Highlights
YOUTUBEWin probability
EVERY PLAY · ESPN MODELKICKOFF: NOVA 72% · BIGGEST SINGLE-PLAY SWING: 13 PTS
Scoring plays
11 SCORES
Ryan Bell 13 Yd pass from Zach Bednarczyk (Drew Kresge Kick)
7-0
Dominick Bragalone 4 Yd Run (Ed Mish Kick)
7-7
Zach Bednarczyk 18 Yd Run (Drew Kresge Kick)
14-7
Matt Gudzak 14 Yd Run (Drew Kresge Kick)
21-7
Troy Pelletier 2 Yd pass from Brad Mayes (Ed Mish Kick)
21-14
Matt Gudzak 33 Yd Run (Drew Kresge Kick)
28-14
Luke Christiano 66 Yd pass from Brad Mayes (Ed Mish Kick)
28-21
Taurus Phillips 75 Yd pass from Zach Bednarczyk (Drew Kresge Kick)
35-21
Gatlin Casey 29 Yd pass from Brad Mayes (Ed Mish Kick)
35-28
Drew Kresge 32 Yd Field Goal
38-28
Gatlin Casey 3 Yd pass from Brad Mayes (Ed Mish Kick)
38-35
What happened
ESPN RECAPFerrante wins debut as Villanova head coach, 38-35
BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- Zach Bednarczyk threw for two touchdowns and ran for another as Villanova opened the season with a 38-35 victory over Lehigh in Mark Ferrante's head-coaching debut on Saturday. After 30 years as a Wildcats assistant, Ferrante took over from Andy Talley, who retired after winning 230 games in a 32-year career. Bednarczyk connected on a 75-yard pass play to Taurus Phillips early in the third quarter for a 35-21 lead with a 32-yard field goal by Drew Kresge early in the fourth providing the winning margin. Lehigh got within three with 4:43 to go on Brad Mayes ' 3-yard pass to Gatlin Casey but the Wildcats kept possession from there. Bednarczyk finished 17 of 23 for 209 yards passing with senior Matt Gudzak rushing for a career-high 142 yards and two touchdowns for the defending Patriot League champions. Mayes was 33 of 49 for 406 yards with four touchdowns, two to Casey.
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Team stats
NOVA · LEHGOODMAN STADIUM, BETHLEHEM · ATTENDANCE 5,816
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