#12 JMU Clinches Share of CAA Title with 38-29 win over Villanova

Saturday, November 21

Harrisonburg, Va.

Noon

James Madison University

9-2 , 6-2

Villanova

6-5 , 5-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Villanova

James Madison

#12 JMU Clinches Share of CAA Title with 38-29 win over Villanova

11/21/2015 4:30:00 PM | Football

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va. – No. 12 James Madison's defense returned two turnovers for touchdowns and set up a short drive for a third, and the Dukes scored on the game's opening kick return, to defeat Villanova for a 38-29 victory Saturday afternoon at Bridgeforth Stadium, earning a share of the Colonial Athletic Association regular-season championship.

The Dukes improved to 9-2 overall and 6-2 in the CAA, as they shared the conference crown with Richmond (8-3, 6-2) and William & Mary (8-3, 6-2). It is JMU fifth-ever league championship and the first since 2008. With the loss, the Wildcats saw their season end at 6-5 and 5-3.

Villanova was driving in the closing minutes of the fourth but a 77-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown by redshirt junior cornerback Taylor Reynolds shifted momentum and gave the Dukes a 31-21 lead with 3:05 left.

On the ensuing possession redshirt sophomore linebacker Andrew Ankrah forced a fumble for Villanova quarterback Zach Bednarczyk and freshman corner Rashad Robinson recovered the loose ball, setting up a short, 16-yard drive, capped off by sophomore quarterback Bryan Schor's 12-yard touchdown pass to junior receiver Brandon Ravenel with only 2:50 to go, giving JMU a 38-21 lead.

JMU finished the game with a +4 turnover margin, which included a pick-six for redshirt sophomore cornerback Jordan Brown and another interception by junior safety Raven Greene, both in the first quarter, as well as the back-to-back fumbles late in the fourth.

JMU's offense struggled throughout most of the first half, but it ended the second quarter with a six-play, 83-yard drive, which was ended on a 41-yard touchdown pass from Schor to junior wide receiver Domo Taylor. That touchdown strike gave the Dukes a 21-7 halftime lead.

Villanova responded in the second half with two long scoring drives, ending in one-yard touchdowns by Bednarczyk and Don Cherry. Redshirt senior kicker Ryan Maglio hit a 21-yard field goal in between the VU scores to keep the Dukes ahead 24-21 heading into the fourth.

Schor passed 14-of-23 for 171 yards and two touchdowns while junior running back Khalid Abdullah rushed for a team-best 71 yards on 10 carries.

Redshirt sophomore linebacker Kyre Hawkins recorded double-digit tackles for the third week in a row with 13 stops (8 solo) and a sack. Sophomore linebacker Brandon Hereford and redshirt junior linebacker Justin Wellons turned in career-high days with 13 and 10 tackles, respectively. Robinson had a breakout game, recording three tackles and recovering an onside kick in addition to the forced fumble and fumble recovery.

QUOTING COACH
"A great game today, Villanova's a very tough football team. Hats off to our seniors for fighting and scratching and leading our football team. At 11 o'clock tomorrow, we'll have the team up in the club level trying to see what's next in the journey."

PLAY OF THE GAME

TAKEAWAYS PAY DIVIDENDS
JMU forced four turnovers on Saturday resulting in 21 points, including a first-quarter interception for a score and a fourth-quarter fumble recovery for a TD. The Dukes did not turn the ball over once, marking the second straight week they controlled the turnover margin.

WOOOO GO DUKES ???? CAA CHAMPS!! ????
— Kels (@Kelsey_Noelle2) November 21, 2015

RAVENEL CONTINUES TO CLIMB RECORD BOOK
Junior receiver Brandon Ravenel made a game-high six receptions for 54 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's win and he continued to move up the ranks in all-time receiving. He now ranks eighth on the career list for both receptions (111) and receiving yards (1,496). He also maintained eighth place in single-season receptions, with 53.

ROBINSON DOES IT ALL
Freshman cornerback Rashad Robinson had himself a day with three tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a recovery on a surprise onside kick. This season, the rookie has forced one fumble, recovered three loose balls and blocked a punt.

CAREER FIRSTS
A couple Dukes had some firsts in Saturday's win, making big-time plays to excite JMU Nation. Junior receiver Brandon Ravenel opened the game with a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown while redshirt sophomore cornerback Jordan Brown had his first career interception, which he returned 45 yards for a first-quarter touchdown.

PHOTO OF THE GAME
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JMU celebrates in the endzone after Jordan Brown returns his first career interception for a touchdown.

UP NEXT
James Madison will make its 12th appearance all-time in the FCS playoffs and will find out their postseason fate on Sunday morning on the FCS Playoffs Selection Show. That will air at 11 a.m. on ESPNU.