DUKES FALL TO LATE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF RALLY

Saturday, November 24

Boone, N.C.

Noon

James Madison University

8-4 , 6-2

Appalachian State

10-2 , 5-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

James Madison

Appalachian State

11/24/2007 5:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

BOONE, N.C., Nov. 24, 2007 -- Appalachian State scored nine points during the game's final five minutes and defeated James Madison 28-27 in the first round of the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs Saturday.

The Mountaineers got a 44-yard field goal from Julian Rauch to pull to within 27-22 with 4:51 left in the game and got possession again with 2:35 to play after stopping JMU at the Dukes' 31 on a fourth-down play. They went in front 28-27 with 1:10 left on a five-yard Armanti Edwards touchdown run and held on for the win by recovering a JMU fumble at the Mountaineer five with 22 seconds left in the game.

JMU had a 436-330 edge in total offense, but lost two fumbles and threw an interception. The Dukes had moved from their 29 to the Appalachian State nine before their final minute fumble, and the Mountaineers scored earlier touchdowns after a 77-yard fumble return to the JMU three and after an interception at the JMU 28.

JMU closed its season with an 8-4 record while Appalachian State improved to 10-2 and will play in the NCAA's second round.

JMU junior quarterback Rodney Landers (Virginia Beach, Va./Tallwood) ran for 129 yards and threw for 124, including a 10-yard scoring pass to redshirt freshman tailback Griff Yancey (Glen Allen, Va./Hermitage). Yancey ran for 73 yards and had a five-yard touchdown run, and redshirt freshman Jamal Sulllivan (Ruther Glen, Va./Caroline) ran for 67 yards and scored on a two-yard run. The Dukes also got a seven-yard scoring run from junior placekicker Dave Stannard (Midlothian, Va./Clover Hill) on a faked field goal tray.

JMU scored on its first possession, driving 73 yards in nine plays after junior safety Marcus Haywood (Williamsburg, Va./Bruton) recovered an Appalachian State fumble. Landers hit Yancey on a 10-yard touchdown pass with 10:12 left in the to cap the drive after Yancey carried four times for 37 yards during the drive.

Appalachian State tied the score at 7-7 with 12:14 left in the second quarter three plays after Mountaineers linebacker Jacque Roman returned a JMU fumbled pass reception 75 yards to the Dukes' one-yard line. Edwards scored on third down on the series after JMU had used 17 plays moving from its 11 to the Appalachian State 23 on the preceding drive.

JMU went in front 14-7 with 8:55 left in the half when Yancey scored on a five-yard run at the end of a seven-play, 66-yard march. Yancey started the possession with an 18-yard carry, and Lander had completions of 26 yards to senior tailback Antoinne Bolton (Virginia Beach, va./Ocean Lakes) to the Appalachian State 18 and 10 yards to senior wide receiver L.C. Baker (Richmond, Va./Armstrong) to the five to set up the score.

The Mountaineers pulled to within 14-13 with 5:47 left in the half on Kevin Richardson's one-yard touchdown run at the end of an eight-play, 80-yard march. Edwards had the key play of the drive, a 41-yard carry to the JMU 30, and Richardson ran five times for 30 yards during the series. JMU sophomore cornerback Scotty McGee (Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes) blocked the conversion try to allow JMU to stay in front.

The Mountaineers took a 19-14 with 3:09 left in the half following a second Dukes turnover. Appalachian State got the ball at the JMU 27 after it bounced off a JMU receiver who was hit as the ball arrived. Edwards ran 18 yards to the one on a fourth-and-two play and scored on the following snap.

An Appalachian State fumble that senior linebacker Adam Ford (Lizella, Ga./Macon Central) recovered at the Mountaineer 43 set up an 11-play drive that gave JMU a 20-19 lead with 4:29 left in the third quarter. Landers had a 12-yard scramble to open the series and hit Baker on 15-yard pass to the Appalachian State five. The Dukes gained three yards on three plays and had an illegal procedure penalty before Stannard scored.

JMU lined up for a field goal try, but senior holder Joe Kluesner (Harrisonburg, Va./Harrisonburg) pitched the ball to Stannard, who scored on right side.

JMU increased the lead to 27-19 with 7:37 left in the game when Sullivan scored on a two-yard run to cap a 16-play, 76-yard march. Sullivan twice ran for first downs on fourth-down plays and ran seven times for 39 yards overall during the series.

Appalachian State pulled to within 27-22 with 4:51 to play on Rauch's field and went in front to on its next possession.

With the Dukes down 28-27, Landers started the ensuing series with a 36-yard completion to the Mountaineer 35 to sophomore wide receiver Bosco Williams (Clifton Forge, Va./Alleghany) and ran for five and four yards before Sullivan carried for 17 yards to the Mountaineer nine. A fumble, however, on second down (the Dukes had stopped the clock with an intentional incomplete pass on first down) ended JMU's scoring chance.

Edwards ran for 132 yards and three touchdowns and threw for 126 yards for Appalachian State.

JMU had the ball for 40:27 of the game's 60 minutes and ran 84 plays to the Mountaineers' 57.

#