Pat McQuaide hit Ja'briel Mace with a 13-yard touchdown pass with 1:08 left to lift No. 22 Villanova past Long Island University, 20-16.
The graduate quarterback's throw capped an eight-play, 85-yard drive Saturday, Sept. 19, in Brookville, N.Y., moving the Wildcats to 2-2. The win extended Villanova's streak of regular-season nonconference FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) victories to 21, dating to a 2015 loss to Penn, according to the AP.
The first half produced only field goals. Villanova led 10-3 at the break.
Mace, a preseason All-Patriot League selection, extended the lead early in the third quarter with a 20-yard rushing touchdown to make it 13-6. But LIU's Braylon Vincent returned an interception 50 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, tying the game at 13. Sharks kicker Will Johnson then drilled a 29-yard field goal with 2:44 remaining to put LIU ahead 16-13.
A penalty on the ensuing kickoff pushed Villanova back to its own 15-yard line. McQuaide completed 6-of-7 passes for 78 yards on the drive, The Villanovan reported. He found wide receiver Brandon Binkowski twice for 38 yards before connecting with Mace for the go-ahead score.
On LIU's next snap, Sharks quarterback Ethan Greenwood was intercepted by Jamie Tyson to seal it.
McQuaide, whose extra year of eligibility was secured through a court injunction on Aug. 1, finished with 223 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception. The performance pushed him past 4,000 career passing yards, placing him in the top 10 in program history.
Mace piled up 170 all-purpose yards. He rushed 14 times for 97 yards, caught three passes for 35 yards and added 38 yards on kickoff returns. Binkowski caught six passes for 113 yards.
On defense, junior linebacker Christian Caballero posted a career-high 10 tackles. Sophomore defensive lineman Ugo Nwotite recovered a fumble.
LIU fell to 0-4. Greenwood rushed for 142 yards on 26 carries but was intercepted twice.
After the season-opening loss to William & Mary on Aug. 28, Mace told The Villanovan that McQuaide's return had steadied the offense. "It's kind of a second nature, having a guy like Pat back in the locker room, especially back in the office, it's really helpful … We could finally get back to the flow of things," Mace said then.
Head coach Mark Ferrante's squad opens Patriot League play Saturday, Sept. 26, when Colgate visits Villanova Stadium in Lower Merion Township. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m.
