BY ROCK HOFFMAN
COLLEGE FOOTBALL EDITOR
For the second time this season, Villanova quarterback Danny Smith is the FootballStories College Player of the Week. Smith led the Wildcats (4-0, 1-0 CAA) past fifth-ranked Towson, 52-45 in overtime. The junior, who transferred from Campbell University, had four touchdown passes and a pair of scoring runs. This week, the Wildcats, who jumped to No. 8 in the polls, host defending CAA champion Maine, which is ranked 12th despite a record of 2-2 with one of those losses coming in league play.
Temple beat a ranked team in Maryland then fell apart at Buffalo, 38-22 as they committed four turnovers. The Owls (2-1) conclude non-conference play by hosting Georgia Tech in the first-ever meeting between the schools. The Yellow Jackets (1-2, 0-1 ACC) are coming off a bye week after falling to The Citadel 27-24 in overtime in a game they were 27-point favorites. The game marks the return of Geoff Collins, who guided the Owls to back-to-back bowl games in the last two seasons before departing for Atlanta.
Temple quarterback Anthony Russo talked about preparing for a game in which there’s a lot of familiarity between a group of players and the opposing coaching staff.
“There defense bring a lot of different looks,” said the junior from Archbishop Wood, “with rotating guys, rotating safeties, bringing different backers. [I’m] staying in the film room as much as I can and going to talk to the dudes that played in the defense for two years. Benny Walls, I was talking to him just about the different things they were coached to do in that defense. What were they reading with the quarterback? What were their reads as a safety? Just trying to give me an edge this week.”
Penn fell at Delaware, 28-27, when the Quakers (0-1) missed on a two-point conversion late in the game. This week the Red and Blue travel to Easton to meet Lafayette (0-4) for the 91st in a series that dates back to 1882. The Quakers have battled with the Leopards more than any other non-Ivy League opponent. The Blue Hens (3-1, 1-0 CAA) take on Pitt (2-2, 0-1 ACC).
Princeton opened their 150th season of football (after all, they played in the first-ever game) with a 49-7 rout of Butler. Saturday, they’re at Bucknell (0-3).
Delaware State (1-2, 0-1 MEAC) had a short week coming off a 24-9 loss to Howard. Thursday night, they play defending MEAC champion North Carolina A&T (2-1, 0-0 MEAC).
West Chester (3-0) shutout Seton Hill 29-0. Saturday, the Golden Rams open PSAC play at Millersville.
Lincoln(PA) (0-3) lost 51-6 at Fayetteville State. They return home Saturday to open CIAA play with Livingstone College (3-0).
No. 14 Wesley (3-0) won at Endicott 20-17. They have an off week before they open NJAC play at Rowan (0-3) which lost on a late field goal at Hobart, 20-17. The Profs also have a bye, this week. TCNJ (0-3) joins they conference foes Wesley and Rowan with a week off before they play William Patterson on October 5th. Last week, the Lions lost to St. John Fisher 40-16.
Delaware Valley, ranked 15th at the Division III level, improved to 2-1 with a 28-21 win over Stevenson. The Aggies look for their second conference win of the season on Saturday at Albright (0-2, 0-0 MAC).
Widener (2-1, 1-0 MAC) rolled over FDU-Florham 48-10. Saturday, they visit Alvernia (1-2, 0-1 MAC).
Saturday was Home Coming at Ursinus and the Bears lost a tough one to Juniata 44-38. This week, Ursinus (2-1, 1-1 Centennial) is back on the road at Moravian (0-3, 0-2 Centennial).
Email Rock Hoffman at rock@footballstories.com