Villanova running back Justin Covington may lead the FCS with 556 yards rushing through five games, but there are not many statistics that concern him. The numbers that motivate the Villanova Wildcats in 2019 are zero and nine.

“We had zero people picked for [preseason 1^st team] all-conference, and we were picked ninth,” Covington said. “So we’ve been going about it with a chip on our shoulder. Not everyone believed in us; some people still don’t believe in us.”

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There’s something poetic about this sentiment coming from the same city as quintessential cinematic underdog Rocky Balboa.

In short order, the Wildcats went from overlooked as Colonial Athletic Association also-ran to one of the most buzzworthy teams in FCS. They’ve been dominant on defense for the entirety of three games (and when it was most necessary in a fourth) and electrifying on offense.  

Their Yo, Adrian! I did it! moment came in Week 4 against then-No. 5 Towson.

The Tigers, fresh from a top-10 road win at Maine, welcomed Villanova to Johnny Unitas Stadium. With Covington rolling up 194 yards on 7.2 per carry and quarterback Daniel Smith dealing via the run and pass, the Wildcats jumped to a two-touchdown lead in the fourth quarter.

But Towson counter-punched.

The Tigers scored 17 unanswered points to take a late 45-42 lead. A team without that chip might have folded, but not Villanova. While the talent on the Wildcats' roster has been evident this season, a game-tying possession in regulation and the winning possessions in overtime revealed another quality about them.  

“I don’t know if you ever know going into something like that how you’re going to respond, until you’re in that situation,” said Villanova coach Mark Ferrante. “It was really good to be challenged ... awesome to see our team respond in the fashion they did.” 

Congratulations to Daniel Smith on being named @CAAFootball Offensive Player of the Week #GoNova pic.twitter.com/m9tvKSj61s

— Villanova Football (@NovaFootball) September 23, 2019

Villanova’s response to falling behind came in the form of a 14-play, 65-yard drive that moved into range for Drew Kresge’s tying field goal. 

“It’s one of those things you just have to be a part of it to feel it,” Covington said of the resolve necessary to finish that drive. “In the fourth quarter, we get that fourth-and-10, we were nervous, but everyone knew what they had to do.” 

A huge fourth-down conversion kept the drive alive; a fourth-down stop in overtime won the game. 

Villanova’s defense came into Towson having held its first three opponents to 34 combined points. Facing the high-octane Tigers with dual-threat quarterback Tom Flacco, Shane Leatherbury at wide receiver, and a hurry-up scheme is a whole new challenge. 

Even so, the Wildcats responded when they needed to most, keeping Towson out of the end zone in extra time. 

“We know what we’ve got on this team,” said cornerback Jaquan Amos. 

Amos has been a defensive star through Villanova’s strong start. He has a pair of pick-sixes, and he’s established himself as a leading playmaker in a loaded secondary that also features Christian Benford, Elijah Trent, and Darius Pickett; it’s a long list of potential difference-makers. 

“We bring confidence to the defense,” Amos said of the secondary. “We allow our coach to call pressure on the quarterback, and we just keep our coverage. That’s what it’s all about on the back end: confidence.

“Having that confidence to have each other’s back, it goes a long way,” Amos added, referring to the final stop at Towson specifically. “You might have gotten beat one play, but you know your brother’s got your back [on the next].”

Villanova has reason to be confident on defense just as much as on offense — and there’s plenty of cause for confidence on offense. 

The combination of Smith and Covington has been arguably the most explosive one-two punch in FCS. Covington’s nation-leading rushing numbers including three consecutive games breaking off a run of at least 64 yards. 

The transfer Smith, meanwhile, showed flashes of a big arm in the first three weeks. In Week 4, he took both his passing and rushing to another level with six total touchdowns at Towson. The all-time career total offensive leader in Campbell history meshed immediately with his new team, in part because of some wholesale changes made on offense in the offseason. 

Former Villanova standout quarterback Chris Boden returned to the program as offensive coordinator, while Sean Devine took on run-game coordinator responsibilities.

Junior Justin Covington leads @NCAA_FCS with 5️⃣5️⃣6️⃣ rushing yards in the first four weeks of the season‼️ @jcov3_ rushed for over 1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ yards in all 4 games this year. ?#TapTheRock pic.twitter.com/mVfdKQzrcA

— Villanova Football (@NovaFootball) September 24, 2019

“It was kind of new for everyone, in a sense, so we’ve all been growing together,” Covington said. 

Covington said that summertime 7-on-7s and learning from the returning upperclassmen alongside the freshmen helped Smith with the transition. It’s showing up on the field. 

The emergence of Covington from a No. 2 option in 2018 to the nation’s leading rusher in 2019, Smith’s play as a newcomer, and the confident swagger of the defense all combine to elevate Villanova from nine to eight. 

Eight’s where the team ranks on the Week 5 FCS STATS national poll, setting things up for another high-profile CAA showdown. The Wildcats return home to host No. 12-ranked Maine, the Colonial’s defending champion. 

Last season’s meeting in Orono came down to a Black Bears field goal, but it’s fair to say this year’s matchup comes with plenty more outside buzz preceding it. Villanova’s hot start is why. 

But the Wildcats don’t intend to let 4-0 or No. 8 distract them from the numbers zero and nine that fueled them.  

“We’re 4-0, but that doesn’t mean anything,” Covington’s quick to note. “We’re getting more publicity, and people are looking into the team more, but we’re focused on doing what we have to.”