Delaware had some bad luck, losing its top two quarterbacks to first-half injuries.

But it can't blame wicked curses or massive misfortune this time. Villanova was clearly superior, and it showed at Delaware Stadium.

The Wildcats scored on their second play and quickly answered a Delaware game-tying touchdown with one of their own.

That was all the momentum the Wildcats needed to pull away for a 35-7 football victory over Delaware with a near-sellout of 17,718 watching on a sunny but blustery Saturday.

It was Villanova's ninth straight win over the Hens at Delaware Stadium and their 16th in the last 18 meetings overall.

No. 10-ranked Villanova (9-2 overall, 7-1 Coastal Athletic Association) finished in a three-way tie for the CAA title with victorious Albany and Richmond but won the tie-breaker giving it the league's NCAA FCS playoff berth.

CAA STANDINGS: Tie at the top

No. 7-ranked Delaware (8-3, 6-2) failed in its bid for a first fall league title since 2010 but should earn an at-large spot in the 24-team FCS bracket, which will be announced on ESPN Sunday at 12:30 p.m. A home game Saturday is likely, perhaps against Patriot League champ Lafayette.

"When you get knocked down you're gonna have some times when you have to fight through adversity and punch adversity back," coach Ryan Carty said of bouncing back in the postseason.

The Blue Hens managed just 296 total yards with true freshman Nick Minicucci having to step in at quarterback with 5:11 left in the second quarter after injuries to Ryan O'Connor and Zach Marker.

The injury to Marker was season ending, Carty said. O'Connor, who spent much of the second half riding an exercise bike, may be able to return. Each was hurt on a second-quarter run while being tackled going out of bounds.

"Nick did a great job of trying to step up and do his best," Carty said. "He's going to be a very capable quarterback. Had we practiced him all week [with starters], I think we would have been a little bit better if we had a game plan prepared for him."

Minicucci completed 9 of 21 passes for 55 yards and was picked off twice. Marcus Yarns had 97 yards on 18 carries for the Hens.

O'Connor started and threw to Marker on the Hens' first play of the game for a 39-yard gain. Marker then stepped in at QB as Nate Reed was eventually wide right on a 42-yard field-goal try. O'Connor then returned at quarterback.

Villanova strafed Delaware for 450 total yards, and showed the combination of powerful running and clutch passing that have been its trademarks. Jalen Jackson ran 55 yards on the first play for Villanova and, after a pass-interference penalty, DeeWil Barlee scored from the 5 less than a minute into the game.

"Once that happened," Carty said, "I think we settled in a little bit better on defense and that kinda kept us in it . . . They were very good up front. They have the deep threats, as you saw eventually when we were trying to sell out on the run. They have those guys who can make plays in the back end. That's what makes it hard to defend."

Jackson finished with 130 yards on just nine carries. Connor Watkins completed 16 of 26 passes for 223 yards and two TDs.

PRESENT TENSE: Forget unpleasant past vs. Villanova, Blue Hens must thrive in the moment

"It felt like every time we gave Delaware some momentum the defense walked out there and shut them right back down and gave the momentum back to us," Watkins

The Blue Hens didn't convert two first-half fourth-and-2 plays as O'Connor was picked off at the Villanova 28 and Yarns stopped for one yard on a direct snap at the Villanova 32.

Delaware then tied it 7-7 with 3:17 left in the second quarter. Minicucci ran 6 yards for a first down, then threw a 39-yard TD pass to Braden Brose. The tight end caught the football at the Villanova 26, broke a tackle and ran in for the touchdown. Alex Schmoke's extra point made it 7-7. Jackson Taylor's fumble recovery at the 50 had given Delaware the football.

But the Wildcats led 14-7 at halftime after Watkins' 11-yard TD pass to Jaaron Hayek with 1:44 left in the first half. They extended the lead to 21-7 with 5:18 to go in the third period on TD-Ayo-Durojaiye's 1-yard TD run after Jordan Nelson's interception gave Villanova possession at the UD 30.

Watkins and Hayek hooked up again, on a 51-yard TD pass, with 1:32 left in the third period as Villanova went up 28-7. Danny Abraham's 69-yard interception for a touchdown made it 35-7 in the fourth period.

Villanova missed other opportunities, with Matthew Mercurio off on 29- and 26-yard field-goal tries. The first came after the Wildcats got the football at the UD 14 when Brose was stopped for no gain on a fourth-and-1 fake punt. Villanova also had a TD erased by a penalty before being stopped on downs at the UD 31 in the first quarter.

"The defense really held us in there in the beginning," Villanova coach Mark Ferrante said.

Have an idea for a compelling local sports story or is there an issue that needs public scrutiny? Contact Kevin Tresolini at ktresolini@delawareonline.com and follow on Twitter @kevintresolini. Support local journalism by subscribing to delawareonline.com and our DE Game Day newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Villanova Wildcats visit Delaware Blue Hens for CAA football title