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No. 12 Villanova Wildcats (3-1 Overall, 1-0 Atlantic 10)
vs.
No. 13 James Madison Dukes (3-1 Overall, 1-0 Atlantic 10)
Saturday, October 7, 2000 -- 3 p.m.
Bridgeforth Stadium (14,000)
Villanova, Pa --PARENTS' WEEKEND
SERIES INFORMATION:
First Meeting: 1993, JMU 42-3
Overall: JMU leads 4-3
Overall Under Talley: 3-4
Last VU Win: 9/19/98, 34-30
Last JMU Win: 10/2/99, 23-20
Streak: VU has won 3 of last 4
Media Information
Interview Requests: All Interview requests should be directed toward Dean Kenefick, Director of Media Relations, (610) 519-4120.
Radio Pre-Game 2:30 p.m.
Game Coverage 3:00 p.m. WFIL - 560-AM
Play By Play Joe Eichhorn
Color Analysis Ryan Fannon
All Wildcat games can be heard on the internet at www.villanova.com
Notes
JAMES MADISON REPORT: The Dukes enter play this week ranked No. 13 in the latest I-AA poll. James Madison is coming off a 24-13 home win over No. 23 New Hampshire. The victory was James Madison's 10th-straight home win. During his two-year career at James Madison, head coach Mickey Matthews is a perfect 8-0 at home. Last week against New Hampshire, quarterback Charles Berry led the way by completing 15-of-25 for 181 yards and a touchdown and he rushed for 105 yards on 22 carries and two touchdowns. For his efforts, Berry was named the Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Week. Senior wide receiver Lindsay Fleshman tallied a career-high nine receptions for 147 yards and a score. Defensively last week, defensive end Chris Morant led the way with three sacks which gives him 28 for his career. For the year, Berry has completed 57-of-98 for 732 yards and four scores and he has gained 194 yards on 45 carries and three touchdowns. Brannon Goins is James Madison's leading ground gainer with 351 yards on 54 attempts (6.5 yards per game) and two touchdowns. On defense, Derick Pack has a team-best 52 tackles, while Morant has made a team-best five sacks. James Madison is averaging 35.3 points per game and they are giving up just 11.5 points per contest.
DUKE HEAD COACH MICKEY MATTHEWS: James Madison is led by second-year head coach Mickey Matthews. Matthews started his James Madison career off in fine fashion last year as he guided the Dukes to an 8-4 overall record and a 7-1 mark in Atlantic 10 play. The 7-1 league record was good enough for a share of the Atlantic 10 Championship and a berth in the NCAA I-AA playoffs. These accomplishments are quite impressive when you take into consideration that the Dukes had won just five of their previous 18 games and were picked to finish next to last in the preseason Atlantic 10 poll. For his efforts last season, Matthews garnered the Eddie Robinson Award as the top coach in all of I-AA football. Matthews came to James Madison from Baylor University where he was the defensive coordinator for just three months from January, 1999 until March, 1999. Before Baylor, Matthews was an assistant at Georgia from 1996-98. While at Georgia, he coached the linebackers from 1996-97 and the defensive ends in 1998. From 1990-95, he was the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Marshall University. He has also had coaching stops at Southwest Texas State, Texas Christian, University of Houston, Texas El-Paso, West Texas State and Kansas State. As a player, Matthews was a four-year letterwinner as a halfback and receiver at West Texas State.
2000 Honors
Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Week:
Brian Westbrook vs. Millersville Sept. 9
Brian Westbrook vs. Maine Sept. 23
Injury Report
The following is the injury report for the James Madison game on Oct. 7
-- Willie Lewis (Sr/DL) Broken collar bone. Out two months. Out for JMU
TALLEY'S TENURE: Currently in his 16th season on the Main Line, head coach Andy Talley can feel responsible for every facet of the Villanova football program, having started it from scratch in 1985. In his career at Villanova, Talley has recorded a 104-61-1 mark, making him the all-time winningest coach in Villanova history. Talley's 21-year overall coaching record currently stands at 132-79-2. During his career as the Wildcat mentor, Talley has guided Villanova to five NCAA playoff appearances (1989, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1997), three Conference titles and one Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy. In 1997, Talley garnered the Eddie Robinson Award and the AFCA/GTE National Coach of the Year.
REACHING 200 & 2,000: Junior running back Brian Westbrook continued his assault on the Villanova record book in Villanova's 47-21 win over Maine on Saturday, Sept. 23. In the win, Westbrook rushed 24 times for 202 yards and three touchdowns. By reaching the 200-yard rushing plateau, Westbrook becomes just the third player in Villanova school history to rush for 200 yards in a game and his 202 yards rates second all-time at Villanova for rushing yards in a game. The other two Wildcats to tally 200 yards rushing in a game are Pat Kennedy (249 yards vs. William & Mary on 10/26/91) and Pete D'Alonzo (201 yards vs. Duquesne on 9/23/50). Also, in the win over Maine, Westbrook became just the fourth player in school history to gain 2,000 yards in a career.
CLOSING IN: Brian Westbrook is in pursuit of becomingVillanova's all-time leading rusher. Entering play versus James Madison, Westbrook is just 376 yards shy of Vince Thompson's school record of 2,533 career rushing yards. Vince Thompson (1975-78) 2,533 yards 628 carries Jeff Johnson (1989-92) 2,219 yards 513 carries Curtis Sifford (1994-97) 2,161 yards Brian Westbrook (1997-present)2,157 yards 359 carries
BIG RUNS: In the last three games, Brian Westbrook has made a habit of electrifying the crowd with long runs from scrimmage. Westbrook has tallied a run of at least 50 yards in the last three contests, including a 77-yarder versus Millersvile, a 56-yard scamper against Norfolk State and a 53-yard run versus Maine. For the year, Westbrook has gained 481 yards on 62 carries for an average of 7.8 yards per rush. In addition to his six rushing touchdowns, Westbrook is averaging 120.3 yards per game on the ground and he has reached the 100-yard rushing plateau in three of Villanova's first four games this season.
MULTI-DIMENSIONAL: All you have to do is look at his stats to realize that Brian Westbrook is one of the most multi-dimensional backs in the country. After four games, Westbrook has 965 yards of all-purpose offense for an average of 241.3 all-purpose yards per game. Besides rushing for 481 yards, he has made 17 receptions for 239 yards and has returned eight kickoffs for 245 yards (30.6 avg.) Of his 10 total touchdowns this season, six have been rushing, three have been receiving and one has been on a 93-yard kickoff return.
WESTBROOK BY THE NUMBERS: Career Games 28 Career TDs 48 Career Points 294 Career Rushing Yards 2,157 Career average per rush 6.0 Career Receptions 118 Career Kickoff Returns For A TD 3 School Records 18 NCAA Records 2
WHERE WESTBROOK RANKS IN 2000: The following is where Brian Westbrook ranks in the latest statistics for both the NCAA and the Atlantic 10. A10 NCAA All-purpose yards 1st 1st Scoring 1st 2nd Rushing 1st 20th Receptions per game 9th N/A Kickoff return average 1st 10th
FOLLOW THE LEADER: A big question surrounding the Villanova football program this past off season centered around the question of if sophomore quarterback Brett Gordon could fill the void left by quarterback Chris Boden who graduated last year as the all-time leader in virtually every Villanova passing category. After four games, Gordon has answered all the critics and he looks well on his way to making a name for himself on the Maine Line. After four games, Gordon is 74-for-108 (68.5%) for 964 yards and 11 touchdowns. In addition, he has an efficiency rating of 173.40 and he has thrown just two interceptions. The following is a comparison of Boden and Gordon after the first four games of their sophomore year when they were both in their first season as Villanova's starting quarterback.
BODEN(`97) GORDON Completions/Attempts 80 for 114 74 for 108 Completion Percentage 70% 68.5% Yards 1,113 964 Passing Touchdowns 14 11 Interceptions 1 2
APPROACHING 1,000: With 36 more yards passing, sophomore quarterback Brett Gordon will reach the 1,000 yard passing mark for the season. If Gordon does this in Villanova's fifth game of the season next Saturday at James Madison, he will be the second fastest signal caller in school history to throw for 1,000 yards in a season. Chris Boden accomplished the feat in four games during the 1997 season.
CENTURY MARK MILESTONE: In Villanova's win over Maine on Sept. 23, senior wide receiver Steve Ward tallied three receptions for 64 yards giving him a career total of 100 receptions. The 100 receptions rank him 12th all-time at Villanova. Two of Ward's reception in the Maine game came on the same drive with both (33 yards/20 yards) taking place on third downs. For the year, Ward has nine catches for 121 yards and a touchdown.
COMPLETE PLAYER: Senior fullback Ducarmel Augustin continues to showcase each and every week why he is one of the most complete players in all of I-AA football. At 6-0, 230 pounds, Augustin effectively runs, blocks and receives out of the backfield. Thus far this year, Augustin has gained 81 yards on 19 carries (4.3 avg.) and two scores and he has caught 15 balls for 187 yards and three touchdowns. For his career, he has scored 27 touchdowns (sixth all-time at Villanova) and his 166 career points rank him 10th all-time. With Brian Westbrook sidelined last year with a knee injury, Augustin moved to tailback and led the team in both rushing with 680 yards on 136 carries and scoring with 80 points (13 touchdowns).
SCORING STREAK: Dating back to the 1999 season, Ducarmel Augustin has scored a touchdown in nine-straight games. The last game Augustin played in that he did not tally a touchdown came against James Madison on October 2, 1999. A week after the JMU game, Augustin did not play at William & Mary due to a hamstring injury. His current scoring streak started against Connecticut on Oct. 16.
RICHARDSON RETURNS: In Villanova's last game against Maine, starting center Robert Richardson saw his first action of the 2000 season when he started against the Black Bears. Richardson tore the MCL in his left knee on the Wednesday before the season opener at Rutgers and missed the first three games of the season. Before the injury, Richardson had started 17 consecutive games. Richardson made an immediate impact, as the Wildcat offensive line had their best outing of the year in the 47-21 win over Maine.
CREATING TURNOVERS: Villanova has done a good job this season of creating turnovers. Entering play this Saturday at James Madison, Villanova is second in the Atlantic 10 in turnover margin with a +5. A big reason for this turnover margin, is the eight interceptions that Wildcats have tallied this year. In 11 games last year, Villanova had nine interceptions. In the last two games, Villanova has returned an interception for a score with Steve Neugebauer returning a pick 45 yards for a score against Norfolk State and Gary Johnson returning one 68 yards for a touchdown against Maine.
SENIOR STAR: Senior free safety Braheem Powell is starting for a third consecutive year in the Villanova secondary and his play this year is by far his best of his Wildcat career. Besides ranking second on the team in tackles with 25, Powell is tied for the team lead in interceptions with two. For his career, Powell has recorded seven interceptions. He also has two sacks with one coming at a very crucial time in against Maine on Sept. 23. With Maine down 41-21early in the fourth quarter, Powell sacked quarterback Jake Eaton on second and goal from the five yard line and forced a fumble that Villanova recovered at the Wildcat 17 yard line. This week versus JMU, Powell will be starting for the 27th straight time.
SPECIAL TEAM SUCCESS: Villanova has made blocking punts a habit. In the last three games, Villanova has blocked a punt in each game with latest being recorded by Matt Bride against Maine. This was Bride's second blocked punt of the year, as he also recorded a block for a safety versus Millersville on Sept. 9. In Villanova's 42-0 win over Norfolk State, sophomore Reggie Danage was credited with his fourth career punt block. The Wildcats have blocked nine punts over the last two seasons.
VILLANOVA'S CAL RIPKEN: Offensive tackle Stan Bennett has been an iron man for the Villanova Wildcats. Bennett, who has started every game of his Wildcat career, will be making his 40th-straight start this week against James Madison. As a true freshman in 1997, Bennett started all 13 games at guard before moving to tackle the last two years where he started all 11 contests both seasons.
STREAK SNAPPED: Villanova place kicker Casey Hannon had his streak of 53-straight PAT's come to an end in Villanova's 47-21 win over Maine on Sept. 23. After Villanova scored its second touchdown of the game, Hannon had his PAT blocked. Before this, Hannon's last miss came in the 1999 season opener at Air Force when he had a PAT blocked.
TEAM CAPTAINS: Serving as team captains in 2000 will be senior running back Ducarmel Augustin, senior offensive tackle Stan Bennett and fifth-year senior defensive end Darren Lenz.
WEST COAST FLAVOR: As has been the case the last three seasons, Villanova continues to have a number of California natives on the roster. All total, Villanova has 14 players on its roster who call California home. Of the 14, 13 appear on the Wildcat depth including eight who are starters.
OVERTIME HISTORY: During Andy Talley's tenure as Villanova's head football coach, the Wildcats have participated in seven overtime games and have tallied a 5-2 record. Five of the seven overtime games have been played at Villanova Stadium. Last year, Villanova played two overtime games. On Oct. 16, Villanova defeated UConn, 48-45, in triple overtime in a game played in Storrs, Conn. In the season finale at Villanova Stadium, the `Cats rallied from a 45-24 deficit with 8:37 remaining to win a 51-45 thriller in one overtime.
WILDCATS ON THE RADIO: Every Villanova football game this season will be carried live by the Villanova Football Radio Network. The flagship station for the Wildcats this season will be WFIL-AM 560. Returning for his 14th season as Villanova's play-by-play man is Joe Eichhorn. Joining Eichhorn for a ninth consecutive year is Ryan Fannon. All 11 Wildcat gridiron contests will be broadcast live, with a pre-game show airing 30 minutes prior to kickoff during away games and one hour prior to kickoff for home games.
ANDY TALLEY RADIO SHOW: Continuing in 2000, WFIL-AM 560-AM and WZZD-AM 990 will broadcast the Andy Talley Radio Show. The one-hour call-in show is hosted by color commentator Ryan Fannon and will provide a weekly recap of Villanova football games, as well as a preview of upcoming contests. The show will be held at the Wild Onion Restaurant located just up the street from Villanova Stadium on Conestoga Road. Throughout the one-hour program, Fannon and Coach Talley will take questions concerning all the teams in the Atlantic 10 Conference, as well as NCAA I-AA football on a national scene. The show will take place on Thursday nights before road games at 6 p.m., and on Saturday's following Wildcat home games.
