Villanova Two Sport Star Matt Szczur Continues Impressive Season In FCS Playoff Win

Matt Szczur (Villanova photo)

Szczur (pronounced SEE-zer, like Julius Caesar or Little Caesar’s if you prefer) had a 29-yard touchdown run in the third quarter of the VU (12-1) romp.  He finished his day with 40 yards on seven carries along with 46 receiving yards on a pair of catches.  His lone 37 yard kickoff return gave him 123 all-purpose yards on the day.

Szczur now has a streak of nine straight games with either a touchdown catch, pass or run.  He has also returned a kickoff for a score this season.   Szczur has completed all three of his pass attempts this season for 21 yards and two touchdowns.  The wide receivers other stats:  45 receptions for 534 yards and four TDs, 86 rushes for 562 yards (6.7) and 7 touchdowns, and 26 kickoff returns for 719 yards (27.7) and another score.

Szczur is the only player in either the Football Bowl Subdivision or Football Championship Subdivision to have touchdowns via a run, reception, pass, and kick return this season.   He was also named both the Colonial Athletic Association’s Offensive Player of the Year and Special Teams Player of the Year

Szczur on the diamond (VU photo)

in 2009.  He is just the second player in conference history to receive both awards in the same season.

His 2009 calender year is even more impressive considering he batted a team-high .346 last spring during his first season on the Wildcat football team.  (Szczr is a junior, but he missed what would have been his freshman baseball season in 2008 due to injury.)  He also had 10 doubles, two triples, one home run, scored a team-high 45 runs, and tied for the Villanova team lead with 18 stolen bases.

Szczur and other college baseball players who also play another sport have been featured this fall in the Collegebaseball360.com Two Sport Reports.

Szczur and Villanova are now on to the FCS National semifinals where they will host Colonial Athletic Association rival William & Mary 11-2).  That game will be played at Villanova Stadium.  Villanova’s official web site, www.villanova.com, says the game will either be Friday night (Dec. 11) at 8 p.m. or Saturday afternoon (Dec. 12) at 4 p.m.