Box Score ORONO, Maine—An evenly played game between nationally-ranked conference opponents was decided as time expired when No. 25 Maine (3-2, 2-0 CAA Football) kicked a 52-yard field goal to defeat No. 19 Villanova (3-3, 0-3) by a final score of 13-10 at Alfond Stadium on Saturday afternoon.  The game was tied 3-3 at halftime and the teams traded touchdowns in the third quarter to set up what looked like it would be a dramatic finish regardless of the outcome.

Sophomore kicker Drew Kresge (Douglassville, Pa.) kicked a 35-yard field goal on the game’s first drive to give the Wildcats an early 3-0 lead and senior running back Aaron Forbes (Newburgh, N.Y.) scored on a two-yard run with 2:07 to play in the third quarter to account for the Wildcats only points of the day.  Forbes tallied his fourth rushing touchdown in the last three games and knotted the score at 10-10 after the Black Bears had taken the lead on their own two-yard touchdown run seven minutes earlier.

Villanova’s final possession of the game started from its own 20-yard line after a touchback on a Maine punt with 3:35 remaining.  Forbes ran for 22 yards on the first play of that drive, but the Wildcats were unable to make any additional progress downfield and punted the ball back to the Black Bears with 1:39 left.

The final series of the game gained some life when Maine converted on 3^rd-and-1 from its own 36 and took a timeout with exactly one minute to play.  After another timeout with 27 seconds remaining before a 3^rd-and-2 play from the Villanova 36-yard line, the Black Bears gained one more yard and called timeout with three seconds on the clock and the ball at the 35-yard line.

Maine kicker Kenny Doak’s attempt from 52 yards was down the middle and narrowly cleared the bar to win the game.  His previous long field goal this season had been from 38 yards out, and Wildcats junior defensive lineman Jafonta Johnson (Syracuse, N.Y.) had blocked a 40-yard attempt earlier in the fourth quarter.

Sophomore quarterback Jack Schetelich (Cranford, N.J.) made his fifth career start and first this season in place of injured senior Zach Bednarczyk and completed 12-of-25 passes for 93 yards and two interceptions.  Forbes rushed for 48 yards and the one score on 12 carries, while senior wide receiver Jarrett McClenton (Bensalem, Pa.) ran for 33 yards on three carries and made a team-high three receptions for 22 yards.

The defensive effort by Villanova was a strong one and included the Wildcats forcing three turnovers.  Junior safety Julian Williams (Airmont, N.Y.) had both an interception and a fumble recovery in the game, while junior linebacker Keeling Hunter (Franklin, Tenn.) added his first interception of the season after leading the team with four picks last year.  Junior linebacker Drew Wiley (Pennington, N.J.) had a game- and career-high nine tackles.

Villanova returns home next week to host James Madison at 1 p.m.