#6 Dukes Set For Second Straight Top-10 Battle At #9 Villanova

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Using late heroics to notch a crucial road victory at Richmond, No. 6 James Madison readies for its final regular-season road test of the season as the Dukes journey to No. 9 Villanova on Saturday, Nov. 12 for a 1 p.m. kick inside Villanova Stadium. The 2016 season is presented by CarMax.

MIKE HOUSTON FAN AND PRESS LUNCHEON

SERIES HISTORY
Saturday marks the 25th meeting all-time between JMU and Villanova in a series dating back to 1993 when JMU joined the CAA (then known as the Yankee Conference). JMU owns a 13-11 record versus VU and is 5-7 all-time at Villanova Stadium. Home teams have won each of the past six games.

JMU's last win at Villanova came back on Oct. 25, 2008 - a 23-19 triumph. In that game Rodney Landers connected with Bosco Williams on a 35-yard touchdown pass with no time remaining to lift JMU to the road win. That was also the last season JMU won the CAA outright, finishing at 8-0 in league play and earning the top seed for the FCS Playoffs.

Last season, JMU clinched a share of the CAA championship with a 38-29 triumph over Villanova in Harrisonburg on Nov. 21, 2015. JMU's defense produced a pair of touchdowns and set up a short field for a third. Bryan Schor passed for 171 yards and two touchdowns while Kyre Hawkins and Brandon Hereford each had 13 tackles.

SCOUTING VILLANOVA
The Wildcats enter Saturday's game with a 7-2 record, including a 4-1 mark in CAA play. Villanova has won two straight after suffering its only CAA defeat, 23-0 at Richmond, back on Oct. 15. VU outscored Albany and Maine 50-20 over the previous two wins. The Wildcats average 25.7 points per game while conceding 14.9 to their foes.

They have scored 31 or more points in four of seven wins. Zach Bednarczyk leads the offense, passing for 1,417 yards and 11 touchdowns. Aaron Forbes has rushed for 637 yards and seven touchdowns while Javon White has 450 yards and six scores. Taurus Phillips leads the receiving corps with 446 yards and three scores, and Ryan Bell also had three touchdowns, to go with 252 yards.

Defensively, Rob Rolle has five interceptions, including one touchdown, while Austin Calitro and Jeff Steeb lead the 'Cats with 66 and 60 tackles, respectively.

Andy Talley is in his 32nd and final season at the helm of the program and has produced a 228-135-1 record, as well as a 256-153-2 career record in 37 yards as a head coach. He has led Villanova to the playoffs five times in the past eight years, which included a 14-1 mark in 2009 and a FCS national championship.

TALE OF THE TAPE

James Madison		Villanova
49.1	Scoring Offense	25.7
26.3	Scoring Defense	14.9
+22.8	Scoring Margin	+10.8
220.7	Passing Yards	166.9
308.9	Rushing Yards	210.6
529.6	Total Offense	377.4
58% (68/118)	3^rd Down Offense	38% (44/115)
38% (43/114)	3^rd Down Defense	32% (38/120)
73% (8/11)	4^th Down Offense	25% (4/16)
50% (6/12)	4^th Down Defense	46% (6/13)
86% (50/58)	Red Zone Scoring	77% (27/35)
15/13/6	Sacks/Interceptions/ Fumble Recoveries	22/2/6

ABDULLAH BREAKS CAREER RECORD
Khalid Abdullah stands alone atop JMU's career rushing touchdowns list, as his two scores on Nov. 5 at Richmond moved him into first with 33 career rushing scores. He surpassed Dae'Quan Scott (2010-13) and Eriq Williams (1989-92), as the duo each had 32.

Abdullah also set a personal single-season record with his 14th rushing touchdown of the year, besting his 13 from a year ago. He is also second in total touchdowns (36) and fourth in rushing yards (2,943), needing just 57 to become the fourth JMU player ever to reach 3,000 yards.

.500 OR BETTER FOR 14TH STRAIGHT YEAR
JMU's success from year to year has come to be expected, as the Dukes guaranteed a record of .500 or better for a league-best 14th consecutive season. JMU also guaranteed a 12th winning season during the timeframe after earning win No. 7 against Rhode Island. The Dukes have now had a winning record in 27 of 45 seasons and are attempting to have their third straight year with nine wins - a feat that has never been accomplished in team history.

SCHOR CONTINUES TO ROLL
This season, Bryan Schor has proved to be one of the nation's best, in terms of pass production. Through nine games, he has passed for 1,918 yards and 18 touchdowns while rushing for 525 and nine scores.

He leads the country in completion percentage (72.3%) and ranks third in pass efficiency (178.5), fifth in point responsibility (162), 14th in rushing touchdowns (9) and 18th in both passing scores (18) and total offense (271.4).

In just 13 career starts, he already ranks tied for eighth at JMU in career passing touchdowns (25), and his 18 touchdown tosses in 2016 is seventh on the program's single-season list.

CAA STANDINGS

School	CAA	Overall
#6 James Madison	6-0	8-1
#9 Villanova	5-1	7-2
#21 New Hampshire	5-1	6-3
#8 Richmond	4-2	7-2
Maine	4-2	5-4
Stony Brook	4-2	5-4
Albany	2-4	5-4
Delaware	2-4	4-5
William & Mary	2-4	4-5
Elon	1-5	2-7
Towson	1-5	2-7
Rhode Island	0-6	1-8

TWEET OF THE WEEK

22-of-28 | 285 yards | 3 TDs | 91 rushing yards & 1 TD@JMUFootball QB Bryan Schor picks up fourth weekly nod of 2016. pic.twitter.com/0eEiYprJ2N
— CAA Football (@CAAFootball) November 7, 2016

JMU SPRINT BROADCAST NETWORK
All 11 regular-season games, as well as any potential postseason matchups can be heard online on the JMU Sprint Broadcast Network or on airwaves at WSVA 550AM and 92.1 FM. Dave Thomas is entering his second season as the play-by-play man for the Dukes and is joined alongside color commentator Clint Estes at home, while Curt Dudley provided analysis on the road. For select road games, Estes will join Thomas and Dudley for sideline duties.

LOOKING AHEAD
Next week, JMU closes the regular season at home with a matchup against Elon on Nov. 19. The Dukes will honor the senior class prior to their 1:30 p.m. kickoff at Bridgeforth Stadium.

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