to their lead when Connor Watkins connected with Devin Smith who made a circus-like catch for a 19-yard touchdown to make it 14-3 with 8:21 left to play.
UNH took the early 3-0 lead with a 21-yard field goal by Nick Mazzie with 1:09 left in the first quarter.
Villanova took the lead on their ensuing drive, going 81 yards on 10 plays. Watkins connected with Lucas Kopecky for the go-ahead score making it 7-3.
Later in the second quarter with UNH driving deep down in the Nova territory it appeared has if UNH would take the back lead however Jalen Goodman intercepted Kleinpeter in the endzone and returned it 100 yards for what appeared to be a Nova touchdown but Nova was flagged for roughing the passer on the play negating the would be Nova touchdown and setting the stage for the first goal-line stand.
On third and goal from the Nova 1 UNH tried a QB sneak with Kleinpeter but he was stuffed by Ayden Howard, on fourth and goal they again tried the QB sneak but was stuffed by Hartzell and Goodman preserving the 7-3 lead heading into the locker room at halftime.
UNH did manage to cut the Nova lead down to 14-6 with 1:01 left to play with a 40-yard field goal by Mazzie, However, Nova would recover the ensuing onsides kick and run out the clock.
On Saturday Villanova travels down to Hampton they return home to take on North Carolina A&T on Saturday, November 9th.
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