Stewart was by no means spectacular early in the game, few of his passes were on target, most either long or short of the receiver, and with Heisman-hopeful Pierce being held under 4 yards per carry, it’s not hard to believe that the ‘Cats went into half-time with a 14-10 lead.

So how did the game end 31-24?

Two missed field goals by Nick Yako would have helped the ‘Cats along the way. Don’t blame the kicker though, both missed field goals were at the upper edge of his range. Despite those misses, the ‘Cats had a lead with 1:40 left on the clock (and no Temple timeouts).

In the second half the Owls (whose first-down “screech” effect is unlike any sound I have ever heard an Owl generate) realized that the Wildcats’ defense wasn’t going to let them ground-and-pound. Instead, they dinked-and-dunked their way down the field in the passing game. Finally putting it together in the 4th Quarter.

A number of Villanovans left the field limping. Reports from the training staff have not indicated any longterm damage, but we will surely hear more.

In front of 32,193 fans, the battered Villanova defense grabbed hold of a fumble to get the offense a chance to score from deep within Temple territory. Andy Talley later explained his thoughts by saying that he felt that the field goal attempt from that spot was too long and that he believed that the ‘Cats would need to get in the endzone to win.

What resulted was a series that consisted of a run of first down followed by two incomplete pass attempts. Villanova did not earn a first-down in the 4th quarter. After Yako nailed the field goal to end to drive, the Owls were left with 1:40 to work with (a number that would have been lower had a few more run plays taken about half of that time off the clock), and work they did.

The Owls drove back down the field to kick a field goal to re-take the lead and leave about 3 seconds on the clock.

How did the lead go from one point after that field goal to seven points? On the Villanova kickoff return, attempting to make the most of their one play, a number of lateral passes were thrown (one of which was actually an illegal forward pass). Temple grabbed a “fumbled” lateral and ran it into the endzone to score and end the game.

The Owls did not attempt the PAT.

It was a close and very exciting game, and despite the mistakes and perhaps fatigue that lead to the loss, the ‘Cats looked like a strong team. If this is the only loss on the record this season, it will hardly be a black mark. If the ‘Cats go to Frisco, TX in January, we will won’t even remember the 2010 Mayor’s Cup.

[ESPN] Boxscore

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With those considerations, it’s not a stretch for Villanovans to imagine this season’s Mayor’s Cup going about the same as last year’s — a close game, with some dazzling plays by the Wildcats giving them another victory to start the season.

Villanova leads the all-time series against Temple with a record of 16-12-2. When this four-game series ends, Villanova will still have the all-time lead, the only question is how big that lead will be.

Despite all the returning players, neither Temple nor Villanova is the same team that took to the Linc this time last year.

Last year Temple started Vaughn Charlton at Quarterback. This season, the senior Charlton is a tight end and the junior Chester Stewart will be under center at 5pm when this year’s rivalry kicks off.

Stewart completed under 50% of his pass attempts last year. He had a few games where he did better, but his overall yardage was 514.

Furthermore, Bernard Pierce, the subject of all of those Heisman-promo billboards only attempted 6 carries last year against the Wildcats. He was very successful in those carries, however, averaging over 7 yards per carry (if you eliminate one massive 22 yard run, he only averaged 4.4yards per carry on his other five). He rose to the top of Temple’s depth chart somewhere around week 3, and he will be getting quite a few carries in tomorrow’s game.

For Villanova, there will be no Brandyn Harvey, who produced a number of the season’s best catches and was Chris Whitney’s number one target. This season, the number two target, Matt Szczur, will be expected to step up and lead the charge.

Szczur only had seven touches in last year’s Mayor’s Cup. This year, he will need to have an impact similar to the one he had against Montana last year. There he had only 4 receptions, but he also carried the ball 14 times and lead the Wildcats in rushing and receiving.

Together with Chris Whitney, he scored a touchdown by passing, receiving and rushing. Szczur also scored on special teams, where he plays every snap. In fact, the only time he won’t be on the turf is when the ‘Cats are on defense (not that it would stop him if the coaches would allow him, he played safety in high school in addition to QB, running back and serving as a backup Punter).

Villanova’s defense will be the biggest change from last year. Losses included linebacker Osayi Osunde, hard-hitting safety Ross Ventrone, as well as defensive linemen Phil Matusz and Tim Kuckucka.

Matusz will be replaced at nose tackle by Thomas Weaver, another big run-plugger. He may be backed up by a true freshman — as is always the case in FCS, depth is going to be an issue. While the loss of Osunde will hurt, the ‘Cats do return CAA Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, Terence Thomas, as well as two-time All-CAA pick Marquis Kirkland.

Last year’s ‘Cats played primarily in a 3-3-5 defensive scheme (playing with an extra safety). However, this season, Andy Talley may show some different looks to opposing offenses.

If the defense can stop Temple’s rushing attack and Chris Whitney and Matt Szczur can lead the Wildcats to the endzone, expect another thrilling game this year. If the ‘Cats allow Bernard Pierce to run at will, the Villanova faithful may want to hide their eyes. If anything is certain, however, it is that Andy Talley is able to make the most of his players.

We will soon learn what the Magician of the Main Line has in store for the 2010 edition of Villanova Football.

Kickoff is at 5:00pm at Lincoln Financial Field and the game will be “televised” on ESPN3.com.

Edit (11:40pm): I have heard that the Villanova student tickets “sold out” for this game.

QB Chris Whitney

[UPDATED SEPTEMBER 3] Our August 28 Football Poll is now closed, with VUHoops readers picking tonight’s Temple game as the toughest of the season;  only 48% picked  Nova to win.

Mike Kearn of Phillynews has been busy, writing four articles over the past two days covering Nova FB:

• “Can Villanova repeat as national champions?”
• Villanova at a glance“
• “Temple-Villanova rivalry heats up with second annual Mayor’s Cup“
• “Villanova at Temple preview“

The Philly Inquier’s Kevin Tatum writes that “Temple seeks redemption in Villanova rematch.”

Finally, Rick O’Brien of the Philly Inquirer reports that Corey Majors, a rugged 6-foot-1, 225-pound inside linebacker from Neshaminy, has selected Villanova over Pittsburgh, Temple, Minnesota and Rutgers.

• “Szczur was born a little different.”When the doctor pulled him out, he stretched out – he’s got biceps, calf muscles. He had definition,” said his father, Marc. “I was like, ‘What do we have here, Arnold Schwarzenegger?’ “
• “The first year Szczur was allowed to pitch in Little League, after T-ball, he threw no-hitters in his first three games”
• “Szczur didn’t have any football offers other than Villanova. Part of that is because he’d gone to Villanova’s camp since eighth grade and when the school offered a scholarship for football and baseball, Matt didn’t see a reason to even visit anywhere else.”
• “He comes back here [this fall] for football camp, and after all that acclaim [playing in the Cubs organization], and  says, ‘I need to be in football shape right now.’ He’s as gung-ho and full-bore as he ever was,” Flinn said. “He wants to be on the kickoff team. He’s adamant. He goes to our special-teams coach: ‘Put me in the same spot. I came here to play football. That’s what I do. I run down and make tackles on kickoffs.’ “
• “A fifth-round draft choice by the Cubs this year, Szczur said he really enjoyed playing baseball for a living. The Cubs, realizing they are in a competition, treated him more like a first-round draft choice, bringing him to Wrigley Field for a game. Szczur got a $100,000 signing bonus from the Cubs but he gets another $500,000 next February if he chooses baseball over football. This whole experience really gave him a new outlook, he said. He could see himself playing pro baseball.”
• “Szczur hit in 21 straight games as an outfielder this summer in the Cubs organization, although he’d never used a wooden bat for a full season before.”
• “That said, Szczur’s thinking is that football offers him an immediate chance to make the big leagues, and draw a big-league salary. If he stayed healthy and played well, he’d probably be on his second NFL contract by the time he reached the major leagues in baseball, Szczur said. “It’s a no-brainer, financially,” he said.”
• “When NFL scouts show up at Villanova, the coaches will tell them the exact same thing: You will want him on your team.”

Ben Ijalana

Keith Pompey, staff writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer, wrote a feature today on Villanova’s preseason All American, offensive tackle Ben Ijalana, and gave a quick assessment of Nova’s prospects this season.  It is well worth the read, but we have summarized the highlights below.  With a hat-tip to reader ramon usategui, the Miami Herald picked up a heartwarming AP story that never gets old, Szczur Makes Tough Calls Easy at ‘Nova.”

**Buy Tickets for Villanova vs. Temple**

According to Mr. Pompey, Ijalana, a 6-foot-4, 320-pound senior is considered the second-best senior prospect at guard for the 2011 NFL draft, behind Florida State’s Rodney Hudson. Ijalana is the only FCS player named to the Outland Trophy watch list, the award for the nation’s top interior lineman.   He is also a preseason candidate for the Walter Payton Award, which goes to the best player in the FCS.” 

Keith Pompey’s Nova Fast Facts On Villanova Football

“Last year: 14-1, 7-1 Colonial Athletic Association.

Coach: Andy Talley (26th season, 179-102-1).

Top returnees: QB Chris Whitney; WR Matt Szczur; LB Terence Thomas; OT Ben Ijalana; S John Dempsey.

Big losses: LB Osayi Osunde; DE Tim Kukucka; WR Brandyn Harvey.

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Inside info: Villanova is favored to win a second consecutive Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) national championship. With 15 returning starters, the Wildcats are ranked first nationally in just about every major FCS preseason ranking.

Three of those returnees – senior WR Matt Szczur, senior OT Ben Ijalana, and senior OLB Terence Thomas – are preseason all-Americans.

If there’s a question mark, it’s the defensive line. Villanova must replace two of last season’s three starters in defensive end Tim Kukucka and defensive tackle Phil Matusz. Defensive end Marlon Johnson, the only returning defensive line starter, must provide leadership to what will be a young unit.

Villanova should have an advantage in special teams with placekicker Nick Yako and punter Dominic Scarnecchia both returning.

Biggest games: Friday at Temple; Oct. 2 at William & Mary; Oct. 30 vs. Richmond.”

This season will be challenging for the Cats from start to end.  As National Champion, every team the Cats face will be gunning for them.  The schedule also is grueling.  Nova opens the season next Saturday against a very good Temple Owls team at Lincoln Financial.  The Owls (AP Preseason #45) are the overwhelming choice to claim the MAC East.  They welcome back 16 starters and 2009 MAC freshman of the year, Bernard Pierce, who rushed for 1,361 yards and scored a school-record 16 touchdowns. 

The remainder of the season features five teams presently ranked in the FCS Coaches poll.  On October 2, they travel to #4 William & Mary … October 23 and October 30 feature two home games against  #15 James Madison and #6 Richmond … #9 New Hampshirevisits Villanova on November 13 and the Cats close out the season visiting #19 Delaware.

How will the Cats fare in the regular season against ranked opponents?   Let us know in today’s poll.

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22 of 28 first place votes were cast for the Defending National Champions. The Wildcats were also ranked #1 in the Pre-Season Poll of sportswriters sponsored by The Sports Network.

Other CAA schools in the Coaches’ Top 25 include William & Mary (#4), Richmond (#6), New Hampshire (#9), James Madison (#15), and Delaware is 19th.

The Villanova Football squad opens the season against Temple on Sept. 3 at Lincoln Financial Field. [Tickets]

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The 5’9″ Running Back selected ‘Nova over Maryland, Purdue, and Temple.

One of the items that came up in Abdur-Rahman’s recruiting by the VU Coaches? A potential move to the Big East.

But ‘Nova’s at the top of I-AA. Plus, there’s some talk that they could be part of the Big East very soon. It’s nothing they’re saying is definite, but it’s out there. The coaches talked about it.

So, what do you think?

In all, four members of the CAA conference appeared in the top-10 of the poll, and six overall were ranked in the top-25. This includes last season’s semi-final foes, William & Mary, who appeared at #4, the Richmond Spiders (the 2008 National Champions) at #6, New Hampshire at #1o, James Madison at #15 and Delaware at #16.

Since 2000, a CAA school has appeared in the FCS National Championship game six times, including the last four. Of those six appearances, a CAA team has won the title 4 times since the beginning of the decade.