CAA Week 5: Peevy’s Bomb, Williams’ Burst, Villanova’s Domination Define the Weekend

By Tiffany Williams –

The CAA dropped its Week 5 awards Monday, and the league’s headliners brought plenty of firepower. Maine’s Carter Peevy and Elon’s Jimmyll Williams split the offensive spotlight, Villanova owned both defense and special teams with Shane Hartzell and Ja’briel Mace, and Towson’s Ben Kumpon put his name on the map as rookie of the week.

Start with Peevy. The grad transfer carved up North Carolina A&T, completing 20 of 27 passes for 298 yards and two scores while running in another in Maine’s 37-30 win. His 81-yard bomb before halftime flipped the momentum, and a six-yard dart in the third was the dagger. It was the cleanest, sharpest game he’s put together this season, and it’s no coincidence Maine got the W.

Then there’s Williams, who looked like he was playing backyard ball against Hampton. Thirteen carries, 172 yards, and a touchdown. That’s 13.2 yards every time he touched it. He iced the 41-20 win with a 45-yard sprint that set up the knockout blow. For Elon, he’s not just a change-of-pace guy — he’s the guy.

On defense, Villanova’s Hartzell played like he was in two places at once. Ten tackles, four for loss, two sacks, two hurries, and a 31-24 win over William & Mary to show for it. The four TFLs weren’t just a personal best — they were the best any CAA player’s managed this season. He set the tone and kept it there.

Special teams? Also Villanova. Mace flipped the game the second the third quarter started, taking the opening kickoff 100 yards to the house. Wildcats never gave the lead back. It was the program’s first kick return TD since 2019, and he piled up 138 all-purpose yards to go with it.

And the rookie, Kumpon from Towson, picked a good day to grow up fast. He went from bit-player to difference-maker with seven tackles in a 26-24 road win at Bryant. The Tigers haven’t won their CAA opener since 2019, but Kumpon played like a vet in crunch time.

Five names, five statements. If Week 5 proved anything, it’s that the CAA’s balance of power shifts week to week — and these guys are the ones driving it.