Stony Brook at Villanova, Mr. C's Official Game Thread

[Mr. C]

We are a little over a half-hour away from kickoff of what should be the game of the week this Saturday in FCS. I had forgotten today was part of parent's weekend at Villanova. Lancaster Avenue was surprisingly heavy with traffic this afternoon in the area near Villanova Stadium. Now if the Wildcats can coax fans out of the parking lots and into the stadium, we should have a good crowd for what should be a physical, grueling battle between teams that met in the first round of the playoffs last season.

Stony Brook had the ball for 23 plays to start that game and burned off the entire first quarter on the way to a 20-10 victory on Long Island in the first meeting between the schools. It was a game between two of what I thought were the best teams in FCS and was one of the most ridiculous examples of bracketing by the Charlie Cobb-led NCAA Division I Football Committee last season. Now, less than a year later, Stony Brook has joined the Colonial Athletic Association and plays its first game at one of the league's toughest road venues, Villanova Stadium.

Stony Brook is coming off a brutal, five-overtime loss (26-23) at FBS Buffalo and the news that preseason All-American running back Marcus Coker is out for the season with an abdominal injury and that defensive lineman Reuben Johnson (CAA player of the week after a 2 1/2 tackles for loss, two fumble recovery performance in the win over Rhode Island) is out for the year with a knee injury suffered against Buffalo.

Villanova is also banged up after rare back-to-back losses to open the season against Boston College and Fordham. But the Wildcats should be getting back to health after an off-week.

Should be a very entertaining game.

[TheBoyWhoSeaWolf]

news that preseason All-American running back Marcus Coker is out for the season with an abdominal injury and that defensive lineman Reuben Johnson (CAA player of the week after a 2 1/2 tackles for loss, two fumble recovery performance in the win over Rhode Island) is out for the year with a knee injury suffered against Buffalo.

A bit of a disaster. QB Lyle Negron will likely be throwing it a bit more than normal today.

[Mr. C]

Stony Brook has won the toss and deferred until the second half. Villanova will be on offense first.

[Pards Rule]

Go Wolves!!!

[Mr. C]

Deep kick is out of the end zone on the fly. VU ball at the 25.

[Mr. C]

High throw by Robertson over Livers head on the out with the first play. Robertson goes for 12 on the QB draw on 2nd down to the 37.

[Mr. C]

Another QB draw for JR to midfield and then a fake on the jet sweep and a run by JR to the SB 48. 2nd and 8.

[Mr. C]

Bad swing pass to Austin Medley third and 8.

[Mr. C]

JR is contained and sacked at the VU 49. Punt time. Robertson is still looking indecisive. Punt FC at the 17 for SBU

[Mr. C]

Negron completion for 4 yards to the 22. Option keeper to the 31. 1st down.

[Mr. C]

Fredericks runs on the power to the 34. 2nd and 7.

[Mr. C]

Double TE option pitch short side for minus-1, third and 8.

[Mr. C]

Negron's dump pass underneath is stopped after 7 yards for Malcolm Eugene. 4th and 1, punt time at the 40

[Mr. C]

Poppy Livers FC at the VU 20. 9:20 left in the first

[Mr. C]

Monangai counter for 1 on 1st down. Aaron Thompson on the stop. Robertson to Mike Burke on the sideline for 16 yards. 1st down VU at the 37.

[Mr. C]

Swing out to Rahman for 1 yard. 2nd down. Crisp out pass to Joe Price for the 1st down at the VU 46. 3rd and 1.

[Mr. C]

Monangai sweeps to the right for 4 yards in a slow developing play for the first down at the 50.

[Mr. C]

Rahman against the grain, gets to the outside for 17 yards to the SBU 33.

[Mr. C]

Austin Medley goes inside for 3.

[Mr. C]

Rahman sweeps to the right for 3 more. 3rd and 4 from the 27.

[Mr. C]

VU clears out deep and JR hits Underwood for the 1st down, but it is wiped out by a penalty. 3rd and 9 from the 32.

[Mr. C]

Robertson can't decide whether to run under pressure, or throw and holds the ball too long for another sack. Punt goes into the end zone for a touchback. Bad punt coverage for the Cats.

[Mr. C]

Negron keeper for 5 to the SBU 25 on 1st down. Fredericks is stuffed by Antoine Lewis and company inside. 3rd and 4.

[Mr. C]

False start for SBU will make it third and 10.

[Mr. C]

Eugene gets open and Negron finds him at the SBU 40 along the sideline. 1st down.

[Mr. C]

Poteat bangs OT for five. 2nd down.

[Mr. C]

Jamie Williams smashes for 3. 3rd and 2 at the SBU 48.

[Mr. C]

Negron sprint pass, hits Eugene, who juggles it and Cameron McCurry intercepts it at the VU 33.

[Mr. C]

Rahman sweeps to the 39, where he is tripped by his own blocker.

[Mr. C]

Medley spins off tacklers at the line, gets a GREAT block from Rahman downfield and scampers for 57 yards to the SBU 4 on the final play of the 1st period.

[Mr. C]

Career-long run for Austin Medley and a play sure to be on the Villanova highlight reel for 2013. That was a great run.

[Mr. C]

Medley on a little counter trap is stopped at the 4 as the 2nd Period begins. 2nd and goal.

[Mr. C]

Gary Underwood is open in the end zone for a TD pass from Cody Pittman on a reverse pass. Another trick play works for the Wildcats.

4 plays, 67 yards, 1:09 on the drive

Villanova 7, Stony Brook 0, 14:21 left in the second period.

[Mr. C]

Few teams have as much fun, or success on trick plays as Villanova.

[Mr. C]

The ball blows off the tee just as Villanova is preparing to kickoff. Chris Gough drives its through the end zone for a touchback

[Mr. C]

SBU at the 25, offset I, play action to FB Matt Faiella to the 31. 2nd and 4. Poteat powers to the 35 for a 1st down.

[Mr. C]

Pistol formation, Negron dashes to the 38, but SBU is called for holding. 1st and 20 from the SBU 25.

[Mr. C]

I formation under center, Negron throws complete to Eugene at the 33 for 8. 2nd and 12.

[Mr. C]

Offset I right. Negron ducks as he is hit and is going to draw a penalty with Tanoh Kpassgron hitting Negron in the head.

[Mr. C]

Tough 15-yard penalty moves the ball to the SBU 48, Poteat runs for 3. Trips right and Negron is hit as he rolls right and throws into the ground. 3rd and 7 from the VU 49.

[Mr. C]

Negron's pass to Will Tye is stopped at the VU 44. 4th and 2, punt.

[Mr. C]

The punt sails into the end zone and VU will get the touchback at the 20 with 9:58 left in the first half.

[Mr. C]

Robertson on a designed run follows blockers to the 31 for 11 yards.

[Mr. C]

Play fake and a nice combo route gets Livers open for 26 yards and a 1st down at the SBU 43.

[Mr. C]

Double flea flicker and Robertson hits a wide open to Clay Horne for 43 yards and a TD. Villanova 14, Stony Brook 0, 8:55 left in the half.

3 plays, 80 yards, 1:03 on the drive

[Mr. C]

Two trick plays, two touchdowns for Villanova today. That's three trick play TDs for the Wildcats thus far this season.

[Mr. C]

Near disaster for Stony Brook on the kickoff. The two deep backs run into each other in the end zone, the ball bounces out to the 7 and is recovered by the Seawolves. Eugene breaks a short pass for 43 yards to midfield on the next play from scrimmage.

[Mr. C]

Fredericks is stacked up at the VU 49. 2nd and 9.

[Mr. C]

Good protection allows Negron the time to hit Tie for 6 yards to the VU 43. 3rd and 3 from the VU 43.

[Mr. C]

Pistol formation, Negron goes read option and is tackled by Sarnese short of the 1st down. 4th and 1 at the VU 41.

[Mr. C]

Stony Brook is going for it on 4th down.

[Mr. C]

Pistol formation, straight option short side and Negron is hit by Antoine Lewis at the 41. No gain, Villanova ball. 6:33 left in the half.

[Mr. C]

Robertson keeps it and dashes to the VU 49 after an 8-yard gain.

[Mr. C]

Rahman bounces the ball outside to the SBU 45. 1st down on the 6-yard gain.

[Mr. C]

Empty backfield and Robertson with the QB draw to the SBUY 35. 1st down again.

[Mr. C]

Double slot formation and Robertson picks his way to the 26 for 9. 2nd and 1 with under 5 minutes left in the half.

[Mr. C]

With a heavy formation that includes an H-back in the backfield, Robertson makes a nice fake and runs to the 19. Time out Villanova with 3:52 left.

[Mr. C]

Villanova showed a two-back spread formation with the backs on either side of Robertson before the time out, but there was some confusion. Now VU goes double slot with Medley to the left of Robertson. Livers is wide open in the end zone, but Robertson doesn't see him and runs to the 9.

[Mr. C]

First and goal and Monangai pounds on the zone play to the 3. 2nd and goal from the 3.

[Mr. C]

Robertson follows his blocks around the right side and into the end zone for the TD from the 3. Villanova 21, Stony Brook 0. 2:46 left in the first half.

8 plays, 59 yards, 3:47 on the drive.

[Mr. C]

Another touchback and Stony Brook starts again from the 25.

[Mr. C]

Lewis leaps over a lineman and nears hits Negron, who passes for 6 to Eugene.

[Mr. C]

Poteat rushes OT to the 35 for 4 yards. 3rd and 2.

[Mr. C]

Negron's pass goes through the hands of LB Don Cherry and Eugene breaks a tackle on a catch and races to the VU 25. Almost a TD there with 1:43 on the clock.

[Mr. C]

Read option nicely done by Negron for 16 yards to a 1st and goal at the 9.

[DFW HOYA]

That Villanova Stadium turf needs a refurb.

[Mr. C]

Three-yard gain to the 6. Negron's pass is knocked down by Rakim Cox on 2nd down. 3rd and goal from the 6.

[Mr. C]

Fredericks picks his way on the counter to the 4 before Lewis, who is having a monster half, tackles him. 4th and goal with 40 seconds left.

[Mr. C]

Time out for Stony Brook. After mulling things over, the Seawolves will go for it.

[Mr. C]

Carlos Hernandez lines up as a Wildcat QB fro SBU and Villanova calls a defensive time out.

[Mr. C]

Now Hernandez lines up to kick a field goal. His left-footed boot goes just wide of the left upright and is NO GOOD.

[Mr. C]

Hernandez, a transfer from Maryland, missed three field goals in Stony Brook's heartbreaking five-overtime loss to Buffalo last week. With 18 seconds left, Villanova downs the ball to end the half.

Villanova 21, Stony Brook 0 at halftime

[Mr. C]

That Villanova Stadium turf needs a refurb.
Someone from Georgetown complaining about someone else's field? I was just at Georgetown's stadium in April and found it to be one of the worst facilities I've ever seen in FCS.

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

Talley's teams always respond well to adversity. I don't like 'em, but I sure do respect 'em.....

[Mr. C]

Stony Brook returns the second-half kickoff to the 18.

[Mr. C]

Talley's teams always respond well to adversity. I don't like 'em, but I sure do respect 'em.....
The week off came at the right time for VU.

[Mr. C]

Slant for 14 for Eugene to the 32 and then Eugene breaks tackles to the VU 36 on another catch.

[Mr. C]

Fredericks is hit at the 35 by Jerry Miles. 2nd and 9 from the 35.

[Mr. C]

WR Devante Wheeler tried to get a jump on the snap count and costs his team 5 yards to the VU 40.

[Mr. C]

Negron's play-action pass to Wheeler sails off his hands high and incomplete. 3rd and 14.

[Mr. C]

Negron beats a blitz and as he is hit gets a crossing pattern pass to Eugene at the 36. 4th and 9, SBU will go for it.

[Mr. C]

Negron gets good protection, but his deep out throw sails high again and out of bounds. VU ball at its own 36 with 11:44 left in the 3rd period.

[Mr. C]

Bubble screen to Poppy Livers for 12 yards to the VU 48.

[Mr. C]

Robertson carries to the SBU 40 up the middle for 12.

[Mr. C]

Robertson QB draw is covered and he is chased out of bounds at the 39.

[VUCats02]

Looking good so far. Wish I knew where to listen to this game /watch a stream. Stuck with following the ESPN gamecast.

[Mr. C]

Robertson screen to Rahman is covered and the QB wisely throws the ball away, 3rd and 9.

[Mr. C]

Looking good so far. Wish I knew where to listen to this game /watch a stream. Stuck with following the ESPN gamecast.
Hey, this is better than a gamecast. Good old Comcast screws up a lot of opportunity to see games anywhere, unless you have Comcast.

Pass completion leaves VU with with 4th and 4. Gough on for a 51-yard FGA attempt that goes well wide right. 9:48 left in the third.

[VUCats02]

Hey, this is better than a gamecast.

Pass completion leaves VU with with 4th and 4. Gough on for a 51-yard FGA attempt that goes well wide right. 9:48 left in the third.

I know! Following both. I like to see the arrows showing the drive chart!

[Nova09]

Mr. C, appreciate the thred, can you tell us a little about what Nova D is doing to keep this s shutout thus far? I know you said Lewis has been all over the place making plays, is it just players stepping up or is there something schematic? I have to assume we're crowding the box and daring SBU to throw, are you seeing an extra down lineman or safety replaced by a linebacker?

[Mr. C]

Negron is sacked by Lewis at the 25.

[Mr. C]

Completion and a fumble and Joe Sarnese scampers 36 yards into the end zone for a Villanova touchdown.

[Mr. C]

Villanova 28, Stony Brook 0 with 9:01 left in the third period.

Cameron McCurry with the hit and Sarnese with the opportunistic recovery.

[Mr. C]

Mr. C, appreciate the thred, can you tell us a little about what Nova D is doing to keep this s shutout thus far? I know you said Lewis has been all over the place making plays, is it just players stepping up or is there something schematic? I have to assume we're crowding the box and daring SBU to throw, are you seeing an extra down lineman or safety replaced by a linebacker?
Villanova has been playing a solid, vanilla scheme (about as straight as you will ever see the Wildcats play defense). Lewis has been manhandling things inside, while Sarnese at safety and Joey Harmon at LB have been active. The Cats have forced Stony Brook to pass by controlling the run and outside of a few big plays from Malcolm Eugene, they have limited the damage. Negron is doing his best, but the Seawolves obviously are missing Marcus Coker.

[VUCats02]

After SB knocked us out of the playoffs last year, this game feeling even more particularly good.

[Mr. C]

SBU has moved to the VU 49 and Trey Johnson of the Wildcats just narrowly missed what would have been a pick-six.

[Mr. C]

Sarnese with another nice play to stop SBU short by a yard at the VU 47 of a first down. Punt to Livers, who FCs at the 11. 6:02 left in the third.

[Mr. C]

After SB knocked us out of the playoffs last year, this game feeling even more particularly good.
I knew this would be a tough one for Stony Brook and a retribution-type game as soon as the schedule was announced.

[Mr. C]

Before the season, SBU Chuck Priore was concerned about depth heading into the Seawolves first CAA season. This game shows those concerns were valid.

[Mr. C]

VU ball at the 17 and Rahman carries for 3 to the 20 on 1st down.

[Mr. C]

Robertson is chased out of bounds at the 22. 3rd and 4. Double stacked receivers and Robertson races through space for 16 yards and a 1st down at the VU 38.

[Mr. C]

16 carries, 109 yards rushing for Robertson, fourth career 100-yard rushing performance for the sophomore. 1 yard run on 1st down.

[Mr. C]

Sideline pass to Livers is complete for 14 yards to the SBU 47. 3:29 left in the period.

[Mr. C]

Fake zone read play and Robertson options to to Rahman for a gain to the 35.

[Mr. C]

I thought Naim Cheeseboro (yes, that is really his name) got away with a cheap shot out of bounds on Rahman on a 1st down sweep at the 41 for minus-one.

[Mr. C]

Robertson dumps a pass to Rahman for 4 yards to the 33. 3rd and 7. Robertson with a straight ahead run to the 26 behind very good blocking. The VU line has been good today.

[Mr. C]

4th and 1, VU tries to hurry to the line for a play and calls time out with 39 seconds left in the third period.

[Mr. C]

Robertson's 4th-down run is stopped short of the 15 for no gain. SBU takes over at the 26.

[Mr. C]

Crossing route to Eugene for 11 yards to the 37.

[Mr. C]

The Third Quarter ends with Villanova ahead of Stony Brook 28-0.

[Mr. C]

Mr. C will be winding down things sometime soon here at Villanova for a trip over to Franklin Field for the Penn-Lafayette game.

[Mr. C]

Pass to Eugene on the sideline is out of bounds. Negron is crushed by Jordan Hunter on second down for no gain. 3rd and 10 from the SBU 37

[Mr. C]

Negron is sacked by Rakim Cox and fumbles, but SBU recovers at the 27. 4th down and punt time.

[Mr. C]

Nice punt return for Livers is wiped out by TWO blocks in the back.

[Mr. C]

Villanova first down at the Cat 17. Rahman is stopped on a sweep at the 14.

[Mr. C]

Robertson to Price on an out to the 26 for 12. 3rd and 1.

[Mr. C]

Robertson is stopped at the 26. Punt time with 11:40 left.

[Mr. C]

SBU ball at the 27 with 11:23 left.

[Mr. C]

Safe to say this will be Andy Talley's 199th win for Villanova.

[Mr. C]

Stony Brook is running a hurry-up and has moved to the VU 47 with 10:11 left.

[Mr. C]

Tie with a completion to the VU 41 and Poteat runs to the 35 for a 1st down for the Seawolves.

[Mr. C]

Negron runs for 8 and takes a shot at the VU 27.

[Mr. C]

Negron with a Fran Tarkenton-type scramble finally throws it away as he is hit. 3rd and 2.

[Mr. C]

Crossing route for Eugene picks up 4 and the 1st down to the 23.

[Mr. C]

Near interception on another wild scramble for Negron. 3rd and 5 at the VU 18. 7:17 left.

[Mr. C]

High pass from Negron out of bounds for Lewis Murray makes it 4th and 5 from the 18.

[Mr. C]

Negron keeps the drive alive with another pass completion over the middle to Level at the 10. 1st and goal, Poteat rushes to the 5.

[Mr. C]

Negron read option is stopped by Shane Harris at the 4. 3rd and goal.

[Mr. C]

TD pass Negron to Eugene with 5:45 left

Villanova 28, Stony Brook 6 after the PAT is blocked.

[Mr. C]

Rakim Cox with the block.

[Mr. C]

Stony Brook onside kick is recovered by VU at the SBU 44.

[HailSzczur]

Great game by the Cats in front of a parents weekend crowd. The fact that SBU was a run happy team really played to our advantage. That and some first half trickery really sealed the deal for Nova

[Fordham]

Nice work, Nova!

[TheBoyWhoSeaWolf]

What a disaster of a game that was.

[HailSzczur]

I can't wait to see highlights of our trick plays

[HailSzczur]

Well this recap has the one touchdown:


http://www.csnphilly.com/ncaa/robertson-leads-villanova-past-stony-brook