VILLANOVA, Pa. (CBS) - It’s been a rough start to the 2011 season for the Villanova Wildcats as they sit at 0-2 after last week’s 31-10 loss at Towson.   They will look to turn things around and get in the win column for the first time on Saturday, when they host Monmouth, out of the Northeast Conference.

The Wildcats will also be breaking in a new starting quarterback in this one, as starter Dustin Thomas is out with an injury.  Head coach Andy Talley says they are handing the reins of the offense over to true freshman Chris Polony from Whitehall, Pa., near Pittsburgh.

“I like him a lot,” Talley says.  “He’s a good, young quarterback with a lot of poise.  He throws the ball well and we’ll see if he can play college football.”

As for Monmouth, they lost their season opener to Lehigh last week, 49-24.

“They throw the ball around pretty well on offense,” Talley says.   “I would say they are more of a passing team than a running team.  They are going to be excited about this game.”

This is only the second time in Talley’s 27 years at the helm on the Main Line that his Wildcats have started a season 0-2, and he says to get back on track they have to get back to basics and make some plays.

“That’s what we are looking to do is, to get some turnovers, get some short fields, and take advantage of our opportunities and not turn the ball over.  Let’s play a clean, crisp game.  And I think we are getting close to that and hopefully that will happen this Saturday night.”

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The other time Villanova started 0-2 under Talley was 2006; that year’s squad bounced back to finish with a winning record at 6-5.

Kickoff on Saturday at Villanova is set for 3:30pm.

Reported by Matt Leon, KYW Newsradio 1060

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