Big plays help Villanova rally past Richmond 35-28
VILLANOVA, Pa. -- Nowooola Awopetu returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown and T.D. Ayo-Durojaiye capped a rally with a 20-yard scoring run midway through the fourth quarter to lead Villanova to a 35-28 victory over Richmond on Saturday.
Dee Wil Barlee rushed for 114 yards and a touchdown and Daniel Smith ran for 105 yards and two scores for the Wildcats (7-3, 4-3 Colonial Athletic Association).
Joe Mancuso threw two TD passes and ran for 89 yards and two scores for the Spiders (5-5, 4-2).
After Awopetu's kick-return score, Mancuso had a 25-yard TD run to pull Richmond even. Smith scored on a 25-yard run to regain the lead for the Wildcats, but Mancuso raced 35 yards for a TD to knot the score at 14 after one quarter.
Mancuso put the Spiders up 21-14 with a 15-yard TD toss to Keyston Fuller just 1:36 into the second quarter. Barlee ripped off a 37-yard scoring run to tie the game at 21, but Mancuso and Fuller connected on a 4-yard score to send Richmond into the final quarter with a 28-21 lead.
Smith evened the score at 28 with a 9-yard TD run with 11:45 left to play, setting up Ayo-Durojaiye's game-winning score with just under 9 minutes remaining. Richmond punted four times and had a drive end with an interception in the second half. Smith hit 20 of 28 pass attempts for 235 yards.
Game Information
2023 Coastal Athletic Association Standings
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| UAlbany | 7-1 | 11-4 |
| Villanova | 7-1 | 10-3 |
| Richmond | 7-1 | 9-4 |
| Elon | 6-2 | 6-5 |
| Delaware | 6-2 | 9-4 |
| Towson | 4-4 | 5-6 |
| Rhode Island | 4-4 | 6-5 |
| William & Mary | 4-4 | 6-5 |
| New Hampshire | 4-4 | 6-5 |
| Campbell | 4-4 | 5-6 |
| Monmouth | 3-5 | 4-7 |
| Hampton | 3-5 | 5-6 |
| Maine | 1-7 | 2-9 |
| North Carolina A&T | 0-8 | 1-10 |
| Stony Brook | 0-8 | 0-10 |
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