Dukes Post Atlantic 10 Victory at Villanova

Saturday, September 18

Villanova, Pa.

James Madison University

2-0 , 1-0

Villanova

2-1 , 0-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

James Madison

Villanova

9/11/2004 3:02:00 PM | Football

Box Score

VILLANOVA, Pa. (9/11/2004) – JMU's defense set a team record for fewest yards allowed to a Division I-AA opponent and led the Dukes to a 17-0 victory at Villanova in their Atlantic 10 Conference opener.

JMU allowed the fifth-ranked Wildcats only 91 total yards and got all of its points after turnovers or key special teams plays. Most of the game was played in heavy rain, the remnants of a tropical storm.

JMU's defensive effort surpassed the team Division I-AA record of 102 yards allowed to Northeastern in 1985, and the shutout of a Division I-AA opponent was the Dukes' first since beating Northeastern 21-0 in 1990. JMU never before had shut out a Division I-AA opponent on the road.

After a scoreless first half (both teams lost first-half fumbles at the opponent's three), JMU got a third-quarter touchdown after a bad snap on a Villanova punt attempt, a fourth-quarter safety on another bad snap, and a fourth-quarter touchdown after an interception.

Justin Rascati got JMU's first points on a one-yard run with 8:11 left during the third quarter. The Dukes drove 11 yards in four plays after Bruce Johnson covered Villanova's bad punt snap.

The lead went to 9-0 with 11:37 to play when a Wildcat punt snap from their 13 sailed through the end zone, and the Dukes all but sealed the win when Alvin Banks scored on a 14-yard run with 5:17 left. Cortez Thompson set up Banks' touchdown with a 27-yard interception return to the Villanova 25, and the Dukes scored five plays later.

JMU gained 122 yards (111 rushing, 11 passing) in the wet, windy conditions and overcame five lost fumbles. Banks ran 25 times for 86 yards for the Dukes.

Villanova had a minus-two rushing yards, threw for 93 yards, lost four fumbles and threw two interceptions.

In addition to Thompson, Trey Townsend had a JMU interception. Townsend, the Atlantic 10 co-defensive player of the week, was credited with nine tackles and one of JMU's seven sacks.

Kwynn Walton took part in a career-high-tying 11 tackles and Tony LeZotte 10 for the Dukes. LeZotte, the Atlantic 10 rookie of the week, also had a sack, and Johnson was credited with two sacks.