PHILADELPHIA — In an exciting conclusion to their season, Villanova emerged victorious over Delaware with a score of 38-28, thanks to Ethan Gettman’s decisive 31-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter. Shortly afterward, Brendan Bell sealed the win by scoring a touchdown just a minute later, allowing the Wildcats to pull away in the latter half of the match.

This victory marks a significant achievement for Villanova, as they have now triumphed in 17 of the last 19 contests against the Blue Hens. This game was particularly noteworthy for Delaware, as it signaled the end of their regular season participation as a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) member. Delaware is set to transition to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and will be joining Conference USA starting with the 2025 season.

The Wildcats started strong, establishing a commanding 21-0 lead just five minutes into the second quarter. David Avit initiated the scoring with a one-yard rush, followed by Brendan Bell’s impressive 38-yard interception return for a touchdown, and then Connor Watkins connecting on a 36-yard touchdown pass to Kenyon Miles.

However, Delaware fought back fiercely, scoring three times within the last eight minutes of the first half. JoJo Bermudez contributed with a 14-yard touchdown, followed by Marcus Yarns who scored on a one-yard run. Yarns also received a pass from Nick Minicucci for a remarkable 65-yard touchdown, bringing the score to a close 21-21 tie as the half concluded.

In the second half, Connor Watkins showcased his skills with a 38-yard touchdown run, putting Villanova back in the lead. Nonetheless, Minicucci responded promptly, throwing a six-yard touchdown to Jo’Nathan Silver, which evened the score at 28-28 as they entered the fourth quarter. Gettman’s field goal gave Villanova the upper hand, and Bell’s subsequent touchdown run solidified their lead with only a few minutes left in the game.

In terms of individual performances, Connor Watkins completed 13 passes out of 30 attempts for a total of 203 yards, adding one touchdown and suffering one interception. He also had a notable rushing performance with eight carries for 79 yards. Meanwhile, Nick Minicucci finished the game with an 18-for-33 passing record, accumulating 195 yards along with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Marcus Yarns had a stand-out game as well, rushing 20 times for 100 yards and making three receptions for an additional 74 yards.