JMU Wins 14-13 at Furman, Advances to Football Semifinals

Saturday, December 4

Greenville, S.C.

James Madison University

Furman

JMU Wins 14-13 at Furman, Advances to Football Semifinals

12/4/2004 2:56:00 PM | Football

GREENVILLE, S.C. (12/4/2004) – JMU drove 74 yards during the final 5:11, scoring on Raymond Hines' one-yard run with 28 seconds to play, to win 14-13 at Furman in the second round of the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs.

The Dukes got the ball for the final time at their 26 after Demetrius Shambley blocked a 43-yard Furman field goal attempt. A holding penalty set JMU back to its 16, but the Dukes then used 12 plays to drive for the winning score. Justin Rascati had consecutive completions of 16 and 11 yards to D.D. Boxley to start the drive, and he later hit Nic Tolley with a 26-yard completion, L.C. Baker with a 15-yarder and Ardon Bransford with a 14-yarder to the Furman eight.

Hines gained two yards to the Furman six; Rascati scrambled four yards to the two; and Hines carried to the one on third down before scoring off the right side on fourth down.

Rascati completed five of six passes during the decisive drive and hit on 16 of 22 attempts for 176 yards overall. He also was the Dukes' leading rusher with 67 yards on 15 carries.

Hines scored both of JMU's touchdowns and finished with 46 rushing yards, and Boxley caught five passes for 86 yards.

The Dukes overcame two lost fumbles and nine penalties for 60 yards while Furman had only one turnover and one penalty.

JMU scored first on a five-yard run by Hines with 11:09 left during the second quarter. The Dukes got the ball at the Furman eight when Isaiah Dottin-Carter blocked a Furman punt out of bounds. Hines ran for three yards on first down and scored on the Dukes' next play.

Furman came right back to tie the score at 7-7 with a 14-play, 74-yard drive. Jerome Felton capped the series with a one-yard run after the Paladins got a first down at the JMU five when the Dukes were flagged on consecutive snaps for offsides as Furman set up for field goal tries of 32 and 27 yards.

The Paladins went in front 13-7 with 12:55 left during the third quarter, three plays after a JMU turnover on the opening series of the final half. Ingle Martin connected with Brian Bratton on a 12-yard pass for a touchdown on third down, but the Paladins missed on the extra point attempt. Furman got possession when Cedric Ritter hit Rascati as he set up to pass and Mike Killian covered Rascati's fumble at the JMU 17.

Furman had a chance to increase its 13-7 lead but lost a fumble at the JMU one with 5:25 left during the third quarter. JMU's Sid Evans was credited with causing the fumble and Clint Kent with the recovery.