Dukes earn important road win

Nathan Ciantella / photo editor Redshirt junior running back Raymond Hines (no. 24) carries the ball during JMU's 17-0 victory over Villanova University Saturday. The Duke's held the Wildcats to -2 yards rushing.

Coach Mickey Matthews took over the JMU football program in 1999, the only year the Dukes managed to defeat Villanova University at Villanova Stadium.

Five years later, JMU beat the Wildcats on the road once more, shutting Villanova out 17-0 and holding it to a mere 91 yards of total offense, under the remnants of Hurricane Ivan.

"It’s big," Matthews said of the win. "I can’t see how anyone can be ranked in I-AA, and I don’t know if there can be upsets. We need to play three or four weeks to see who the best teams are."

Ivan’s remains were enough to hinder offenses on both sidelines.

"It was as bad of conditions as I’ve seen with all the wind and the rain," Matthews said.

The scoreboard remained bare until mid-third quarter, when JMU’s redshirt sophomore quarterback Justin Rascati found the endzone on a 1-yard sneak. The score was set up by redshirt junior strong safety Bruce Johnson.

After putting a big hit on Wildcat quarterback Joe Casamento, Johnson recovered a bad snap on the ensuing Villanova punt to give JMU optimal field position at the 14, and a shift in momentum.

"We prepared hard all week," Johnson said. "The defense played well all day, and we did all the stuff right to get the ball rolling and keep it rolling."

The Dukes did their best to give it back.

JMU alternated turnovers with Villanova after scoring. First, ’Nova gave JMU the ball on a muffed punt return by returner J.J. Outlaw. The Dukes repaid the gift on the very next play with a fumble.

On the heels of that turnover, redshirt senior linebacker Trey Townsend picked off Casamento on Villanova’s 34.

"The coaches let us go," Townsend said. "We didn’t sit back and do a whole lot of watching. They just let us go."

Townsend finished with nine tackles and a sack.

Turnovers pervaded almost as much as the rain. Both teams racked up a combined 11, JMU claiming five — all of which were lost on fumbles. There were 13 fumbles total between the two teams.

"Turnovers were so huge," Matthews said. "The fumbled snaps and the deep snaps for them, it’s hard to get it done. That stuff happens."

But players are hesitant to blame less-than-ideal playing conditions for the numerous mistakes.

"We shouldn’t make any excuses," Rascati said. "We got the win and that’s what is important."

JMU would score one more time on a Villanova errant snap. On fourth and 16 with under 12 minutes play and deep in their own territory, the Wildcats snapped the ball out of endzone, giving JMU a safety and a 9-0 advantage.

The Dukes would seal the win eight minutes later when redshirt sophomore running back Alvin Banks broke free and scored on a 14-yard run to put JMU on top, 17-0.

Banks finished the day with 86 yards on 25 carries.

Rascati, who started in favor of fifth-year senior Matt LeZotte, threw just seven times, completing two for 11 yards. In the first half, the transfer from the University of Louisville attempted a mere two passes.

However, Rascati’s defense allowed him to relax, despite the slow day through the air.

"They played outstanding," Rascati said. "They put up a shutout and we wouldn’t have won the game without them."

Saturday is the first shutout JMU has recorded in Atlantic 10 Conference play since joining the league for football in 1993.

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