VILLANOVA, Pa. – James Madison had to win the game with its defense.

The Dukes starting quarterback and frontrunner for the Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year Bryan Schor was injured on the first play of the second quarter and did not return.

“I thought when he went down that we were going to win the game,” Villanova coach Andy Talley said. “He’s really their team.”

But JMU’s defense had other ideas. The 4-2-5 unit played put together its best effort of the season, limiting Villanova to 239 total yards of offense and recorded two fourth-quarter interceptions to lift Madison to a 20-7 win over the Wildcats on Saturday.

With the victory, JMU (9-1, 7-0) clinched an automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs and an outright Colonial Athletic Association regular-season championship.

“This was our toughest test of the year and I told everyone that I thought we’d have a hard time coming up here to get a win,” JMU coach Mike Houston said. “Then to have the adversity that we faced today and still win it anyway, I think this is a special win. It’s one I’ll never forget in my career.”

Schor was spotted on the sideline with his left arm in a sling. Houston said Schor is still being evaluated and would be checked out by doctors when the team returns to Harrisonburg, before determining his playing status moving forward.

Without Schor, James Madison’s offense struggled against Villanova’s vaunted 3-3-5 stack defense. JMU managed only 277 total yards, or 252 yards less than its season average.

Determining the outcome of the game was put in the hands of the defense.

To start the second half, Villanova’s offense drove 55 yards but went without points. JMU defensive tackle Cornell Urquhart blocked a field goal to keep the score tied at 7.

“I think that was deflating,” Talley said. “That was one of the real keys to us losing the game.”

Urquhart and JMU’s other starting defensive tackle Martez Stone disrupted the Villanova offense from start to finish. Both applied pressure on Villanova quarterback Zach Bednarczyk throughout the game.

On Villanova’s next possession, Madison safety Raven Greene picked off Bednarczyk after Bednarczyk was flushed from the pocket. JMU turned it into three points and added another field goal in the fourth quarter to take a 13-7 lead with 4:43 to play.

It was then that Stone helped the Dukes seal the win.

With the Wildcats attempting to put together a final go-ahead scoring drive, Stone grabbed a tipped-pass out of the air to intercept Bednarczyk.

“At the begging, [Bednarczyk] hard-counted and I didn’t jump, so that was good,” Stone said. “The offensive line slid my way, so I sprinted around past the center. Cornell tipped the ball and as he tips the ball, the sun was beaming down on the ball.

“To get an interception in a game like this, I’ll never forget this moment.”

Stone’s interception, just like Greene’s led to points for the Dukes. JMU managed to find the end zone on a two-yard run from senior running back Khalid Abdullah.

Abdullah ran 33 times for 101 yards and two touchdowns Saturday – marking the seventh times this season that he’s eclipsed the 100-yard mark.

Series after series, JMU relied on Abdullah to carry the offense following Schor’s injury. True freshman Cole Johnson replaced Schor and finished just 5-of-12 for 43 yards and two interceptions.

“Games like that humble you as a running back,” Abdullah said. “A lot of running backs expect to hit the big plays all the time, but sometimes the defenses scheme up too and practice just like we do. Villanova has an amazing defense.”

JMU will have a chance to finish conference play unbeaten next week when it closes the regular season at home against Elon.

Villanova (7-3, 5-2) falls into a second-place tie in the CAA with New Hampshire, Richmond and Maine.