College

Villanova Drops Last Regular Season Game As JMU Clinches Postseason Berth

by
Renee Washington
November 23, 2015

(Austin Bachand/Daily News-Record/AP)

The #12 James Madison (9-2,6-2 CAA) scored two defensive touchdowns and one on special teams as the Dukes defeated Villanova(6-5, 5-3 CAA) 38-29 in the Wildcats last game of the regular season. With the win, JMU finished as co-champions of the CAA conference title with the victory. With the loss the Dukes snap the Wildcats three-game winning streak. The Wildcats still finished with a winning record for the 13th time over the last 15 years.

JMU scored early as Brandon Ravenel returned the opening kickoff of the game for a 98-yard touchdown. Villanova trailed 21-7 at halftime and 24-14 at the start of the fourth quarter. Redshirt freshman quarterback Zach Bednarczyk ran for 157 yards and two touchdowns. Senior linebacker Don Cherry scored a rushing touchdown on a goal-line carry that closed the fourth quarter deficit to 21-14 With 10:54 left in the game, QB Bednarczyk pulled the Wildcats to within 24-21 on his own one-yard run.

Defensively, senior safety Cameron McCurry led the Wildcats with nine total tackles. In addition, Cherry and junior linebacker Austin Calitro also had big games finishing with seven tackles and a forced fumble. Calitro added three tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Cherry had two tackles for loss and one sack.

The loss marks the Wildcats final game of the season, finishing 6-5 overall and 5-3 in the CAA. JMU earned a playoff seed for the FCS Tournament yesterday as the fifth seed in their 12th appearance in the championship.

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