Rhode Island, Villanova, and New Hampshire: CAA FCS Playoff Recap
- Cael Nearhoof
- 18 hours ago
- 9 min read
The CAA managed to get three teams into the FCS Playoffs this season with those three teams being the Rhode Island Rams who won the conference and got the auto bid into the playoffs, the Villanova Wildcats, and the New Hampshire Wildcats, with both teams getting selected into the playoffs. Of those three teams two of them advanced into the second round with Rhode Island and Villanova getting wins, while New Hampshire took a loss ending their season.
Here we will take a look at each game to see how each one unfolded.
The Rhode Island Rams played in one of the closer games in the first round of the playoffs as they got a 27-19 victory over the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils. This was a game where if you only watched the first half you would have thought the Rams were going to blow out the Blue Devils as they were up 24-7 at the half, but things went very different in the second half as the Rams just made sure to hold onto their lead as the offense was only able to put up three more points in the game while the defense gave up a 12 point fourth quarter.
For the Rams this game saw them get touchdowns on their first two possessions of the game with touchdown throws of 28, and 25 yards. Giving them a strong start and a good lead. Central Connecticut State (CCSU) would fight back though as they cut their way down the field and got into the endzone with a 3-yard touchdown pass with just two seconds left in the first quarter making it 14-7 at the end of one.
Then the second quarter was all Rams as they put up two scores in the quarter with one of them being a 1-yard touchdown rush, as well as 42-yard field goal on the final play of the half making the score 24-7. This quarter also saw their defense stymie the Blue Devils offense as they didn’t give up any points, with the longest drive in the quarter for the Blue Devils being 31 yards. That drive ended in a turnover-on-downs with the Rams then scoring their one touchdown of the quarter right afterwards.
In the second half there wasn’t a whole lot of action for a while as neither team could score in the third quarter.
Then in the fourth quarter things got wild as CCSU knew they had to start making some big plays if they wanted any chance to comeback in this one. Their first big play came when they executed a fake punt from inside their own 30. After that they found themselves in the endzone after an 11-play drive that was capped off with a 25 yard touchdown pass. This made the game 24-13 with 12:44 left in the game. Then on the ensuing drive the Rams threw an interception that was returned 57 yards, setting up CCSU in prime position for a touchdown. Rhode Island’s defense held firm though as they kept the Blue Devils to a 18-yard field goal making it 24-16 with 9:57 left in the game. With the game suddenly at one possession the Rams did what needed to be done as they went on a five minute drive that ended in three points making it a two possession game with five minutes left. The Blue Devils would quickly respond with a field goal of their own, making it 27-19. The Rams would get possession with just under two minutes left in the game but could not run out the clock. Instead they relied on their punter who pinned the Blue Devils back on their own 5-yard line with 1:36 left in the game. The Blue Devils would drive all the way to Rhode Island’s 40 yard line before eventually turning the ball over on downs ending the game and sending Rhode Island to the second round of the playoffs. The Rams second round matchup is one that you don't want to miss as they will be taking on the eighth ranked UC Davis Aggies. The Aggies were the final team to get a bye in the first round of the playoffs so Rhode Island will be looking to make a statement and try to show the committee that they got in wrong in who got the bye. This game will be a late one as it won't start till 10:00 p.m. ET as it takes place in Davis California. Watch this exciting CAA vs Big Sky matchup on ESPN Plus to see who advances to the third round.
The Villanova Wildcats also advanced to the second round of the playoffs as they hosted Harvard in a game that was all Villanova as they got a 52-7 win. The Wildcats showed no mercy to Harvard who made their first ever FCS Playoff appearance. In this game the Wildcats put up an astonishing 512 yards, with most of those yards coming from by, running up and down the field as they rushed for 319 yards. The run game was so strong that they didn’t really need to pass but when they did they were still effective as they passed for 193 yards. This game also saw the defense take the ball away three times as they recovered a lost fumble and got two interceptions in the game.
When it came to executing for these results it all came from the very start of the game. As Villanova went right down the field on a 75 yard drive leading to an early 7-0 lead. Things would stay hot as they would then end Harvard's starting drive by getting an interception. The interception was made by Newton Essiem, the first of his career. One that would not be wasted as Villanova then went on a 10-play, 80-yard drive that was capped off with a 30-yard touchdown reception. Making it 14-0 nothing with just a little bit of time left in the first. Down already multiple possessions Harvard needed a big drive but instead the Wildcats forced a three and out from them. Villanova then continued to do its thing as they went down the field again. This time though they ended up having to settle for a field goal as they hit the 29-yarder. Villanova’s defense continued to stay strong in the first half as they forced their second three and out of the half. Villanova then put up another touchdown this time on the ground from 10-yards out as this made the score now 24-0. They wouldn’t let up though as they forced yet another three and out, and then went right back down the field for another touchdown. This time the score came from 5-yards out with it also being a run play. This made the game now 31-0 with just under two minutes to go until half. From here the game was all but over, with a second half to still play. That second half was one Villanova did not take lightly as they continued to dominate on both sides of the ball with great o-line play.
The second half opening saw Harvard start out the third quarter with their solo scoring drive of the game. As they finally found a way to run and pass the ball as they capped off the drive with a 6-yard touchdown pass. The score was now at 31-7 and Villanova made sure to shut down any chances of a comeback as they went right down the field for a touchdown. The drive ended with a 29-yard touchdown pass, as it took them all but two minutes to respond against the Crimson. Harvard then went on an impressive drive as they were sniffing the endzone. They knew they needed to get seven out of this one, so they ended up going for it on fourth down. On their fourth down play they were not able to convert as Villanova forced pressure and recorded a sack ending the drive and keeping the Crimson off the board on yet another drive. Villanova then took over and moved the ball a little way down the field before eventually punting it away as they entered the fourth quarter.
Harvard then wasn’t able to do anything on their next drive as they went three and out for the fourth time that day. The Wildcats just kept doing what they had done all day long as they went on yet another scoring drive as they continued to maul the Crimson making it now 45-7 from a 8-yard touchdown pass.
Harvard’s next drive didn’t see anything else that was promising as they threw their second interception in the game. Yet again the Wildcats knew what to do as they scored on the short field possession on another rushing touchdown. This got the game to the final score of 52-7, as Harvard fumbled away their final possession as the Wildcats took victory formation on their final two plays of the game seeling the deal.
This win now sends the Wildcats over to Lehigh as they will face them for the 20th time in program history. This matchup see the number 12 Villanova Wildcats taking on the undefeated 5th ranked Lehigh Mountain Hawks at 12:00 p.m. ET. This game will take place on ESPN Plus with the game happening on December 6th. Don’t miss this one as the games will only get better and better from here on out.
The final entry for teams that made it into playoffs that represented the CAA was New Hampshire. They drew quite possibly the toughest team possible in the first round as they faced the South Dakota Jackrabbits. What made this game so tough was the fact that Chase Mason was back behind the wheel for the Jackrabbits after missing several games before the playoffs. Mason makes the “Jacks” a true championship contender and a real buzzsaw of a team to face. That buzzsaw is exactly what happened to New Hampshire as they lost 41-3 on a snow filled day.
In this game both their offensive and defensive lines were dominated as the Jackrabbits defense was able to shut down New Hampshire by only giving up 192 total yards. The Wildcats were only able to pass for 48 yards, as their receivers were locked down. The run game did better overall by having 144 rushing yards but it was nowhere close enough to help them win this one. When it came to the other side of the ball it was the exact opposite of what they wanted as they gave up 425 yards. 232 of those yards came from the pass, with the other 193 coming from the run as the “Jacks” could do virtually nothing wrong.
The game saw South Dakota State start the game with the ball and also saw them march right down the field on a 75-yard drive that ended with a 1-yard rushing touchdown. That touchdown was just the start of what was to come from the Jackrabbits offense. For New Hampshire their first drive didn’t go as planned as they barely moved the ball and then punted it away. The “Jacks” would then chew over seven and half minutes of clock on their next drive as they continually overpowered the Wildcats o-line en route to a second 1-yard touchdown run. This made the game 14-0 with the second quarter just about to begin. The Wildcats would then go three-and-out giving the Jackrabbits their third possession with New Hampshire still trying to find an answer for how to stop them. SDSU would then go on yet another scoring drive as they threw a pass into the corner of the endzone that was tipped by the defense and still brought in by the receiver for a touchdown.
Now down 21-0 New Hampshire would finally find a way to get on the board as they put together a 15 play drive that consumed over half of the quarters time as they kicked a 30-yard field goal making the game now 21-3 with just 2:53 left till half. Even though the game was getting close to half the Jackrabbits didn’t care as they hopped, skipped, and danced their way into the endzone as it took them only three plays to put another touchdown on the board. With the Wildcats giving up a 42-yard touchdown pass with just 1:51 left in the half. The “Jacks” would miss the extra point making the score 27-3. With just under two minutes till the half New Hampshire would make a push to close the gap but instead threw an interception all but bringing the game to halftime.
After halftime the Wildcats would start with the ball. They would then go on a 10 play drive that took up six minutes worth of time that ultimately ended in a punt. The “Jacks” would then get stopped for one of the few times that day as they threw an interception. New Hampshire wasn’t able to do anything from the pick as they went three and out as the “Jacks” had all the answers. After the punt the SDSU started with the ball near the end of third quarter and held onto it into the fourth with them finding the endzone on a 16-yard touchdown pass. This made the game now 34-3. New Hampshire would have two more chances to score in this one with the game all but over. On their second to last drive the Wildcats would turn the ball over on downs after only moving the ball 17-yards down the field. SDSU continued to dominate the day as they then put up one final touchdown as they scored from 2-yards out on a pass. This made the game now 41-3 with only 3:05 left in the game. New Hampshire would take over with these final few minutes remaining but couldn’t do anything as they ran out of time before putting together a scoring drive.
This game was one that had upset written all over it for New Hampshire when the bracket first came out but once Mason got the ok to play it became a whole new ball game, and it was one the Wildcats were not prepared for as Mason was a true leader out on the field leading South Dakota State to dominate victory and an advancement into the second round. For the Wildcats this season might not have ended how they wanted, but getting into the playoffs after being 3-4 halfway through the season is something to surely be proud of.