From the starting kickoff to the final whistle, it was all Villanova as the Wildcats dominated the Penn Quakers 41-7. This was the 19th meeting between the schools as the Wildcats lead the series 13-5. Between the head coaches, Villanova’s Andy Talley and Penn’s Al Bagnoli, it has been one-sided as Talley now leads the series 13-0.
Today’s game was as lopsided as the series itself as Villanova took control early. Junior quarterback John Robertson found senior tight end Earnest Pettway for a 36 yard touchdown. Pettway would finish the game with two catches for 46 yards.
The Quakers then tried to respond to Nova’s touchdown, but the Wildcats defense stepped up and forced Penn sophomore quarterback Alek Torgersen into an interception while in the red zone.
With the Wildcats then being on the one yard line, they drove 99 yards as Robertson found senior wide receiver Poppy Livers for a nine yard touchdown pass. From that point on, the rout was on for the Wildcats as by the end of the first quarter as they were already up 21-0.
To end the first quarter, the Quakers’ defense gave up a 54 yard touchdown run to Villanova junior running back Gary Underwood. Then to open up the second quarter, Robertson continued the aerial assault on the Quakers’ defense as he found junior wide receiver Mike Burke for a 17 yard touchdown.
At that point in the second quarter, Villanova was already up 28-0 but their high-speed offense continued to pour on the points. Robertson found junior wide receiver Kevin Gulyas for a 66 yard touchdown pass and then Penn struck back being down 34-0 with a long run of their own. Quakers senior running back Kyle Wilcox would get Penn’s only score as he would knockout a 67 yard touchdown run.
After the game, the focus was on how this would be the last matchup between head coaches and friends Andy Talley and Al Bagnoli. Talley, who has owned this series between the two, said as he chuckled, “Before the game, you know Al, typical Italian. You know he’s mad about everything, upset about everything. You know it’s like listening to my mother and father all over again.”
When asked about what was said after the game between the two, Talley mentioned that it was bittersweet. “It was like thanks for the memories; it was great to coach against him.” Also in his press conference Talley mentioned that he wants to see this series continue between Villanova and Penn.
For both teams, the conference games begin next Saturday as Penn will go on the road to take on Dartmouth and Villanova visit the Maine Black Bears.
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