Liberty outlasts James Madison 26-21

Published Nov. 29, 2014 7:42 p.m. ET

foxsports

HARRISONBURG, Va. (AP) D.J. Abnar finished with two rushing touchdowns and Nicky Fualaau had the go-ahead score with 2:53 remaining as Liberty knocked off James Madison 26-21 in the first round of the FCS playoffs Saturday.

Abnar scored on a 7-yard run and John Lunsford booted a 56-yard field goal to pull Liberty (9-4) within one in the third quarter.

Josh Woodrum orchestrated a 17-play, 85-yard drive that exhausted 11 minutes off the clock and ended with Fualaau's plunge for the score. Woodrum was stopped on the two-point try, keeping it at 26-21.

Vad Lee drove James Madison (9-4) to the Liberty 27 late, but his pass to Daniel Brown on fourth down was broken up by Kenny Scott.

Woodrum threw for 244 yards and two interceptions.

Jauan Latney had 119 yards rushing with a touchdown for the Dukes.

Liberty will face sixth-seeded Villanova in the second round on Dec. 6.