MUFULIRA (Interstat) — In a stunning reversal of pregame expectations, the Villanova Wildcats relied on a historic rushing performance from Ja’briel Mace to overpower the Towson Tigers 28 to 10 on Saturday at John Kachofa Stadium.

The Wildcats, who entered the game as 6.5-point underdogs according to oddsmakers, defied a projection from Interstat’s game simulator that had favored Towson 29 to 26. The Tigers’ offense, which had erupted for 62 points the previous week, was largely stifled by a relentless Villanova defense.

The game’s narrative was written almost exclusively by Mace, a running back from Somers Point, New Jersey. He carried the ball 28 times for a colossal 291 yards and scored all four of Villanova’s touchdowns. His performance single-handedly dismantled a Towson defense that had no answer for his explosive runs.

Towson struck first, capitalizing on a big play late in the opening quarter. Receiver John Dunmore took a reverse 45 yards for a touchdown, giving the Tigers an early 7 to 0 lead that would prove to be their only one of the game.

Villanova’s offense struggled to find its footing early, but Mace began to impose his will as the first half progressed. He capped a decisive drive just before halftime with an 8-yard touchdown run, tying the game at 7 and shifting the momentum squarely in the Wildcats’ favor.

The second half belonged entirely to Villanova. On the opening drive of the third quarter, Mace broke free for a 39-yard touchdown run, giving the Wildcats a lead they would not relinquish. Towson managed to respond with a 34-yard field goal from Caden Williams late in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 14 to 10, but that was the last time the Tigers would find the scoreboard.

Villanova sealed the victory with two more Mace touchdowns in the fourth quarter. The first was an 82-yard breakaway sprint that extinguished any hope of a Towson comeback, and the second was a 22-yard run with under two minutes to play, the final exclamation point on his dominant day.

While Mace was the story, the Villanova defense played a crucial role. They harassed Towson quarterback Andrew Indorf throughout the contest, forcing numerous incomplete passes and recording key sacks. Indorf, from Miami, Florida, finished 14 of 30 for 156 yards and added 38 yards on the ground, but the offense consistently stalled in critical moments.

Villanova quarterback Pat McQuaide of Solon, Ohio, managed the game effectively, completing 11 of 23 passes for 120 yards, with Braden Reed serving as his primary target, catching three passes for 41 yards.

With the win, Villanova improves its season record to 7 wins and 2 losses, maintaining its position in the upper tier of its conference. Towson falls to 4 wins and 6 losses, seeing its two-game winning streak snapped.

The Wildcats will look to carry this momentum into their next contest when they host Stony Brook on Saturday, Nov. 15. Towson will travel to face Albany on the same date.