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COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Villanova LB Forrest Rhyne Striving to Play the Perfect Game

By Marc Narducci (photos by Geanine Jamison), 12/05/21, 6:45PM EST

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Villanova earns a trip to the FCS quarterfinals, after defeating Holy Cross

Photos: Geanine Jamison

By: Marc Narducci

VILLANOVA, PA – Forrest Rhyne had just delivered a record-setting performance and considering the career he has enjoyed at Villanova, that is saying something.

Yet like so many prime-time players, Rhyne was looking for perfection that he didn’t achieve and he let himself have it publicly.

The graduate student linebacker just guaranteed at least another week in his football career with a scintillating performance during Villanova’s 21-16 win over Holy Cross in a Football Championship Subdivision second round game on Friday, yet he wasn’t patting himself on the back, although there were plenty of others who would, including the opposing quarterback.

The win earned Villanova a trip to the FCS quarterfinals, where the fifth seeded Wildcats host unseeded South Dakota State at 2 p.m. on Saturday. South Dakota State upset No. 4 Sacramento State, 24-19 on Saturday. 

Rhyne had just recorded a career-high 21 tackles, including 3.0 tackles for loss, two sacks, one quarterback hurry, and apparently that wasn’t quite enough for somebody who was named the Colonial Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

“I’m more worried about the two missed tackles than the 21 or whatever it is,” Rhyne said. “I’m grateful to have a good game and to be recognized to have a good game, but it’s back to work.”

Villanova vs. Holy Cross Highlights by Geanine Jamison

That means preparing for Saturday's quarterfinal.

Maybe when going over the Holy Cross tape, Rhyne will find those two missed tackles, but all everybody else saw was No. 43 continually making one big play after another.

The 6-foot-1, 235-pound product from Waynesboro, PA, hits players with a thud but has the speed to catch unsuspecting ball carriers. Either way, it’s no fun when he introduces himself to the opponent.

Rhyne is like so many players this time of year – scratching, clawing and fighting to play yet another game and possibly more beyond that.

The Villanova linebacker wasn’t the only one battling to the hilt. Holy Cross (10-3), which beat Sacred Heart, 13-10 in the first round, didn’t go down without giving a serious fight.

Opening statement from Villanova coach Mark Ferrante after Friday’s 21-16 win over Holy Cross - Video by Marc Narducci:

Holy Cross coach Bob Chesney’s opening statement after a 21-16 loss to Villanova - PSD Video by Marc Narducci:

The Crusaders were battling all night especially after trailing 14-0 at halftime.

In addition to showing undying resiliency, the Crusaders also received high grades for creativity. Take their first touchdown for instance. It looked like Holy Cross took a page out of the Harlem Globetrotters playbook.

Trailing 14-0, quarterback Matt Sluka handed off to running back Jordan Fuller. After taking a step forward to make it look like he was running, Fuller pulled up and looked like he was taking a jump shot. That jumper/pass connected with tight end Sean Morris for a 7-yard scoring pass.

Each time the Crusaders were seemingly ready to be put away, they somehow showed enough resolve to stay in the game.

Trailing 21-16 on their final possession, the Crusaders drove into Villanova territory with a first down on the Wildcats’ 42. That was followed by three incomplete passes and then a three-yard run by Sluka, where he was inhaled by Villanova’s Jake Green and Malik Fisher. Villanova took possession with 2:01 left and ran out the clock.

This was an evening when the defense had to carry the offense for Villanova. The Wildcats received rushing touchdowns of 2 and 7 yards from Justin Covington and a 14-yard scoring run by Jalen Jackson that gave Villanova a 21-10 lead with 4:37 left in the third quarter. Yet quarterback Dan Smith completed just 8 of 22 passes for 130 yards, no touchdowns or interceptions.

The Villanova defense, which was on the field for an exhausting 37:03, had the offense’s back.

It’s this time of year that players such as Rhyne perform with even more urgency, knowing each game could be the final one.

“It’s a little different, knowing it could be your last game,” Rhyne said.

Then again, it wasn’t all that different for him. He plays like this all the time.

For instance there was a 20-tackle performance in Villanova’s biggest win of the season, a 28-27 victory at James Madison, a fellow CAA playoff participant.

He had an 11-tackle effort in a loss to Penn State, which was No. 6 in the country when the Nittany Lions hosted Villanova.

The game against Holy Cross was the sixth time this season he has recorded double digit tackles.

Sluka, the Holy Cross quarterback, talked about what it’s like playing against Rhyne.

“He’s definitely a good player, a big, strong kid,” Sluka said of Rhyne. “It was tough, he was making it not easy.”

No, Rhyne hasn’t made it easy all year for opposing quarterbacks. Or running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends for that matter.

Villanova had a first round bye and the extra rest helped a team that looked a little gassed after its 21-13 win at Delaware on Nov 20.

The week off energized the Wildcats.

“It was definitely refreshing mentally and physically,” Rhyne said.

Now there will be no week off. The Wildcats will keep grinding, and certainly will be motivated to be among the final eight teams in this pressure-packed tournament.

There is only so much time to prepare for an opponent and Rhyne will use as much energy as he can. He will strive to play the perfect game, knowing it will never happen, because even on a night when he had 21 tackles, he will always wonder why the total wasn’t 23.