Dukes Rally for 24-20 Football Victory at Maine

Saturday, October 16

Orono, Maine

James Madison University

5-1 , 4-0

Maine

3-3 , 1-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

James Madison

Maine

10/16/2004 2:38:00 PM | Football

Box Score

ORONO, Maine (10/16/2004) – D.D. Boxley caught a 23-yard touchdown pass from Justin Rascati with 48 seconds to play as JMU rallied for its second league road win of the season, 24-20 over Maine. JMU scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns after trailing 20-10.

JMU's game-winning, four-play drive covered 55 yards and took only 24 seconds following a 35-yard punt return by L.C. Baker. JMU gained eight yards to the Maine 47 on a pass interference penalty on the series' first play, and Rascati hit Boxley on a 20-yard pass to the Maine 27 on the second. Rascati then ran for four yards to the Black Bears' 23 before connecting with Boxley in the right corner of the end zone. The reception was the career-high 11th of the game for Boxley, who finished with a career-high 108 receiving yards.

JMU looked to have missed on its final scoring chance when the Dukes turned the ball over on downs at the Maine 45 with 2:21 to play. However, the Black Bears advanced only to the 50 in three plays before punting to Baker.

JMU had pulled to within 20-17 with 14:54 left when Rascati scored on a seven-yard scramble. JMU drove 19 yards in four plays for the score after Akeem Jordan returned an interception 44 yards.

JMU built a 10-6 halftime lead only to see Maine put together consecutive scoring drives during the third quarter. The Black Bears held JMU without a first down on the opening final-half possession and went 54 yards for a touchdown during the next series. They drove 68 yards in five plays to score again on their second possession.

JMU got the game's first points at the 5:05 mark of the opening quarter when David Rabil kicked a 22-yard field goal to cap a five-play, 45-yard drive. JMU got the ball at the 50 and moved into scoring position on an 18-yard run by Maurice Fenner and a 22-yard pass from Rascati to Ardon Bransford.

Maine took a 6-3 lead on the following series, driving 81 yards in 14 plays with Ron Whitcomb hitting Kevin McMahan on a 19-yard scoring pass with 14:05 left during the second quarter. Whitcomb scrambled four yards to the JMU 22 on a fourth-and-four play to keep the drive alive.

JMU went in front 10-6 with 1:36 left in the half when Rascati hit Chris Iorio with a five-yard touchdown pass to complete a 76-yard, 11-play drive. The Dukes had gotten possession on an interception by Tony LeZotte two plays after losing a fumble in Maine territory. LeZotte was named the Atlantic 10's co-rookie of the week.

Marcus Williams gave Maine a 13-10 lead with a two-yard touchdown run on the Bears' first series of the final half, capping their 54-yard, 11-play drive. They extended the lead to 20-10 on their next possession, driving 68 yards in five plays with Whitcomb hitting Christian Pereira on a three-yard scoring pass with 4:28 left during the third period. A 44-yard run on a reverse by Arel Gordon set up the score after Maine got the ball on its 32 on a fumble recovery.

JMU gained 367 yards (170 rushing, 197 passing) and Maine 334 (195 rushing, 139 passing).