Touchdown on Final Play Lifts James Madison

Rodney Landers found Bosco Williams for the game-winning 35-yard touchdown pass with no time left as top-ranked James Madison rallied past host Villanova, 23-19, yesterday.

A poor punt gave James Madison (7-1, 5-0 Colonial Athletic Association) the ball at its 34-yard line with 1 minute 1 second left.

Battling rainy, gusty weather, Landers accounted for all 66 yards on the drive, completing three passes and rushing for 11 yards before he found Williams for the game-winning score.

Villanova (5-2, 3-1) took a 19-14 lead early in the fourth after Chris Whitney threw a six-yard touchdown pass to Phil Atkinson with 14:09 left. But the Dukes got a 25-yard field goal from Dave Stannard with 4:08 left and forced the Wildcats to punt on their next possession.

Punter Joe Marcoux's kick went just 14 yards, giving the Dukes a slim chance to drive for the game-winning score.

James Madison took a 14-10 lead into halftime on two touchdown passes by Landers. He threw a 23-yard scoring pass to Griff Yancey in the first quarter and added a 55-yard scoring pass to Rockeed McCarter early in the second.

Villanova responded after halftime with a 37-yard field goal by Marcoux and then took the lead on Atkinson's touchdown catch.

Landers threw for 184 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 133 yards.

Aaron Ball rushed for 108 yards and Matthew Szczur scored on a 15-yard run in the second quarter for the Wildcats. Marcoux kicked two field goals for Villanova, including a 42-yarder in the first.

· NORTH CAROLINA A&T 21, HOWARD 20: Michael Ferguson scored two touchdowns, including the game-winner with 9:15 remaining in the game, to snap the Aggies' (3-6, 1-4 MEAC) six-game losing streak. After firing its head coach earlier in the week, North Carolina A&T (3-6, 1-4 MEAC) won its first conference game in more than three years.

The visiting Bison, who lost their second straight one-point game, have lost seven consecutive conference games dating back to last season. Howard's Floyd Haigler, who came into the game leading the MEAC in passing, threw for a season-low 121 yards and was intercepted twice.

· RICHMOND 48, GEORGETOWN 0: The Spiders (6-3) held the visiting Hoyas (1-6) without a first down until 4:43 remained in the third quarter. Three Georgetown quarterbacks combined for just eight yards passing.

Josh Vaughan ran for 157 yards and two touchdowns for Richmond. Phillip Olageji rushed for 35 yards to lead the Hoyas, who have lost six in a row.

· BOWIE ST. 14, VIRGINIA UNION 13 : Sophomore Dean Boateng caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from freshman Andre Johnson with 51 seconds remaining to lift the Bulldogs (4-4, 3-3 CIAA) at home.

With 16 seconds remaining, Gil Hernandez missed a 30-yard field goal attempt that would have won the game for the Panthers (5-4, 3-3).

· CATHOLIC 33, HAMPDEN-SYDNEY 21: Keith Ricca threw for 392 yards and four touchdowns as the visiting Cardinal (6-1, 2-1 ODAC) upset the No. 18 Tigers (7-1, 4-1). Ryan McManus caught seven passes for 186 yards and three touchdowns for Catholic. Hampden-Sydney quarterback Corey Sedlar threw four interceptions and was sacked three times.