JMU Pulls Away from Massachusetts for 28-7 Football Victory

Saturday, October 9

Harrisonburg, Va.

James Madison University

4-1 , 3-0

Massachusetts

2-4 , 0-3

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
UMass	0	0	0	7	7
James Madison	0	0	7	21	28

10/9/2004 2:35:00 PM | Football

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va. (10/9/2004) – Raymond Hines ran for a career-high 123 yards and a touchdown, Justin Rascati scored twice, and JMU pulled away during the second half to beat Massachusetts 28-7.

Rascati scored the game's first points on a one-yard run with 4:01 left during the third quarter and added another score on a five-yard carry with 11:56 remaining for a 14-0 JMU lead. Hines, working as the Dukes' second tailback, scored on a nine-yard run with seven minutes to play for a 21-0 JMU lead.

The Dukes played without starting tailback Alvin Banks, but Hines ran 12 times and Maurice Fenner carried 22 times for 85 yards and a touchdown.

Hines erased his previous career rushing high of 97 yards, set in 2002 at Rhode Island. He set up the game's first touchdown with a 61-yard carry to the Massachusetts 14. Rascati scored five plays later, capping an 11-play, 96-yard series on JMU's opening possession of the second half.

Each team had only one scoring chance before Hines' 61-yard sprint. Massachusetts had a field goal attempt blocked after reaching the JMU seven early during the second quarter, and JMU threw an interception in the end zone after getting to the Massachusetts 27 midway through the first period.

The field goal block was by Rodney McCarter, his sixth career blocked kick. McCarter also took part in nine tackles and recovered a fumble to earn Atlantic 10 defensive player of the week honors.

After Rascati's first touchdown broke the 0-0 tie, JMU raised the lead to 14-0 on its next series, going 63 yards in 12 plays with Rascati scoring on second down from the five.

JMU couldn't get a first down on its next series but regained possession at the Massachusetts 24 on Tony LeZotte's 10-yard interception return. Hines ran for 15 yards on the first play after the turnover and scored from the nine on the next snap for a 21-0 JMU advantage.

A 40-yard pass to the JMU 33 from Tim Day to J.J.Moore on the following series set up Massachusetts' only touchdown. Day hit Mike Douglas with a two-yard scoring toss with 4:59 to play to complete the eight-play, 73-yard drive.

The Minutemen recovered an on-sides kick after their touchdown but moved for only one first down, and Akeem Jordan returned an interception of a Day pass 19 yards to the Massachusetts 25 on the visitors' next possession. Fenner then scored on JMU's first play to complete the game's scoring with 1:14 remaining.