Villanova Preps For Life Without QB John Robertson
By Matt Leon
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- It is a short week for the Villanova Wildcats as for the second straight game they prepare to play a local rival in the Penn Quakers.
This past Saturday, Villanova rallied to beat Delaware, 28-21, on the Main Line but the win came at a huge cost as senior quarterback John Robertson, the reigning Walter Payton Award winner, tore the posterior cruciate ligament in his knee and is out indefinitely.
"This is as tough as it gets," Villanova head coach Andy Talley tells KYW Newsradio. "When you've got the Walter Payton Award winner on your team and really an elite quarterback in the country, it's devastating really for John and our program. I feel so bad for him because he was on the verge of breaking a lot of records and not to mention, leading our team to a great season. So everyone's pretty broken hearted about it and we feel bad for him. We'll survive somehow but, man, legendary quarterback going down."
Listen to the entire interview with Villanova's Andy Talley
Robertson will be replaced at quarterback by redshirt freshman Zach Bednarczyk and the Wallington, New Jersey, native gave a wonderful first impression when he relieved Roberston against Delaware after the injury in the fourth quarter.
"Zach played great," Talley says. "I mean he was only in there for about four-and-a-half minutes, but he was responsible for two touchdowns and a two-point extra point. He just played fantastic. I've never had anybody play as well as him coming into the game as a back-up quarterback, just tremendous."
Talley breaks down what the 6'1" Bednarczyk brings to the table.
"He's exactly the same kind of quarterback that John Robertson is," Talley says. "He can run and he can throw. He's a guy who can beat you with his feet and he has a tremendously strong arm. The only difference is he's a left-hander."
The Wildcats will be facing a Penn team that they have beaten 14 straight times, but Talley says it is always a tough match-up.
"Penn has always given us a hard time," Talley says. "It's been a rough game and I think it's a local type thing and both teams really get after it pretty well."
Talley adds that playing on a Thursday is also a challenge.
"Short week has been very challenging for us because we have injuries which some of the guys aren't going to get back," Talley says. "Both offensive tackles look like they're going to struggle to get back for us for sure. I don't think that's going to happen and then we have a lot of guys bumped up. So it's concern trying to get ready quickly for a team like Penn."
Villanova and Penn will kickoff at 7:00pm on Thursday.
You can follow Matt on Twitter @mattleonkyw.
