#8 JMU FOOTBALL ROUTS N.C. CENTRAL 56-7

Saturday, September 6

Harrisonburg, Va.

6 p.m

James Madison University

N. C. Central

9/7/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va., Sept. 6, 2008 – James Madison vaulted out to a 35-0 halftime advantage and went on to defeat North Carolina Central 56-7 in its 2008 football home opener at Bridgeforth Stadium/Zane Showker Field Saturday.

JMU, ranked eighth nationally, improves to 1-1 for the season while NCCU falls to 0-2. The Dukes won their sixth straight home opener in their first meeting with the Eagles.

The Dukes reached the end zone in each of their first seven possessions, including all five in the first half. Altogether eight of 10 drives resulted in touchdowns for JMU with one punt and a missed field goal attempt.

JMU led in total yardage 449-203 with a decided advantage in rushing, 276-81.

Senior quarterback Rodney Landers (Virginia Beach, Va./Tallwood) led the Dukes in total offense, going 13-for-17 in the air with 164 yards and one touchdown while rushing for 31 yards on three carries with a score.

Three running backs each rushed for more than 60 yards, led by senior Eugene Holloman (Virginia Beach, Va./Bayside) with 88 yards on 14 carries while reaching the end zone once. Sophomore Griff Yancey (Glen Allen, Va./ermatige) scored twice with 71 yards on just four carries. Freshman Corwin Acker (Landover, Md./Blake) rushed 11 times for 69 yards with a touchdown.

Landers and sophomore quarterback Drew Dudzik (Clifton, Va./Centreville) combined to hit eight different receivers with freshman Kerby Long (Arlington, Va./Yorktown) and Holloman each hauling in three catches, Long for 32 yards and Holloman for 27. Yancy had two receptions for 40 yards while senior tight end Mike Caussin (Springfield, Va./West Springfield) had the only receiving touchdown for the Dukes.

NCCU senior quarterback Stadford Brown threw for 122 yards on 16-for-33 passing with a touchdown and a pair of interceptions. Sophomore Tony McCord rushed 10 times for 42 yards. Senior Wayne Blackwell was the top receiver, hauling in six passes for 59 yards and a touchdown.

Senior free safety Marcus Haywood (Williamsburg, Va./Bruton) had two interceptions for JMU, the first time since the 2003 seaosn that a JMU player has intercepted two passes in a game.

JMU will be at home again next Saturday, Sept. 13, when the Dukes open Colonial Athletic Association play with a 3:30 p.m. home game against Massachusetts (2-0). The game will be televised live on CN8.