Out to settle a score

So which team really has the psychological advantage in today's Football Championship Subdivision quarterfinal between James Madison and Villanova in Harrisonburg?

Is it Villanova (10-2), which has no doubt been aching for a rematch with the Dukes (11-1) after suffering a devastating 23-19 loss to JMU on a Hail Mary pass on the final play of the game Oct. 25?

Or is it the Dukes, who feel like the rain and windy conditions kept them from exploiting Villanova's defense for more points and a conventional win?

As closely matched as these teams appear to be, any little edge could make the difference between advancing to the semifinals next weekend and putting away the uniforms and cleats until next season.

"The opportunity to have a second chance in life is all any of us have ever asked for," said Villanova coach Andy Talley. "I think our football team is aware of the fact that they have a second chance against a great team. That's as good as it gets.

"You have an opportunity to right a wrong. If you can do it, the reward is great. If you can't, well, you've got to get on the bus and go home."

The reward for the survivor is a semifinal against the winner of fourth-seeded Montana (12-1) and Weber State (10-3) next Saturday. If the top-seeded Dukes win, they would play at home for the third straight week.

The Wildcats will present quite a challenge for JMU's defense, which was shredded for 431 yards -- including 301 on the ground -- in last week's 38-35 squeaker over Wofford. Villanova quarterback Chris Whitney and running backs Aaron Ball and Matthew Szczur are expected to go right at the Dukes.

Is JMU coach Mickey Matthews concerned about how fired up Villanova will be to prove it was the better team in the previous meeting?

"We're not going to worry about that," Matthews said. "Andy always has his kids ready. He's a competitive person, and his kids are going to play very hard, no matter what happened in that other game.

"I guess I could fully understand because I was in that same locker room in Boone, N.C., last November, when it seemed like we had the game won and all of a sudden, I had to face those kids three minutes later after they lost a heartbreaker. Our players certainly understood exactly what Villanova went through.

"Everyone is going to be motivated for this game. I think both groups are going to play very hard."

Talley wasn't sure about the availability of two of his top players after they suffered significant injuries in last week's 55-28 rout of Colgate.

Strong safety Darrel Young, who suffered a sprained neck early in the game and had to be taken by helicopter to a hospital, is questionable, as is defensive end David Dalessandro with an Achilles injury.

"I don't want to play without [Young]," Talley said. "He's very important to us."

Talley also knows his club will have its hands full with QB Rodney Landers and tailback Eugene Holloman in JMU's spread offense.

"That [first meeting] was a miserable-weather game for both of us," Talley said. "I think it really hurt JMU because they have so much speed across the board. They weren't able to bring their best game to the table. That's what scares me."

Contact John Packett at (804) 649-6313 or .