Dukes Return Home for Family Weekend, Host #11 Villanova

Saturday, October 9

Harrisonburg, Va.

2 p.m.

James Madison University

Villanova

Dukes Return Home for Family Weekend, Host #11 Villanova

10/6/2021 10:00:00 AM | Football

HARRISONBURG, Va. – #3 James Madison returns home for game five of its 50th season of football on Saturday, Oct. 9 when it hosts #11 Villanova for Family Weekend.

Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. at Bridgeforth Stadium and will be televised on NBC Sports Washington while being streamed on FloFootball. The game can be heard on the Morris Insurance & Financial JMU Radio Network, with pregame coverage beginning at 1 p.m.

Saturday's game is sponsored by University Outpost, and the 2021 season is presented by CarMax.

#3 James Madison (4-0, 2-0 CAA) vs. #11 Villanova (3-1, 1-0 CAA)
Saturday, October 9, 2021
Harrisonburg, Va. | Bridgeforth Stadium

Game Information
Television: NBC Sports Washington
Online: FloFootball ($)
Radio: WSVA 92.1 FM/550 AM
Listen: Morris Insurance & Financial JMU Radio Network
Live Stats
JMU Game Notes

BREAKING DOWN THE SERIES

Saturday marks the 29th meeting all-time between the teams, with JMU leading 17-11 in a series dating back to the 1993 season - JMU's first in the CAA.
JMU has won five straight matchups against the Wildcats since 2015, with the past four wins all coming by double-digit margins.
In recent memory, JMU's wins in 2015 and 2016 served as great importance, as 2015 clinched a share of the CAA championship and the 2016 triumph won the league outright for the Dukes.
JMU is 10-4 all-time vs. Villanova at Bridgeforth Stadium, having won the previous five in Harrisonburg.
Villanova's last win at JMU came back on Oct. 17, 2009 - a 27-0 Wildcats win, which was the last time a team shut out JMU. VU also went on to win the national title that year.
Last time the teams met, JMU forced four turnovers and scored 21 points in the fourth quarter alone to rally past Villanova for a 38-24 victory.

DUKES FEND OFF UNH, TUCKER-DORSEY HONORED BY CAA

Winning in Durham, N.H., has never been easy for the Dukes and Saturday was no different.
JMU escaped #25 UNH with a 23-21 comeback win after Kris Thornton scored the second of his two touchdowns midway through the fourth and Diamonte Tucker-Dorsey registered his first career interception with 1:45 to play.
UNH forced JMU into three turnovers, two of which were returned for touchdowns, but the Dukes held the Wildcats to just 162 total yards.
Cole Johnson threw for 273 yards and three touchdowns and was just one completion off the JMU single-game record, at 33.
After making the play of the day, Tucker-Dorsey was named CAA Co-Defensive Player of the Week.
In addition to his first career interception late in the game, the linebacker added five tackles and a half TFL in the win.

JMU'S ACTIVE STREAKS

Out-gained opponents in 21 straight games
Out-rushed opponents in 12 straight games
Held opponents under 50% on 3rd in 12 straight
Ethan Ratke 25 straight games with a field goal
20 consecutive regular-season wins
15 straight wins vs. CAA teams, including playoffs
14 straight conference wins
12 straight home regular-season wins by 14+ points
19 straight wins at Bridgeforth Stadium
5 straight wins against Wildcat teams

DUKES VS. WILDCATS - PT. 3

Saturday marks the third straight game JMU has faced off against a ranked Wildcat team, as it looks for the season sweep of that mascot.
The Dukes opened the three-game Wildcat stretch with a 37-24 win at #9 Weber State on Sept. 18 in Ogden, Utah.
Just last week on Oct. 2, the Dukes held off #25 New Hampshire, 23-21.
This Saturday will be round three, as it hosts #11 Villanova at Bridgeforth Stadium.
Since 2019, JMU has won five straight against the Wildcats - with two wins against UNH and Weber and one against Villanova.
New Hampshire was the last Wildcat team to best the Dukes in a 35-24 win on Nov. 3, 2018.

CELEBRATING 50 SEASONS

James Madison University began sponsoring football in 1972, as this fall marks the 50th season for the Dukes.
JMU will celebrate the 50th all season long, honoring specific decades at each home game.
This Saturday, the Dukes will honor the 1990's.
The previously recognized the 1970's against Morehead State and 1980's against Maine.
JMU also recognized the 1972 team and remembered Dr. Challace McMillin, the first coach in program history, who passed away in 2020.
Other content, such as video features, alumni interviews, Throwback Thursdays and On This Date will highlight the history of JMU football.
JMU has won two national championships, nine conference titles and has made 17 postseason appearance.
All-time JMU is 342-218-4 for a .610 win %.