Sept. 18, 2004

Final Stats | Quotes

VILLANOVA, Pa. (AP) - Justin Rascati and Alvin Banks scored touchdowns and James Madison took advantage of seven Villanova turnovers to defeat the Wildcats 17-0 in a game played in heavy rain and winds.

James Madison (2-0, 1-0 Atlantic 10), which fumbled four times, handed the Wildcats (1-1, 0-1) their first shutout since a 34-0 loss at New Hampshire on Nov. 9, 1996, a span of 85 games.

The Dukes defense held Villanova to minus-2 yards on 46 rushing attempts.

After a scoreless first half that saw each team fumble on the opponent's 3-yard line, James Madison capitalized on a bad snap from center to take over at the Villanova 11. Four plays later, Rascati drove in from the 1-yard line with 8:11 left in the third period.

Another Villanova bad snap from punt formation sailed out of the end zone for a safety with 11:37 left to play, and a Cortez Thompson interception led to Banks' 14-yard run for the game's final points.

A Parents Day crowd of 11,000 was expected, but the turnout dropped to just 3,123 as the remants of Hurricane Ivan passed through the region.