LATE FIELD GOAL BEATS DUKES IN FOOTBALL AT MASSACHUSETTS

Saturday, October 15

Amherst, Mass.

James Madison University

4-2 , 2-1

Massachusetts

5-1 , 4-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

James Madison

UMass

LATE FIELD GOAL BEATS DUKES IN FOOTBALL AT MASSACHUSETTS

10/16/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

AMHERST, Mass., Oct. 15, 2005 – Armando Cuko kicked a 41-yard field goal with eight seconds to play to give 13th-ranked Massachusetts a 10-7 Atlantic 10 Football Conference win over fourth-ranked JMU Saturday.

The host Minutemen got the ball for their final series at the JMU 38 with 2:05 remaining following a short JMU punt. They moved for one first down – advancing the chains on a fourth-and-seven play from the 35 – before Cuko kicked his longest field goal of the season. His best previous successful kick was from 31 yards, and he had hit on only two of six previous field goal tries this season.

The win left Massachusetts as the Atlantic 10's only unbeaten team in league play. The Minutemen are 5-1 overall and 4-0 in the conference. JMU fell to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the Atlantic 10.

JMU led 7-0 at halftime on junior linebacker Akeem Jordan's (Harrisonburg, Va./Harrisonburg) 70-yard interception return for a touchdown with 4:21 left in the first quarter, but the Dukes compiled only 52 yards of total offense and two first downs during the final half.

JMU finished with 157 total yards (96 rushing, 61 passing) and Massachusetts with 245 total yards (77 rushing, 168) as both teams battled sloppy field conditions brought on by rain during much of the last week in New England.

Massachusetts pulled into a 7-7 tie on the first play of the final quarter when Steve Barlark scored on a one-yard run to cap a seven-play, 56-yard series. Reserve quarterback Tim Day, playing place of injured starter Liam Coen, had pass completions of 16 and 20 yards to help set up the score.

JMU's only scoring chance of the second half came after the Dukes got the ball at the Massachusetts 28 with 12:20 to play when the Minutemen gave the ball up on fourth down on a botched punt attempt.

The Dukes moved for their initial first down of the final half at the Massachusetts 16 on a 10-yard run by junior quarterback Justin Rascati (Gainesville, Fla./Buchholz) but lost possession on a fumble two plays at the eight.

Jordan's interception return was the second-longest such play in JMU history, surpassed only by a 94-yarder by Tony Jordan (1993-96) in a 26-21 home win over William & Mary in 1996. He dropped into coverage on the Dukes' left side, grabbed Coen's first interception in 13 quarters and ran to the end zone along the left sideline.

JMU senior cornerback Leon Mizelle (Hampton, Va./Phoebus) also had an interception. His came with 27 seconds left in the first half after the Minutemen reached the JMU 28.

The Dukes stalled twice after penetrating Massachusetts territory during the first half, and they lost field position when a Minutemen punt hit a JMU defender, and Massachusetts recovered at its 45 with 7:29 left in the half.

Rascati hit on six of 11 passes for 61 yards, and sophomore wide receiver L.C. Baker (Richmond, Va./Armstrong) had three catches for 39 yards for the Dukes. Junior tailback Alvin Banks (Hampton, Va./Hampton) had a team-leading 46 rushing yards on 14 carries.

Sophomore free safety Tony LeZotte (Augusta, Ga./Westside) had a team-high 13 tackles for JMU, and Jordan took part in 11 stops.

JMU returns to action next Saturday (Oct. 22) at 3-3 Delaware. The game will begin at noon and is scheduled to be television by College Sports Television.