Sarnese leads improving 'Nova defense

Villanova senior safety Joe Sarnese has made 39 career starts and countless big plays, but he experienced a first following last week's 42-14 win over Towson.

After recording 11 tackles and returning an interception 48 yards for a touchdown, the 5-foot-11, 198-pound Sarnese was named the Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Week for the first time in his career.

This season Sarnese has 60 tackles, two tackles for loss, three interceptions and two pass break ups.

"He runs the show back in the secondary and is just a terrific leader for us," coach Andy Talley said of Sarnese.

A product of South Jersey's Holy Spirit High, Sarnese is leading a defense that is beginning to hit its stride for the 8-2 Wildcats, who host Albany on Saturday night and close the regular season at rival Delaware.

Two weeks ago, Villanova played a strong defensive game in a 10-9 loss at Richmond and followed that up with the performance against Towson.

"In the beginning of the season, it seemed as if the offense was carrying us," Sarnese said. "We were letting up way too many points but the past couple of weeks I feel as a defense, we have been putting together four quarters."

Talley says that NFL scouts were recently at Villanova looking at tape of Sarnese. What some of the scouts noticed in particular was Sarnese's work on special teams.

Sarnese said he has enjoyed returning to playing special teams. He was a regular special teams performer as a freshman, but as his playing time increased, he slowly started being taken off special teams until this year.

"My thought process at first was how would my energy be on special teams, but this is good," he said. "Now, I really like doing it."

His only postseason experience was sophomore season when the Wildcats lost in the first round at Stony Brook.

Villanova is ranked No. 6 nationally by The Sports Network and it's possible the Wildcats could earn one of the 24 FCS playoff spots even if they were to lose their last two games.

Talley doesn't share that feeling.

"I think we need to get to nine wins and I'd like to get to 10 and earn a first-round bye," Talley said.

When: Saturday at 7 p.m.

Where: Villanova Stadium.

Records: Albany (6-4, 2-4 Colonial Athletic Association); Villanova (8-2, 5-1 CAA).

TV/Radio: CSN/610 AM.

Coaches: Albany, Greg Gattuso (first season, 6-4; 103-36 overall); Villanova, Andy Talley (30th season, 212-127-1; 240-145-2 overall).

Series: First meeting.

Three things to watch

Villanova must contain Albany freshman receiver Josh Gontarek, who has caught 51 passes for 616 yards and eight touchdowns. He has been named CAA Rookie of the Week four times.

Albany will base its game plan on containing Villanova quarterback John Robertson, who has thrown 29 TD passes and just 2 INTs and has rushed for 693 yards (4.2 average) and eight touchdowns.

Albany's Omar Osbourne has a CAA-high 212 rushes for 981 yards and four TDs. He has 2,998 career rushing yards. In addition to Robertson, Villanova's Kevin Monangai has rushed for 698 yards and four TDs.

Three Things You Might Not Know

Albany's Gattuso was a defensive lineman on Penn State's 1982 national championship team.

Two of the top five tacklers in the CAA will be on the field. Albany linebacker Christian Dorsey is fourth, averaging 9.7 per game. Villanova linebacker Don Cherry is fifth, averaging 9.6 per contest.

Villanova closes out its regular season next Saturday at Delaware and if the Wildcats win the final two games, they are likely to earn a first-round bye in the FCS playoffs.

- Marc Narducci

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