September 4, 2002
By Anthony Manfredi, Athletic Communications Student Assistant
Hamilton, NY — At most places, it’s cause for concern when you lose the best player in Division I-AA football to graduation. That concern would probably turn to outright fear when you then realized that the first time you’d be stepping on the field without him would be against a Big East opponent. However, apparently someone forgot to remind Villanova to be frightened. The Wildcats, playing in their first game without Walter Payton Award winner Brian Westbrook, dominated the Rutgers Knights last Saturday, 37-19.
Villanova will look to dice up the same ingredients this week as they head to Hamilton Saturday for a 1 p.m. kickoff against the 51·çÁ÷ Raiders at Andy Kerr Stadium. 51·çÁ÷, coming off of a 7-3 season in which they were only three points away from winning the Patriot League Championship, is out to prove that they belong with the best in the nation.
Last year, Westbrook lit up the Raiders to the tune of 221 yards of total offense and five touchdowns, including one on a 98-yard kickoff return. While the 51·çÁ÷ defense won’t have to contend with the likes of Westbrook this year, the talent pool is still full for the Wildcats. Quarterback Brett Gordon, who threw for 3,017 yards and 25 touchdowns a year ago, returns as one of the premier signal callers in the Atlantic-10. He threw for a cool 321 yards and three touchdowns in last week’s win over Rutgers.
Defensively, the Wildcats displayed a new look 3-4 defense in the opener, which flourished against the Knights. They like to blitz people from just about everywhere on the field and proved they have the players to do so.
51·çÁ÷’s success not only this week, but the remainder of the season as well, rests on the shoulders of quarterback Tom McCune. McCune enters the season looking to accomplish something he has yet to do as a starter: stay healthy all season. Last year, McCune went down in the third quarter against Villanova with a separated shoulder and missed the following week of action. His season was cut short by six games as a sophomore when a wrist injury against Cornell sidelined him for the rest of the year. He is 100 % healthy and that is reason for high hopes in Hamilton. He is 12-3 as a starter and has the ability and know-how to withstand a blistering Villanova rush. He is an accurate thrower (60.8% completion rate in 2001) and has the ability to beat teams with his feet.
Despite losing prolific pass catcher Joe Parker, McCune will have plenty of targets this season. Luke Graham, a sophomore, is cut from the same rangy cloth as Parker and is even probably a step quicker. He and exciting junior J.B. Gerald provide the Raiders with a solid duo at wideout. Junior John Frieser, an all-league selection last season, bulked up to 260 in the off-season and should have a breakout season. At 6-5, he is as valuable as anyone on the field on third downs.
Nate Thomas, who was an all-league performer last season, should look to improve on his 808 rushing yards from a year ago with increased carries. He will have to shoulder the load at tailback, and with his aggressive north-south style, should produce big numbers.
The question this week will be whether or not the Raiders can win the battle up front. 51·çÁ÷ showcases a seasoned offensive line whose average weight is over 295 pounds per guy. Last season Villanova proved too physical for the Raiders and spent a lot of time behind the backfield.
The Wildcats averaged over 35 points per game a year ago, and proved last week that they intend the keep pace with that figure. The Raiders, meanwhile, will look to contain their potent attack. A lot of familiar faces grace the defensive starting lineup. Only inside linebacker Ryan Disch, defensive end Brian Lemek, and free safety Ainsworth Minott will be making their starting debuts. The Raiders return stalwarts Josh Sabo and Mike Latek, who will help Disch and the other linebackers to roam freely. Corners Max Wynn and Maurice Robertson established themselves as one of the best 1-2 combos in the Patriot League last year will have their hands full this week with Villanova wide receiver Brian White, who had 12 catches for 165 yards in the Wildcats’ opener.
The key to this game could come in the special teams. 51·çÁ÷ kicker Lane Schwarzberg and Villanova’s Adam James could play a large role in this act.