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Villanova With Big Test At Towson

By Matt Leon

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The Villanova Wildcats are now ranked 15th in the country in FCS. They have recovered from an 0-2 start to win three straight games, but they will face a very big challenge on Saturday as they visit a Towson ranked as high as #2 in the polls.

The 3-2 Wildcats beat William and Mary this past weekend 20-16 on the Main Line. Villanova actually trailed for much of the afternoon and didn't take its first lead until their final possession of the game.

"We got the ball with (6:11) left in the game," Villanova head coach Andy Talley tells KYW Newsradio. "Put an 80-yard drive together and left about :28 seconds on the clock when we scored to go ahead. Then just hung on for dear life."

Andy Talley Interview

Sophomore quarterback John Robertson led that drive and scored the game winning touchdown on a one-yard run.

Now Towson has been dominant this season. The Tigers are 6-0 and outscoring opponents by an average score of 41-16. Their offense has a fierce ground attack led by a talented junior.

"Terrance West, I think without question, is the best running back in the country at the FCS level," Talley says. "West has rushed for 886 yards and 15 touchdowns in just six games this season. Two hundred twenty pounds, he's a game breaker. He'll run over you, around you, through you. You can't stop him, you have to try and slow him down, that's what we're going to try to do. Just slow him down. He's going to get his yards, but don't give him any big plays."

Talley says the Tigers are just as tough when opponents have the ball.

"Defensively, they're a stack team," Talley says. "They play some 4-3. They man up and blitz a lot. They're a rough, tough bunch now. They play really hard and try and force a lot of mistakes."

Last season these two teams battled on the Main Line, with Towson winning a shootout 49-35. In that game, West racked up 222 yards rushing and receiving and scored three touchdowns for Towson, while Robertson threw four touchdowns and ran for another score for Villanova.

Saturday's game will kick-off at 7:00pm at Johnny Unitas Stadium in Towson.

You can follow Matt on twitter @mattleonkyw.

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