James Madison stops Villanova 31-21

Nov 2, 2013, 06:28 pm

HARRISONBURG, Va. -- DeAndre' Smith returned an interception 86 yards for a score to assure James Madison a 31-21 victory over Villanova Saturday.

Villanova, trailing 24-14 midway through the fourth quarter, had a new set of downs at James Madison's 20, when Smith picked off the pass.

The Wildcats (4-5, 3-3 Colonial Athletic) missed another scoring opportunity early in the final quarter, driving to the JMU 29. The Dukes defense thwarted that effort too as the Wildcats missed on a 46-yard field goal attempt. Stephon Robertson led the defensive charge for JMU with a career-high 16 tackles, keeping Villanova scoreless in the second half until late in the fourth when John Robertson passed to Earnest Pettway for a score.

James Madison (6-3, 3-2) opened the scoring when Kalid Abdullah ran in from the 6. Villanova matched scores each time until the Dukes took the lead for good on Cameron Starke's 30-yard field goal.