Punt Return, Late Defense, Give Dukes Football Win Over Delaware

Saturday, November 6

Harrisonburg, Va.

James Madison University

8-1 , 6-0

Delaware

6-3 , 5-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Delaware

James Madison

Punt Return, Late Defense, Give Dukes Football Win Over Delaware

11/6/2004 2:47:00 PM | Football

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va. (11/6/2004) – Cortez Thompson returned a punt 87 yards for a touchdown with 3:04 to play, and JMU's defense stopped a drive at its three during the final minute as the Dukes defeated sixth-ranked Delaware 20-13 in a key game in both the Atlantic 10 Conference and overall in Division I-AA.

Thompson's return, which matched the second-longest punt return in team history, gave JMU its final margin, but Delaware came back to move from its 27 to a first down at the Dukes' three-yard line in 11 plays. However, the defending Division I-AA national champions, after intentionally stopping the clock with 51 seconds left on first down, threw three more incomplete passes as JMU held on for its sixth straight victory.

The game matched two teams ranked in the top 10 for the first time at JMU since 1995, and the seventh-ranked Dukes used several key special teams plays, in addition to Thompson's return, and a bend-but-don't-break defense. JMU set up its first touchdown with a blocked punt by Akeem Jordan; Rodney McCarter blocked a field goal attempt that could have given Delaware the lead with 5:12 left; and JMU's defenders limited the Blue Hens to one touchdown despite allowing 466 total yards. Delaware during the fourth quarter ran 37 plays to JMU's six but didn't score. The Dukes intercepted three passes and had returns to the Delaware 10- and six-yard lines.

JMU scored first when Justin Rascati hit Ardon Bransford on an 18-yard pass three plays after getting the ball on the Delaware 19 following Jordan's punt block. JMU missed on the conversion try and failed to hit on a 20-yard field goal attempt early during the second quarter after Thompson returned an interception 33 yards to the Delaware 10.

Delaware followed with a seven-play, 80-yard drive to go ahead 7-6 with 9:40 left in the half on a six-yard Sonny Riccio- to-Justin Long pass. Riccio's 47-yard pass to David Boler to the JMU 10 to set up the touchdown.

The Blue Hens got possession on a six-yard Garron Bible interception return to the JMU four on the first series of the second half and increased their lead to 10-6 on a 20-yard Brad Shushman field goal. Bible grabbed the short pass after Rascati was hit by a Delaware defender while throwing.

Trey Townsend set up a touchdown that gave JMU a 13-10 lead with a 67-yard interception return to the Delaware six. Raymond Hines put JMU in front with a two-yard run at the 4:52 mark of the third quarter.

Delaware pulled into a 13-13 tie on a 20-yard Shushman field goal on its next series. The Hens moved from their 37 to a first down at the JMU five in eight plays.

JMU's top defenders included Tony LeZotte with 19 tackles (seven unassisted), Kwynn Walton with 14 stops, Thompson with 10 stops, and McCarter and Townsend with nine each. Thompson was the Atlantic 10 specialist of the week and national specialist of the week by The Sports Network, Don Hansen's Football Gazette and College Sports Television. LeZotte was national defensive player of the week by ESPN/USA Today.