Dukes Dominate All Three Phases in 37-0 Shutout Win at Villanova

Saturday, October 13

Villanova, Pa.

1 p.m.

James Madison University

5-2 , 3-1

Villanova

3-4 , 0-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

James Madison

Villanova

Dukes Dominate All Three Phases in 37-0 Shutout Win at Villanova

10/13/2018 5:18:00 PM | Football

Box Score Box Score Highlights Photo Gallery

VILLANOVA, Pa. – Sixth-ranked James Madison used two punt return touchdowns from redshirt sophomore D'Angelo Amos and its second four-quarter shutout of the season to race past Villanova 37-0 in Colonial Athletic Association Football action on Saturday afternoon at Villanova Stadium.

JMU improves to 5-2 on the year and 3-1 in CAA play, while Villanova falls to 3-4 and 0-4. It was the second-largest victory against the Wildcats and the second time JMU has shutout VU, joining a 17-0 win on the road in 2004. It also marked JMU's fourth straight win in the series.

It was JMU's 13th straight true road win against a Football Championship Subdivision opponent.

QUICK SUMMARY

Amos tied JMU single-season records for punt return touchdowns (2), longest punt return (89) and total punt return yards (183), as he matched JMU Hall of Famer Gary Clark, who accomplished each of these stat lines back on Sept. 17, 1983 at Virginia.
Redshirt sophomore receiver Jake Brown hauled in a career-high eight receptions for 72 yards, while redshirt junior Riley Stapleton and redshirt freshman Kyndel Dean each tallied three catches on the afternoon.
Redshirt junior quarterback Ben DiNucci was 21-of-31 for 171 passing yards while also scoring a one-yard rushing touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
On the ground, senior running back Trai Sharp rushed for 62 yards and graduate running back Cardon Johnson added 46.
For the third time in the last four weeks, redshirt sophomore kicker Ethan Ratke converted at least three field goals, going 3-for-3, as he's now tied for fourth in JMU single-season history with 14. It also matches his 2017 total and he's one shy of tying the single-season mark.
JMU's defense registered season highs of 13.0 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks, as the Dukes held Villanova to 157 total yards. VU also went 0-for-2 on fourth down and JMU forced five three-and-outs.
Redshirt senior corner Jimmy Moreland was active both defensively and on special teams, as he had a strip sack, which was recovered by JMU and blocked a punt – the sixth of his career and first since 2014.
Sophomore defensive lineman Mike Greene made five tackles, including 2.5 for loss and was one of six JMU players to make a sack in the win.
Redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Adeeb Atariwa had 2.0 tackles for loss and a sack, and redshirt junior linebacker Dimitri Holloway tied for game-high honors with nine tackles and 2.0 for loss. Junior safety Adam Smith also made nine total stops, including seven solo.

MORE TEAM STATISTICS

JMU converted on all five red-zone opportunities, with three Ratke field goals and a pair of rushing touchdowns.
For the game, JMU out-gained Villanova 302-157, which included limiting the hosts to 94 passing yards and 63 rushing yards (1.5 per carry).
The Dukes were 9-of-17 on third down, while Villanova was held to a 6-of-16 conversion rate.
JMU also committed just one penalty.

D'ANGELO'S HOUSE

D'Angelo Amos accomplished three things in the punt-return game that only a former JMU star and Super Bowl champion had done before for the program – and that man is Gary Clark.
Amos took back-to-back punt returns to the house for scored over a span of 2:10 in the third quarter.
His first was from 89 yards, tying for the longest punt return in school history. His second went for 81 yards, as he now has three punt return touchdowns this season and four for his career.
His 89 yarder surpassed his former career long of 76, in which he achieved week two at Norfolk State.
He tallied 183 punt return yards over his three returns, matching Clark's total from the 1983 game at Virginia.

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WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU?

Making his first career start, Jake Brown pulled in his career-best eight catches on 11 targets with a long reception of 16 yards.
Saturday's performance surpassed his previous career-high of two catches against Richmond on Sept. 29.
His first four receptions all resulted in first downs, leading to the Dukes' first field goal early in the first quarter.
Prior to today's game, Brown had caught just five passes in his career.

UP NEXT
JMU is on a bye next weekend before returning to the gridiron on Saturday, Sept. 27 against Stony Brook on Homecoming weekend. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. at Bridgeforth Stadium.