Football

Villanova/James Madison Post-Game Notes

James Madison 37, Villanova 0

  • Villanova fell to 59-75 (.440) against nationally-ranked teams since becoming an FCS member in 1985, although that record is 27-27 since the beginning of the 2008 season.  Saturday's game was the third straight for the Wildcats against a ranked conference foe.  Villanova had not played three consecutive conference games against nationally-ranked teams since a stretch of four straight during the 2013 season. 
 
  • Villanova was shut out for the first time this season and only the third time in the last 14 years.  The other shutouts since the start of the 2005 campaign were against Richmond in 2016 (23-0) and in 2017 (22-0).  The last time the Wildcats were shut out while allowing 37 or more points was in a 41-0 loss at Maryland during the 1974 season. 
 
  • James Madison redshirt sophomore D'Angelo Amos returned consecutive punts for touchdowns in the third quarter and scored on returns of 89 yards and 81 yards.  He also had a 13-yard punt return earlier in the contest and finished the day with three returns for a total of 183 yards and the two scores.  The 183 punt return yards are the most by an opposing player in a Villanova game and are also a CAA Football record. 
 
  • Villanova had not allowed a punt return touchdown since September 23, 2006 when Greg Ambrogi of Penn had a 60-yard return for a score.  The Wildcats have allowed just four punt return touchdowns in the last 19 years (since the start of the 2000 season).
 
  • Despite the final score, it was actually both teams that were held below what their season averages on offense had been entering the game.  Villanova was averaging 28.5 points and 414.8 total yards per contest, but its short-handed offense was held to 157 yards in the shutout loss.  On the flip side, the Dukes were averaging 426.0 total yards per game entering Saturday's contest but were held to 302 yards by the Wildcats defense.
 
  • Freshman punter Nathan Fondacaro was one of the bright spots for Villanova in Saturday's game.  He was credited with seven punts for an average of 45.9 yards, including four attempts of 50 yards or longer and a long punt of 57 yards for the day.  He has now drilled nine punts of at least 50 yards this season while landing 10 of his 32 attempts inside the 20-yard line.  Fondacaro is averaging 43.4 yards per punt on the year. 
 
  • Two defensive players from Philadelphia were among the top performers for the Wildcats in the James Madison game.  Sophomore cornerback Jaquan Amos had a team-high nine tackles, including half a tackle for loss, in addition to defending two passes with an interception and a pass breakup.  Sophomore linebacker Amin Black made his first career start and finished the day with six total tackles, including two tackles for loss and a sack.
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Players Mentioned

Jaquan Amos

#6 Jaquan Amos

DB
5' 10"
Sophomore
Amin Black

#29 Amin Black

LB
5' 9"
Sophomore
Nathan Fondacaro

#96 Nathan Fondacaro

K/P
5' 10"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Jaquan Amos

#6 Jaquan Amos

5' 10"
Sophomore
DB
Amin Black

#29 Amin Black

5' 9"
Sophomore
LB
Nathan Fondacaro

#96 Nathan Fondacaro

5' 10"
Freshman
K/P