Whether it was Penn getting worse or Villanova getting better, there was a drastic change in the Quakers defense from the beginning of the game to the end.
On Villanova's first four possessions of the game, Penn allowed no points and forced two turnovers, on its way to a 17-0 second quarter lead. However, on the Wildcats' final eight possessions, the Quakers allowed 28 points and forced no turnovers, and went on to lose a nailbiter, 28-24.
The majority of this shift in momentum certainly did not come from a collapse in run defense. Throughout the game Penn dominated the Villanova rushing attack, forcing a stunning 45 yards on 27 carries, less than 1.7 yards per rush. Wildcats running backs DeQuese May and Moe Gibson had no room to run. Penn's 3-4 defense was playing in the Villanova backfield for much of the game, sacking Wildcats quarterback Frank Jankowski only once, but amassing nine tackles for loss. They threw the ball often, but Villanova still rushed for only five yards in the second half.
The real difference came in the Villanova passing game. In his first four possessions, Jankowski went 3-9 for 21 yards and threw two interceptions. On the next drive he completed all three of his passes for 65 yards, culminating with a calm toss to wide open tight end Matthew Sherry, his first of two scores.
Despite the rocky start, Jankowski went 23-for-36 for 345 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions, averaging 9.6 yards per passing attempt.
Going into the fourth quarter, Villanova wide receivers J.J. Outlaw and John Dieser had 44 and 42 yards respectively, with no touchdowns. However, in the final period they both reached the end zone, as well as eclipsing the century mark for the game.
The question is what made the difference. Why was Jankowski held to 86 yards in the first half, and able to throw for 259 in the second?
Quite possibly the main cause of Villanova's rebound was the offense's ability to recognize and become comfortable with Penn's complicated and changing pass coverages.
"All throughout the game they were switching up between cover-2 and '33' with their safeties," said Outlaw, who finished with eight catches for 103 yards and a score. "I think once we keyed in to the rhythm [of Penn's defensive scheme], we were able to click into that and understand what they were trying to do. Frank was able to get back there and just throw the ball."
Penn coach Al Bagnoli knew that he had to confuse the Villanova offense in order to have a chance.
"I told our kids, from top to bottom that's going to be the most athletic team we see all year," Bagnoli said. "They have athletic kids at quarterback, in the backfield, at wide receiver, tight end, and so you have to mix up a lot of coverages. If you stay in a generic set you are going to have some problems. You can't play vanilla against these kids, or they'll throw for 500 yards."
Another factor could have been the secondary tiring out at the end of the game.
"In the second half we didn't get it done, and fatigue could have been some of it," Bagnoli said. "It's not good enough to play for 50 minutes or 55 minutes -- you have to play for 60."
