Hampton Loses Tough One to Villanova, Now 4-4 on the Season (10-29-22)

By: Lamonte Thomas

Headline Photo Credit: Hampton Football

Villanova quarterback Connor Watkins kicked off Saturday’s contest vs Hampton (4-3, 1-3) with a 75-yard rushing touchdown on the game’s second play; the big run was the longest run from a Villanova quarterback in school history. The junior finished the game with 11 rushes for 130 yards and a touchdown – while also completing 14 of 31 passes for 161 yards and another score. Axel Perez and Matthew Mercurio each made field goals for Hampton and Villanova respectively, from nearly 30 yards out in the second quarter. At halftime, Hampton trailed Villanova 10-3.

Senior wide receiver Jaaron Hayek caught an 11-yard touchdown from Watkins on a 10-play, 64-yard drive for Villanova as they took a 17-3 lead in the third quarter with just over seven minutes left; it was his eighth touchdown of the year. Villanova’s defense was led by graduate linebackers Antonio Montero (one sack, two tackles for a loss) and Danny Abraham who intercepted a Malcom Mays pass after Hampton secured a turnover of their own. Sophomore Ty Trinh from Owings, Maryland led Villanova with seven tackles. With two minutes remaining in the third quarter, Hampton quarterback Malcolm Mays completed a 29-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Trent Cloud, the senior from Cleveland. The score read 17-10 at the start of the fourth quarter when the game was put away the same way it started– quarterback Connor Watkins broke a 30-yard touchdown run to seal the game for the Wildcats. 

Senior running back TD Ayo-Durojaiye (Damascus, MD) totaled 112 yards on 25 rushing attempts. His 354 yards in the last three games allowed him to eclipse 1,000 yards for the season.

Villanova (5-3, 3-2) visits Towson (3-5, 1-4) next week while Hampton (4-4, 1-4) hosts CAA juggernaut William & Mary (7-1, 4-1).