Maglio's Field Goal Lifts JMU to 31-28 Win at No. 23 UAlbany

Saturday, October 4

Albany, N.Y.

6 p.m.

James Madison University

3-3 , 1-2

Albany

4-1 , 1-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

James Madison

Albany

Maglio's Field Goal Lifts JMU to 31-28 Win at No. 23 UAlbany

10/4/2014 9:29:00 PM | Football

Box Score

ALBANY, New York – Redshirt-junior kicker Ryan Maglio (Midlothian, Va./Cosby) split the uprights on his first collegiate field goal from 34 yards out with four seconds left to propel the James Madison football team to a 31-28 victory at No. 23 UAlbany, Oct. 4. With their first Colonial Athletic Association victory of 2014, the Dukes improved to 3-3 and 1-2 in league play while the Great Danes suffered their first loss of the year and dropped to 4-1 and 1-1 in the CAA.

After UA scored with 55 seconds to play in regulation, Madison got the ball on its own 35 to start the drive. The Dukes moved quickly down the field, including three plays of 10-plus yards to get the ball in position at the Albany 17. On second down and the first field goal attempt, the snap was mishandled but smartly spiked to give JMU another opportunity. From there, the snap and hold were perfect and Maglio hit the game-winning field goal.

The two teams were similar in yards gained as UA had 420 to JMU's 416, with the Dukes rushing for 239 yards on the night against a UA team that averaged giving up just 72 rushing yards in its first four contests. Madison converted 10-of-17 third down attempts and recorded a season-high four sacks on the night.

Individually Redshirt-junior quarterback Vad Lee (Durham, N.C./Hillside (Georgia Tech)) posted his second 100-yard rushing game of the year with 17 carries for 111 yards and one touchdown, while sophomore Khalid Abdullah (Newport News, Va./Heritage) had nine carries for 66 yards. Lee was 14-for-23 through the air for 177 yards and two touchdowns.

UAlbany was led by Omar Osbourne with 29 carries for 129 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Will Fiacchi was 17-for-32 for 278 yards and two touchdowns, with wide receiver Josh Gontarek having six receptions for 81 yards and both aerial scores.

With an early steady rain and temperature hovering in the high 50s, UAlbany got on the board first on its second drive of the game. The hosts went 67 yards in nine plays, capped off by Omar Osbourne's 2-yard run. Patrick Toole's point after was good and UA had a 7-0 lead with 7:57 to go in the first quarter.

Madison responded quickly on its next drive. Lee dropped back to pass, found a gap, picked up a key downfield block and scored on a 57-yard run. Maglio connected on his first collegiate point after attempt and the game was knotted at seven.

After a change of possessions, JMU was forced to punt, where the Great Danes blocked it and took over at the Madison 37. However, the Dukes stuffed a fourth-and-goal attempt from the 1-yard line and kept the game tied at 7.

JMU then put together its second 99-yard drive of the season, taking 17 plays and 6:39 on the clock. Resdhirt-senior running back Jauan Latney (Fredericksburg, Va./Massaponax) took the ball in from two yards out and the Dukes had their first lead of the game at 14-7 with 8:16 to go in the first half.

The Dukes extended the lead with a 10-play, 86-yard march in just 3:08. Converting several crucial third downs, Lee found senior wide receiver DeAndre' Smith (District Heights, Md./Wise), who broke two tackles and picked up a block for a 37-yard touchdown for the visitors to go up 21-7 with 1:21 to go in the half.

UAlbany wasn't done though, as they quickly went 73 yards in 56 seconds, including a key fourth-down conversion at midfield. Fiacchi found Gontarek for a 16-yard touchdown in the corner of the end zone to cut the margin to 21-14 at the halftime break.

On their first possession of the second half, the Great Danes found the end zone. Fiacchi again connected with Gontarek, this time for a 13-yard score, and the game was tied at 21 with just under nine minutes to go in the third quarter.

JMU came back and re-took the lead with a 70-yard drive of its own, taking nine plays and 2:35 on the clock. On third-and-goal, Lee connected with redshirt-junior tight end Deane Cheatham (Mechanicsville, Va./Hanover) who fought his way into the end zone for a 7-yard score. Maglio was good on his fourth PAT of the game and the Dukes led again at 28-21 with 6:21 to go in the third.

UA put together a solid drive late in regulation, doing 71 yards in 11 plays with 6:18 going off the clock. Osbourne scored his second touchdown of the game, this time from a one yard out and the game was tied at 28 with 55 seconds to go in regulation, setting up the closing seconds drama.

The 2014 JMU Football season presented by Carmax continues as the Dukes return home next Saturday, Oct. 11 to host 2013 national runner-up Towson for the annual Family Weekend contest. Kickoff at Bridgeforth Stadium is set for 12:30 p.m., with the game being televised on Comcast SportsNet. Tickets for the game can be purchased through www.JMUSports.com/tickets or via phone at 540-568-DUKE (3853).