Defense Propels No. 6 JMU to CAA Title with 20-7 win at No. 9 Villanova

Saturday, November 12

Villanova, Pa.

1 p.m.

James Madison University

9-1 , 7-0

Villanova

7-3 , 5-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

James Madison

Villanova

Defense Propels No. 6 JMU to CAA Title with 20-7 win at No. 9 Villanova

11/12/2016 4:29:00 PM | Football

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VILLANOVA, Pa. – James Madison's defense caused four turnovers and recorded multiple key stops as JMU posted a 20-7 victory over Villanova in a top-10 showdown to clinch the 2016 Colonial Athletic Association football championship on Saturday afternoon at Villanova Stadium.

JMU, ranked sixth in the STATS FCS Poll, fifth in the FCS Coaches Poll and fourth in the NCAA selection committee's projection, improved to 9-1 overall and 7-0 in the CAA. The Dukes captured their second straight CAA title and just the second outright championship in program history. James Madison also claimed the CAA's automatic bid to the NCAA FCS Championship. VU, ninth in the STATS Poll and 11th in the Coaches Poll, fell to 7-3 overall and 5-2 in the CAA.

In a matchup of the league's top offense in JMU against the league's best statistical defense in Villanova, it was the Dukes limiting the Wildcats to one touchdown with four takeaways. James Madison limited Villanova to three-and-outs on four possessions, stopped VU on downs twice inside the JMU 25-yard line and blocked one field goal.

Leading 13-7 with under four minutes remaining in the ball game, redshirt senior defensive lineman Martez Stone intercepted a tipped pass at the line of scrimmage, setting up a goal-to-go situation for the Dukes. Four plays later, senior running back Khalid Abdullah capped off his two-score afternoon with a two-yard touchdown to extend JMU's lead to 20-7 with 2:36 to go. On the ensuing play, Zach Bednarczyk was picked off for the fourth time in the game, this time by redshirt senior corner Taylor Reynolds, to seal JMU's fifth CAA championship.

Abdullah went over 100 rushing yards for the seventh time this season and the 11th of his career, finishing with a game-high 101, to go with two touchdowns. His game-long 30-yard rush put him in elite company, as he became the fourth player in JMU history to rush for over 3,000 career yards (3,044).

Junior linebacker Brandon Hereford led the Dukes with eight total tackles, and redshirt senior linebacker Gage Steele had six stops, while redshirt junior corner Jordan Brown and junior defensive lineman Cornell Urquhart each had five tackles. Brown also finished with one of JMU's four interceptions, and Urquhart blocked a Villanova field goal, had a pass breakup and set up Stone's fourth-quarter pick. Also making an interception in the second half was senior safety Raven Greene, who is tied for seventh in single-season history with five.

JMU passed for 151 as a team, led by junior Bryan Schor, who threw for 108 yards on 10-of-11 passing before exiting the game early in the second quarter. Freshman Cole Johnson finished 5-for-12 for 43 yards. Senior receiver Brandon Ravenel was one of eight players to record a catch with three receptions for 54 yards. Junior tight end Jonathan Kloosterman and senior receiver Rashard Davis joined Ravenel with three grabs.

The Dukes limited the Wildcats to just 239 yards of offense, including just 71 through the air, as Bednarczyk finished 12-of-30 for 71 yards and four interceptions. He also rushed for 62 and the team's only score.

JMU found the end zone on the opening drive of the game, going 84 yards over 13 plays. Schor was 5-for-6 for 57 yards, setting up a first-and-goal. Two plays later, Abdullah cashed in from five yards out to take a 7-0 lead less than seven minutes in. Villanova tied it early in the second when Bednarczyk took a quarterback read 56 yards to tie the game at 7-7, which would remain the score heading into halftime.

Sophomore kicker Tyler Gray gave JMU the lead in the third quarter, hitting a 21-yard attempt with 3:28 left to put the Dukes up 10-7. He converted a 27 yarder as well in the fourth prior to JMU's pair of interceptions and game-clinching score.

How everyone is celebrating the win in their living room ?? pic.twitter.com/xl7crTqI45
— JMUSports (@JMUSports) November 12, 2016

Another ?? punched!@JMUFootball locks down the @CAAFootball AQ to the #FCSPlayoffs with 20-7 victory of Villanova. pic.twitter.com/rjO9jNWAEo
— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) November 12, 2016

TITLE TOWN
With the win, JMU captured its fifth CAA championship and back-to-back for the first time in program history. It was just the fourth time since 1985 that a team finished atop the league standings in consecutive seasons and the first since Massachusetts in 2006-07. JMU's only other outright league title came in 2008 when the Dukes entered the FCS playoffs as the top seed. Mike Houston became the second head coach in program history to capture a CAA title in his first season at the helm.

PLAY OF THE GAME

DUKESSSSSSSS!

?? Martez Stone with his first career pick! https://t.co/2nwATv9b0K
— JMUSports (@JMUSports) November 12, 2016

Martez Stone comes up with his first career interception to set up the game-clinching touchdown in the fourth quarter.

PHOTO OF THE GAME - Full Photo Gallery

Khalid Abdullah embraced by his offensive line after his second TD gave JMU a 20-7 lead.

UP NEXT
JMU closes the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 19 when it hosts Elon for Senior Day at Bridgeforth Stadium. Kick off is set for 1:30 p.m., and the 2016 seniors will be recognized prior to the start of the game. Tickets are still available at JMUTickets.com or by calling 540-568-3853. More information on tickets for a home playoff game can be viewed here. JMU's run through the 2016 NCAA FCS playoffs is presented by Excel Heating and Cooling. Official CAA championship merchandise is now on sale at JMUSportsShop.com.