Villanova tops Saint Francis 31-21 in FCS opener

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 2:07 p.m. ET

foxsports

PHILADELPHIA (AP) Zach Bednarczyk threw for 254 yards and three first-half touchdowns, and Villanova opened the FCS playoffs with a 31-21 victory over Saint Francis on Saturday.

Bednarczyk completed 10 of 11 passes for 189 yards and had two touchdowns to Ryan Bell and another to Jarrett McClenton in the first half. Bell's 2-yard reception put the Wildcats (9-3) up 31-7 at the half. Bell also scored on a 59-yard play in the closing seconds of the first quarter with McClenton's touchdown covering 53 yards on the next possession.

Villanova plays at eighth-seeded South Dakota State (8-3) next weekend.

Bell finished with five catches for 110 yards.

In the fourth quarter, Jalen Wells returned an interception 78 yards for a touchdown for the Red Flash (7-5) and Zack Drawer ran for a touchdown. Drawer also had a 74-yard first-quarter touchdown hookup with Kamron Lewis. Lewis had six catches for 129 yards for the Red Flashes.