University of Massachusets Athletics
#13 Massachusetts 10, #4 James Madison 7
October 15, 2005 | Football
Oct. 15, 2005
Recap | Box Score | Quotes | Photo Gallery
POSTGAME NOTES
No. 13 UMass 10, No. 4 James Madison 7 * Oct. 15, 2005 * McGuirk Alumni Stadium
* The win over No. 4 JMU marked the fifth time in last six games against Top 5 teams that UMass won the game. They defeated No. 4 Colgate last season; No. 2 Villanova in 2003 and No. 2 Maine and No. 4 Villanova in 2002.
* UMass won its first-ever game against a defending national champion after losing to Delaware in 2003 and Youngstown State in1994.
* UMass has won 12 of its last 14 Homecoming games including seven wins over ranked teams.
* UMass has not lost to James Madison at McGuirk Stadium in 18 years since losing the first meeting in Amherst, 21-15, on Sept. 26, 1987. The Minutemen are 5-0-1 in the six games since.
* Armando Cuko kicked the game-winning 41-yard field goal with eight seconds left. It marked his third field goal of the season and longest of his career. Cuko's previous high was a 31-yarder against Richmond on Sept. 1, 2005. Cuko came into the game having missed his last four field goal attempts.
* JMU had 105 yards in the first half and had just eight total yards in the third quarter. They finished with game with 157 yards. The Dukes came into the game averaging 467 yards of offense.
* UMass held JMU and quarterback Tony Rascati to just 61 passing yards. It marked the fifth straight game UMass held its opponents to less than 100 yards passing.
* JMU came into the game averaging 45.6 points per game, which ranked second in the nation, but was held to a season-low seven. It was the fewest points the Dukes scored in a game since they were blanked by I-A Virginia Tech on Sept. 6, 2003. It was their lowest scoring game vs. a I-AA team since UMass beat JMU 14-7 on Oct. 26, 2002.
* UMass came into the game with the nation's top defense. Here are the team's updated defensive numbers: Scoring defense (6.0 ppg); Total defense (161.2); Passing defense (78.2). UMass has still allowed just one offensive touchdown, coming in the first game of the season at Richmond. They have gone 21 quarters without allowing an offensive touchdown.
* The A-10's top punter Christian Koegel had back-to-back 56- and 55-yard punts in the fourth quarter which marked the 11th time in 14 games he has had a punt of 50 yards or more.
* Steve Baylark ran in from 1-yard out for his 21st career rushing touchdown just three seconds into the fourth quarter to tie the game at 7-7. Baylark is now tied for sixth on the all-time rushing touchdown list with Frank Alessio (1993-96).
* JMU's Akeem Jordan returned an interception for a 70-yard touchdown in the first quarter. It was the first interception UMass quarterback Liam Coen threw in 13 quarters dating to the Colgate game on Sept. 10.
* Jordan's touchdown was the third defensive touchdown allowed by the Minutemen this season, two coming by Colgate on Sept. 10 (INT and fumble return). It the point of Jordan's score, UMass had allowed just one offensive touchdown this season in the first five games.
* True freshman defensive back Sean Smalls played at wide receiver and made his first career reception for 47 yards midway through the third quarter from Tim Day. It was the second longest offensive play of the season for UMass. The longest was a 51-yard TD pass from Day to Brandon London at Richmond.
* Shannon James had a fumble recovery in the fourth quarter when JMU was driving but UMass was unable to score.
* Sophomore Brandon Freeman recovered a punt which deflected off JMU's Derrius Ramsey to give UMass a possession midway threw the second quarter.
* Coen threw his second interception of the game with 27 seconds left in the first half as Leon Mizelle picked off the pass at the JMU 10-yard line and returned it 10 yards.
