West's 15-yard fingertip touchdown reception from Gabalis put Tarleton State up by nine points in the third quarter. The Oklahoma transfer finished the year with 44 receptions for 759 yards (17 YPR) and 5 TDs.
An FCS semifinal berth was on the line when the fourth-ranked Tarleton State Texans took on Villanova last Saturday. The Wildcats (12-2, 7-1) –led by head coach Mark Ferrante– came into the contest riding a 10-game winning streak. Villanova earned a third consecutive postseason appearance for just the second time in school history.
Conversely, the Texans (12-2, 7-1) won a share of its first conference title (UAC) in the Division I era. It previously won five such titles in the Division II ranks. The man leading the charge was head coach Todd Whitten. Whitten sported a rather remarkable .685 winning percentage heading into Saturday’s contest.
The game became a tale of two halves. Tarleton State jumped out to a two-touchdown lead in the first quarter. On its first play from scrimmage, All-UAC receiver Peyton Kramer caught an 80-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Victor Gabalis. Kramer won on a skinny post from the slot and tracked a perfectly placed ball from Gabalis.
Villanova responded with three straight scores, including two field goals from Jack Barnum. Sandwiched in-between was a 27-yard trick play touchdown pass from receiver Braden Reed to Lucas Kopecky.
At the half, the score was 14-12.
The second stanza began with another Gabalis touchdown pass. This time he hit receiver Trevon West on a 15-yard slant route in the third quarter.
Villanova, however, would not go away.
Controversial ending
Its defense continued to pressure Gabalis with a variety of stunts, pressures and man coverage concepts. By the end of the afternoon, they had four sacks and nine tackles for losses. Buck Buchanan Award finalist Shane Hartzell led the way with seven tackles, a half quarterback sack and two-and-a-half tackles for loss.
Offensively, CAA Special Teams Player of the Year Ja’briel Mace ran away from the defense on a 47-yard touchdown run up the middle. That score cut the Texans lead to 21-19. Shortly thereafter, a 12-play, 78-yard drive was capped by an 11-yard touchdown pass from Pat McQuaide to freshman Braden Reed. It put them up 26-21.
Gabalis then took the Texans right back down the field on a 14-play, 76-yard drive. A variety of clutch third down conversions and costly penalties from Villanova’s defensive backs kept giving the Texans life.
After a couple of stops, it came down to a fourth down and six from the Wildcats 11-yard line. Gabalis moved slightly to his left under pressure and fired a perfect 11-yard touchdown pass to West in the corner of the end zone. The fans in Memorial Stadium reached a raucous pitch that was the loudest of the afternoon.
However, after a replay review, it was ruled that West did not get his left foot down before being pushed out of bounds by Villanova cornerback Damill Bostic.
Villanova secured a couple of first downs to run out the clock and advanced to the FCS Semifinals.
We share some of the images from the fantastic affair in our photo gallery recap.
The Tarleton State Texans (12-1) came into the 2025 FCS Quarterfinals ranked fourth nationally.
The Texans rodeo team led the team on the field and got the crowd ready for action.
Tarleton Memorial Stadium has been expanded several times. The Lonn Reisman Athletic Center was named after former AD Lonn Reisman. Reisman was the longest tenured athletic director in school history.
Prior to the game, second-team All-UAC guard Braden Smith -a former defensive tackle- gets the crowd going prior to the game.
Villanova head coach Mark Ferrante has led the team to two CAA titles in the last five seasons (2021, 2023). Ferrante was an assistant head coach and offensive line coach on Villanova's first-ever national championship team in 2009.
Tarleton State LT Aiden Moe (No. 73 pictured blocking Shane Hartzell) opens up the hole for Daniel Greek's first quarter one-yard touchdown run.
Villanova LT Stephane Voltaire (No. 75 pictured) opens up a hole for RB Ja'briel Mace (No. 4 pictured). Mace finished with 151 yards rushing on 18 carries (one TD).
Villanova first-team All-CAA tackle Stephane Voltaire started his 41st straight game this past Saturday. Voltaire finished his career with 45 starts, including 42 following the FCS Semifinal against Illinois State.
Tarleton State DL Robert Rios III (No. 52 pictured) blocks the second quarter extra point attempt by Villanova PK Jack Barnum.
Tarleton State DB Kasyus Kurns recovers a blocked extra point in the first half of Saturday's game. Kurns -a first-team All-UAC defender- finished 2025 with 32 tackles, 2 TFLs 6 INTs and 3 PBUs.
Villanova PK Jack Barnum kicks the ball off to open the third quarter of action in the 2025 FCS Quarterfinals.
Julian Talley (No. 7 pictured) and Julian Glantz (No. 18 pictured) combine to hit Deangelo Rosemond on this third quarter
12-yard kickoff return.
Ratu Navoti (No. 99 pictured) Capri Martin (No. 0 pictured) celebrate after a huge stop in the second half of Saturday's playoff tilt.
All-CAA linebacker Shane Hartzell makes a wrap tackle in the first half of Saturday's game against Tarleton State.
Villanova defensive backs Jamie Tyson (No. 23 pictured), Anthony Hawkins (No. 27 pictured) and Newton Essiem (No. 38 pictured) go man-to-man versus Trevon West (No. 19), Peyton Kramer (No. 13) and Marquis Willis (No. 7 pictured).
Former Benedict College CB Ja'Voni Melidor lines up against Villanova second-team All-CAA WR Luke Colella.
Tarleton State WR Trevon West, pictured, extends for a catch in the Red Zone during the third quarter of Saturday's action.
West's 15-yard fingertip touchdown reception from Gabalis put Tarleton State up by nine points in the third quarter. The Oklahoma transfer finished the year with 44 receptions for 759 yards (17 YPR) and 5 TDs.
Tarleton State QB Victor Gabalis throws a slant route to WR Peyton Kramer. Kramer -who caught an 80-yard TD pass from Gabalis on the first play from scrimmage- finished with 104 yards on 4 receptions.
Tarleton State first-team All-UAC defensive end Angelo Anderson -a Tulane transfer- bends his knees to tackle Villanova QB Pat McQuaide.
Tarleton State All-UAC receiver Peyton Kramer catches a slant route in front of safety Anthony Hawkins during Saturday's action.
Tarleton State second-team All-UAC QB Victor Gabalis throws a ball from the pocket during the second half. Gabalis finished the season with 30 touchdown passes to just six interceptions.
Tarleton State wide receiver Marquis Willis -whose brother, Malik, plays quarterback for the Green Bay Packers- makes a toe-tap reception along the sidelines in the third quarter of Saturday's action.
Villanova quarterback Pat McQuaide gets the ball to RB Ja'briel Mace over the outstretched arms of the defender in the fourth quarter.
Tarleton State defensive back AJ Owens makes a wrap tackle on RB Ja'briel Mace in the game's first half. Mace was named the CAA Special Teams Player of the Year in 2025 after averaging 32 yards per kickoff return (2 TDs).
