Rhode Island Rams @ Villanova Wildcats

2-2, 2-1 CAA

Final

	1	2	3	4	T
Rhode Island URI	0	3	0	6	9
Villanova VILL	14	7	7	7	35

Villanova WildcatsVillanovaVILL

3-1, 1-0 CAA

QB Connor Watkins runs for 113 yards, 3 TDs to help Villanova beat Rhode Island 35-9

Sep 23, 2023, 11:38 pm

PHILADELPHIA -- — Quarterback Connor Watkins ran for 113 yards and three touchdowns and Villanova beat Rhode Island 35-9 in a Coastal Athletic Association season opener for the Wildcats on Saturday.

Watkins ran for scores of 1 and 21 yards in a four-minute span to close the first quarter for a 14-0 advantage. His 5-yard run with 1:47 before halftime made it 21-3.

Halfway through the third, TD Ayo-Durojaive made it 28-3 with a 63-yard scoring run. He finished with 103 yards rushing on seven carries. Villanova (3-1, 1-0) finished with 459 total yards. The Rams (2-2, 2-1) had 241.

Villanova’s lone blemish came in the form of penalties committing 12 for a total of 105 yards.

Jaden Griffin provided Rhode Island's lone touchdown with a 14-yard run with 5:09 left.

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AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll

Game Information

Philadelphia, PA

FCS

Coastal Athletic Association	CONF	OVR
Rhode Island	8-0	11-3
Villanova	7-1	12-3
New Hampshire	6-2	8-5
Monmouth	6-2	9-3
William & Mary	6-2	7-5
Maine	5-3	6-6
Elon	4-4	6-6
Stony Brook	4-4	6-6
Towson	4-4	6-6
North Carolina A&T	2-6	2-10
Campbell	2-6	2-10
Bryant	1-7	3-9
UAlbany	1-7	2-10
Hampton	0-8	2-10

Patriot League	CONF	OVR
Lehigh	7-0	12-1
Lafayette	6-1	8-4
Holy Cross	3-4	3-9
Richmond	3-4	7-5
Georgetown	3-4	6-6
Colgate	3-4	5-7
Bucknell	2-5	5-7
Fordham	1-6	1-11

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In his first comments since the NFL draft, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said Monday from ACC spring meetings, "It's pretty well documented we grossly underachieved last year. That isn't a news flash."

Despite snub, Notre Dame on good terms with ACC, AD says

Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua said his school's relationship is "very good and healthy" with the ACC despite the Irish's ill feelings immediately after their playoff snub in favor of Miami.

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