#14 RICHMOND KNOCKS OFF #6 JMU 17-16

Saturday, October 27

Harrisonburg, Va.

12:05 p.m.

James Madison University

6-2 , 4-1

Richmond

6-2 , 4-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Richmond

James Madison

10/27/2007 4:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va., Oct. 27, 2007 – Richmond scored the game's first 17 points and went on to beat James Madison 17-16 in a Colonial Athletic Association matchup of nationally ranked football teams during JMU's homecoming Saturday at Bridgeforth Stadium/Zane Showker Field.

The visiting Spiders, ranked 15th in the two major Football Championship Subdivision polls, got a field goal on their opening possession, a touchdown after a fumble recovery at the JMU 10, and a 59-yard drive for a second-period touchdown to lead 17-0 with 40 seconds left in the first half.

JMU came back to get a touchdown on a 61-yard pass with just 16 seconds remaining before halftime and moved into scoring position three times during the final half but could score only on a field goal each time.

The host Dukes, ranked sixth in both major polls entering the game, advanced into Richmond territory with a chance to post a potential go-ahead score after getting to within 17-16, but an interception at the Spider 23 with 58 seconds to play ended the threat.

Richmond improved to 6-2 overall and to 4-1 in the CAA with the win.

JMU fell to 6-2 overall and to 4-1 in the league. The Dukes had a six-game winning streak snapped in losing for the first time since falling in their 2007 opener at North Carolina, and they lost for the first time in 12 home games, since late during the 2005 season.

JMU had only 37 yards and two first downs before its two-play, 71-yard drive during the final minute of the first half to get to within 17-7. The Dukes finished with 256 yards overall (127 rushing, 129 passing) and lost two fumbles and threw an interception for the first time in seven games.

Richmond finished with 245 yards (171 rushing, 74 passing), including but 83 yards during the final half. The Spiders had two second-half turnovers.

Junior Dave Stannard (Midlothian, Va./Clover Hill) tied a JMU game record with three goals and his third successful attempt, a 36-yarder with 6:00 left in the game, brought JMU to within 17-16. The Dukes then held Richmond to a single first down on the following series and got the ball back at their 34 with 2:03 remaining after a Richmond punt and 15-yard fair catch interference penalty.

Junior quarterback Rodney Landers (Virginia Beach, Va./Tallwood) hit sophomore wide receiver Rockeed McCarter (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic) on a 10-yard pass, senior tailback Antoinne Bolton (Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes) ran for nine yards, and Landers carried for three yards to give JMU a first down at the Richmond 44 with 1:11 to play.

But from there Richmond senior defensive back Stephen Howell (Richmond, Va.) intercepted a Landers pass, and the Spiders ran out the clock after taking possession at the JMU 23.

Stannard's other field goals were from 40 and 39 yards, and he tied JMU's individual record for field goals in a game accomplished 10 other times.

Stannard's 40-yarder came at the 13:25 mark of the third quarter after JMU junior cornerback Darrieus Ramsey (Yorktown, Va./Grafton) recovered a Richmond fumble at the Spiders' 23 on their first play of the second half.

The 39-yard field goal came with 7:11 left in the third quarter and at the end of a 42-yard JMU drive after an interception by Dukes junior safety Marcus Haywood (Williamsburg, Va./Bruton).

Stannard's 36-yard kick with six minutes left in the game came at the end of a nine-play, 50-yard possession after JMU stopped Richmond on downs at the JMU 33.

The Spiders drove 70 yards in 17 plays for their first score, a 21-yard field goal by sophomore Andrew Howard (Glen Allen, Va.) with 4:59 left in the first quarter. Richmond used 8:01 of clock time on the series.

The lead went to 10-0 at 8:28 of the second quarter when Richmond sophomore quarterback Eric Ward (Atlanta, Ga.) hit sophomore wide receiver Scot Riddell (Gaithersburg, Md.) on a 10-yard touchdown pass on the first play after the Spiders recovered a fumble at the JMU 10.

The 59-yard drive that gave Richmond its 17-0 edge took 10 plays with senior tailback Tim Hightower (Waldorf, Md.) covering the final four yards with 40 seconds left in the first half.

JMU answered Hightower's touchdown only 24 seconds later. Landers ran for 10 yards to the JMU 39 on the first play from scrimmage and then connected with sophomore wide receiver Bosco Williams (Clifton Forge, Va./Alleghany), who spilt two defenders and grabbed a 61-yard reception for his first college touchdown.

Landers led JMU in rushing with 79 yards, raising his season rushing total to 751 yards, only 13 off Eriq Williams' (1989-92) team quarterback season rushing mark of 764 in 1990. Landers hit on eight of 22 passes for 129 yards

Hightower ran 28 times for 102 yards, and Ward hit on 11 of 22 passes for 74 yards for Richmond.

JMU is back in action in a noon game at Delaware next Saturday (Nov. 3). The game will be televised by Comcast SportsNet Middle Atlantic, Comcast Philadelphia, Comcast Sports Southeast, and SportsNet New York.

Richmond hosts Villanova next Saturday.

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