As South Dakota State’s eventual game-winning field goal flew in slow motion, thick irony hung in the air. The ball bounced off the upright and through to solidify the Jackrabbits’ 10-7 victory over Villanova in the second round of FCS playoffs. The era of Andy Talley—one built on his own ambition and self-made legacy—was decided by the fickleness of the wind and the pigskin.
Villanova’s impressive defensive performance just wasn’t quite enough last Saturday, though they held South Dakota State to 197 total yards. The ‘Cats only scoring play came from a 6-yard pass from Zach Bednarczyk to Alex Padovani with two seconds left in the first half.