Wildcats earn measure of revenge
Villanova cruised past James Madison, the victor in their two meetings in 2008.
HARRISONBURG, Va. - Villanova came, saw, and ruined James Madison's homecoming festivities.
The Wildcats defeated the Dukes, 27-0, in yesterday's Colonial Athletic Association game at Bridgeforth Stadium.
The game was so one-sided that half of the sold-out homecoming crowd of 16,037 left during halftime. Just 1,000 were in attendance by the fourth quarter.
In addition to clearing out the stadium, sixth-ranked Villanova (6-1 overall, 3-1 CAA) recorded its first shutout since a 20-0 decision over Colgate on Sept. 7, 2002.
For the 16th-ranked Dukes (2-4, 0-3), their third consecutive setback will most likely deny them a fourth straight playoff appearance.
The Wildcats didn't exactly feel sorry for their Football Championship Subdivision foe.
"They took a ring from us last year, a CAA championship ring. So that was big motivation for us coming in here," said Villanova quarterback Chris Whitney, whose squad was swept by JMU in last season's two meetings. "We wanted our revenge from losing in the last four seconds [in the regular season] and coming down here and losing in the playoffs."
Whitney and his roommates, Matt Szczur and John Dempsey, all had a hand in the blowout.
Whitney completed 11 of 16 passes for 93 yards. His three touchdown passes tied a career high. The junior also had 18 carries for a game-high 97 yards.
Szczur had four receptions for 53 yards and a career-high two scores. The junior wideout added 76 rushing yards on eight carries in Villanova's version of the Wildcat. His 44-yard scamper set up Whitney's 4-yard touchdown pass to Tony Canci on the game's opening drive.
Dempsey, a junior safety, forced two fumbles and had five tackles to lead the Wildcats' defensive effort. The Dukes advanced the ball beyond midfield twice. JMU quarterback Justin Thorpe's two lost fumbles on consecutive possessions led to 10 Villanova points.
Dominating from the start, the Wildcats scored on four of their first six possessions to build a 20-0 advantage with 1 minute, 42 seconds left in the first half.
Notes: Villanova linebacker Marquis Kirkland (right ankle) and reserve cornerback Josh Potts (right hamstring) both left the game with first-half injuries. Neither player returned.