College Football

College Football: Luke Colella Leads Villanova To Win Over Albany On Homecoming

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David Malandra Jr
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David Malandra Jr Sports Editor

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Published25 Oct 2025

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Radnor, PA: There is a certain feel when you get to welcome back the alumni for homecoming, and that is what we saw on Saturday as Villanova Wildcats would do battle with Albany Great Danes from Villanova Stadium.

Villanova comes into the game with a 5-2 (4-1 in CAA) record & off a dominating win over Hampton. Albany made their way to the main line with a 1-6 (0-3 in CAA) record and coming off getting blown out by Rhode Island.

How the game went:

Villanova wins the toss & elects to receive, Albany gets the ball to begin the 2nd half. Villanova would go 3 and out on their first drive while Albany walks down the field for a touchdown.

On the following kickoff, Villanova would run it back 71 yards before getting stopped on 4th down. The Wildcats would respond with a sack on 3rd down.

They would get the ball back and drive down to the Albay 6 before getting stopped for the 2nd time on 4th down in the 1st quarter – this time it was a low snap for an 18-yard loss.  Villanova’s defense came out for a 3-and-out. The positive is that you get stopped, and your defense responds with 3 & out. Albany would maintain the 7-0 lead at the end of 1st quarter.

In the second quarter, the Wildcats would get the ball driven down & this time make the 1st down on a 4th down attempt. The drive would end with a  5-yard TD run from David Avit.

Albany would block the extra point, allowing them to lead 7-6 with 10 minutes left in the 2nd quarter.

Villanova recovered the fumble on the kickoff, but they went backward on the drive. They connected on a 41-yard field goal for a 9-7 lead.

Later on in the 2nd quarter, the Wildcats would drive down for a 23-yard field goal to increase the lead at 12-7 at halftime.

Based on what we saw in the first half, what could the Wildcats do to get things going and limit the number of mistakes?

The Wildcats’ first drive would result in getting picked off  & Albany would drive down & attempt a 47-yard FG that was blocked. Villanova would take advantage as Pat McQuaide would connect with WR Luke Colella from 34-yards out for a 19-7 lead with  8:21 left in the 3rd quarter:

The Wildcats would keep the pressure on Albany & force an INT. Albany would hit a FG as the Wildcats continue to lead 22-10.

Luke Colella would catch his 2nd touchdown of the game which made it 29-10:

Albany would get into the endzone thanks to 2 bad penalties on the Wildcats. They attempted to go for 2, but fumbled the snap, leaving the Wildcats lead  at 29-16.

The Wildcats would stop the Great Danes on 4th down and picked up the win to go to 6-2 on the season & record their 20th straight win at home.

Postgame:

Villanova Coach Mark Ferrante:

Villanova WR Luke Colella:

 

Final Numbers: What is next:
Villanova now has a record of 6-2 (5-1 in CAA) & will now head into the bye week. They return to game action on Nov 15 against Stony Brook.