Super ‘Nova
JMU coughs up game at Villanova, shot at A-10 title
By John Galle, sports editor
Posted on November 13, 2006

VILLANOVA, Pa. — The No. 4 JMU football team (8-2) stumbled Saturday 21-20 against Villanova (5-5) when it could not answer a last-minute 80-yard, game-winning touchdown drive.

“To be candid, this was a trap game for JMU,” Villanova coach Andy Talley said.

The Dukes’ defense allowed only seven points in the first half, 187 total yards prior to the final drive and dropped the Wildcats’ quarterback Marvin Burroughs four times — three of which came courtesy of JMU senior defensive end Kevin Winston.

But it wasn’t enough.

“I’ve said this all week,” JMU coach Mickey Matthews said. “Other than us and UMass, [Villanova’s] the hottest team in the league. They’ve won two big ones and I knew [this one] would be close.”

Villanova and JMU started the game by trading opening drives for touchdowns. It took the Wildcats just over five minutes to march 80 yards for a 1-yard score by running back Matt Dicken, in a drive that featured a mix of run and pass from running back DeQuese May and Burroughs. Then, JMU did likewise, going just as far in just as long with Rascati finding senior fullback Will Patrick for a 5-yard touchdown pass.

JMU senior safety Phil Minafield gave Madison momentum when he intercepted a Burroughs pass — Villanova’s only turnover of the game. The Dukes took the lead on a 34-yard field goal by senior kicker David Rabil.

JMU kept the pressure on with back-to-back sacks by Winston.

“Their speed coming up field [was] a major factor,” Talley said. “[Burroughs] didn’t have the time he needed in the passing game.”

Senior wide receiver L.C. Baker showcased some speed of his own just before the half, returning a punt 56 yards to the Villanova 5-yard line before fumbling it away. As a result, the Wildcats went into the half down 10-7.

JMU started the second half with a three-and-out, giving Villanova good field position at their 43-yard line. Burroughs capitalized with a 42-yard strike to Brandyn Harvey, while Dicken punched in another one-yard score to temporarily take back the lead.

The Dukes responded on the next drive going 80 yards in less than two minutes. Once again, the JMU score came off a Rascati pass to a fullback —this time to freshman fullback Charlie Newman.

Then, following a Wildcat three-and-out, Baker took back a punt for a touchdown; however, a clipping penalty was called.

“It took back a touchdown,” Rascati said. “So, of course it hurt us.”

JMU’s offense began hurting in particular.

Rascati took a sack to kill the JMU drive and a holding penalty slowed the next one, as JMU settled for another 34-yard Rabil field goal early in the fourth quarter.

“It came out as a standoff,” Talley said. “[It was] our defense against their offense [and] their defense against our offense.”

With JMU threatening at Villanova’s 21-yard line, the Dukes seemed to be in control. However, a botched snap quickly changed that, as it gave Villanova the ball back and took away yet another JMU scoring opportunity in the process.

“You gotta give Villanova’s defensive kids a lot of credit,” Matthews said. “We had great field position the entire fourth quarter — basically, the entire game. We just couldn’t run the ball and by and large, we just couldn’t move the ball.”

With less than five minutes remaining, the Wildcats put away the Dukes with a 16-yard May touchdown run.

The loss snapped a seven-game win streak for the Dukes and possibly put their playoff chances in jeopardy. With UMass 7-0 and Maine 5-2 in conference play, JMU (6-1) might need to beat Towson (4-3) next weekend to get into the playoffs.

Matthews said that the committee will take two teams out of the Atlantic 10 like last year. In 2004, the committee took a league-record four teams.

“We’re in the same situation as we were when we won it all,” Rascati said. “We were 8-2 going into the last game and we thought we’d have to win that game to get in. So, we’re going to take that same approach this week.”