Villanova keeps its season alive in the FCS playoffs with a second-half rally vs. Eastern Kentucky

Villanova’s chance to preserve a lengthy home winning streak — and advance in the FCS playoffs — came down to the final 15 seconds against Eastern Kentucky in their first-round game Saturday.

Villanova (10-3) held a five-point lead, but Eastern Kentucky (8-5) returned a kickoff 28 yards to set up deep in Wildcats territory. A wild final minute was capped by an overturned targeting call against defensive back Ty Trinh, a red-zone fourth-down conversion, and an incomplete pass to seal the 22-17 win, Villanova’s 17th straight at home.

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Villanova found itself in a 14-0 hole in the first quarter but chipped away at the deficit and trailed by just one by the 9-minute, 10-second mark of the third.

The Wildcats had 324 yards of total offense to the Colonels’ 286. Graduate quarterback Connor Watkins had 177 yards on 14-of-24 passing. Freshman running back David Avit led the Wildcats on the ground with 94 rushing yards.

Eastern Kentucky had a fierce debut at Villanova Stadium and led17-9 at halftime.

The Wildcats had some self-inflicted wounds, via an interception, a muffed punt, and six penalties totaling 61 yards in the first half. The Wildcats also gifted the Colonels five first downs because of penalties.

A 77-yard touchdown run by senior running back Joshua Carter sparked Eastern Kentucky’s hot start. Following the interception by Gabe Stephens, graduate quarterback Matt Morrissey threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to increase the lead to 14-0.

Villanova got on the board with a safety when a bad snap on an Eastern Kentucky punt attempt went out of the end zone 10 seconds into the second quarter. Graduate wide receiver Devin Smith cut the Colonels’ lead to 14-9 with a a 13-yard touchdown catch. But the Wildcats committed three penalties to set up the Colonels for a field goal.

Special teams helped Villanova keep Eastern Kentucky out of the end zone after the 5:20 mark of the first quarter.

Villanova’s muffed punt led to an 11-play Eastern Kentucky drive. The Colonels attempted a 26-yard field goal, but senior linebacker Brandon Bell blocked it.

The Wildcats had graduate kicker Ethan Gettman to thank for the go-ahead points. He hit a 42-yard field goal for a 19-17 lead and also a 31-yarder with a minute to go.

The 42-yarder was a full-circle moment for Gettman, who tied his longest field goal of the season from Week 1 against Youngstown State.

Gettman’s game-winning field goals were preceded by a Villanova touchdown in a messy third quarter. A 15-yard keeper by Watkins set up senior tight end James Welde’s 5-yard touchdown reception, his first catch of the season.

All told, each team committed 10 penalties: Villanova’s went for 104 yards; Eastern Kentucky’s for 86. But what mattered most may have been what didn’t appear on the stat sheet.

In the third quarter, a Colonels touchdown was wiped off the board when an apparent Watkins fumble that led to a scoop-and-score for Eastern Kentucky was ruled an incomplete pass.

After the scare, Villanova displayed its flair for late-game heroics. Graduate linebacker Brendan Bell recovered a fumble to end the second Eastern Kentucky possession of the fourth quarter.

The Wildcats got the ball back with 6:01 left and marched down the field on a 10-play drive that culminated in Gettman’s second field goal. Big plays kept the possession going. Avit totaled 57 yards, and graduate wide receiver Lucas Kopecky hauled in a 14-yard first-down pass.

No. 11 Villanova will travel to San Antonio, Texas, to take on No. 6 seed Incarnate Word (10-2, 7-0 Southland Conference). Kickoff is at 2 p.m. next Saturday (ESPN+).