Ben Ijalana takes his game to Eastern Washington as the FCS playoffs

[cowboyjoe]

Ijalana one of big reasons why Villanova can put success on the line
By MIKE KERN
Philadelphia Daily News

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VILLANOVA, THE defending FCS national champion, has gone on the road in the playoffs and scored 54 points against third-ranked Stephen F. Austin and 42 against Appalachian State, the tournament's top seed.

Obviously, the skill-position guys have been doing their thing. And Matt Szczur is back, after missing a large chunk of the season with an ankle injury. But someone has to block, and pass-protect. All those holes that folks have been running through just don't happen.

It all starts up front, in relative anonymity. Unless, of course, you are senior left tackle Ben Ijalana, who is projected as a second-round NFL draft pick.

In many ways, it begins with him.

"We're a tight team, a tight unit," said the 6-4, 320-pounder from South Jersey's Rancocas Valley High. "The skill guys always give us props. When they score a touchdown, there's like 2,000 pounds of beef running down the field to go celebrate with them. We get our due. It's nice when your teammates acknowledge you. But we're not worried about it. That's not why we're out there."


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