Villanova picks up its first conference win of the season in a 45-20 road rout of Maine

Villanova made a statement on Saturday afternoon, maintaining a lead throughout the entire game that led them to rout Maine, 45-20, on Orono.

Following a high-scoring close loss to Monmouth last weekend, the Wildcats (3-2, 1-1 Colonial Athletic Association) came back and captured their first conference win of the season against the winless Black Bears (0-4, 0-1).

Villanova scored on its first two drives, taking a 10-0 lead with 5 minutes, 45 seconds left in the first quarter.

Even when Maine’s Montigo Moss scored the Black Bears’ first touchdown, narrowing the deficit to 10-7 with 34 seconds in the opening quarter, Villanova answered by compiling three more touchdowns, all from senior receiver Jaaron Hayek, to take a 31-14 halftime lead. It would prove a momentum shift that the Wildcats carried the rest of the game.

Entering Saturday, Villanova had struggled to defend the run, giving up 276 yards per game, including 472 yards to Army and 321 to Monmouth in their last two games. But against Maine, the Wildcats held the Black Bears to 108 yards on 22 carries.

With the run game stalled, Maine quarterback Joe Fagnano looked to pass. But Villanova defensive back Jalen Goodman put the game away by intercepting Fagnano, converting a pick-six, to close the game’s scoring with 8 minutes, and 38 seconds left in the game.

Leading 10-7 with just over eight minutes left in the second quarter, Villanova opted to go for the first down on fourth-and-1 from Maine’s 30-yard line rather than kicking the field goal.

Graduate running back Jalen Jackson capitalized on the opportunity, finding space up the middle and running for 5 yards to pick up the first down. Three plays later, junior quarterback Connor Watkins connected with Hayek in the end zone, extending the Wildcats’ lead to 17-7.

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The Villanova offense was powered by Watkins and Hayek as the pair combined for four touchdowns. Watkins finished with 255 yards passing and completed 13 of 16 passes. This was also the junior quarterback’s first game without an interception since Week 1.

Hayek caught five passes for 159 yards, averaging 31.8 yards per catch. Before Saturday, the senior receiver had only two touchdowns in the first four games.

Villanova has a bye week before traveling to face Richmond on Oct. 15 (3:30 p.m., FloSports). The Wildcats have won their last three matchups against the Spiders, including a 34-27 win at home last season.