WILLIAM & MARY TOPS JMU IN FOOTBALL

Saturday, October 24

Williamsburg, Va.

12:05 p.m.

James Madison University

2-5 , 0-4

William and Mary

6-1 , 3-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

James Madison

William & Mary

10/24/2009 7:30:00 PM | Football

Box Score

WILLIAMSBURG, Va., Oct. 24, 2009 -Jonathan Grimes ran for a career-high 158 yards, and R.J. Archer threw for two touchdowns to lead William & Mary to a 24-3 Colonial Athletic Association football win over James Madison Saturday.

Grimes, who ran 20 times, set up the Tribe's first touchdown with a season-long 61-yard run and scored on a nine-yard run in the final quarter. Archer had scoring passes of nine and 18 yards and completed 15 of 22 passes for 127 yards.

William & Mary improved to 6-1 overall and to 3-1 in the CAA with the win. The Tribe won for the first time in the last six series games with JMU and for the first time in the last five series meetings on its field.

JMU fell to 2-5 overall and to 0-4 in the CAA.

Both teams ran 67 plays, but William & Mary compiled 385 yards of total offense (258 rushing, 127 passing) to JMU's 216 yards (150 rushing, 66 passing). The Tribe averaged 5.7 yards per offensive play to JMU's 3.2 yards and converted on eight of 14 third-down situations.

William & Mary led 7-0 after one quarter, 10-3 at halftime and 17-3 after three quarters.

William & Mary scored first, moving 69 yards in three plays with Archer hitting tight end Rob Varno on a nine-yard touchdown pass with 3:26 left in the opening quarter. Grimes' 61-yard run to the JMU eight started the series.

JMU pulled to within 7-3 on the following possession, getting a career-long 44-yard field goal from sophomore placekicker Dixon Wright (Crossnore, N.C./Avery County) with 13:48 left in the second quarter. The Dukes moved 40 yards in nine plays with redshirt freshman quarterback Justin Thorpe (Richmond, Va./Varina) carrying for 15 and 18 yards on a pair option runs.

William & Mary raised its lead to 10-3 on a 34-yard Brain Pate field goal as time expired in the second quarter. The Tribe moved from its 13 after receiving a punt with 1:26 left on the clock. Grimes had a 12-yard run, and Archer scrambled 19 yards to the JMU 32. A pass interference penalty on JMU on the next snap moved the ball to the 17 with six seconds remaining, and Pate followed with the field goal.

The Tribe increased the margin to 17-3 on its second series of the final half, moving 80 yards in 14 plays and using 6:34 of clock time. Archer capped the drive with an 18-yard touchdown pass to tight end Alex Gottleib with 3:41 left in the third period. William & Mary converted on four consecutive third-down situations, and Archer hit on three of four passes for 36 yards during the drive.

William & Mary got the game's final points with 5:45 to play on a nine-yard Grimes run. The Tribe drove 59 yards in eight plays after recovering a JMU fumble.

JMU reached the William & Mary 32 on its series after its second-quarter field goal but lost 22 yards and possession of the ball on a bad snap from center on a third-down-and-three play.

The Dukes penetrated Tribe territory three times during the second half. They punted after reaching the 41 early during the final quarter; their fumble on their next series after getting to the 45 set up William & Mary's final score; and they reached the 17 on their final possession but were stopped on a fourth-and-14 play from the 21.

Thorpe ran 15 times for 76 yards and completed seven of 17 passes for 66 yards for the Dukes. Junior tailback Jamal Sullivan (Ruther Glen, Va./Caroline) carried 19 times for 67 yards.

Freshman free safety Jakarie Jackson (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora) had a team-leading 10 tackles, including eight solo stops, for the JMU defense. Sophomore linebacker Pat Williams (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial) and senior defensive end Arthur Moats (Portsmouth, Va./Churchland) each took part in nine stops. Moats, the nation's leader in tackles for loss, was credited with 2.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, including a quarterback sack.

Moats' quarterback sack was the 25th of his career, tying him for third place on JMU's career sacks list. The program's all-time sacks leader is Chris Morant (1998-2000) with 33. Woody Bergeria (1975-77) is second on the list with 28 sacks, and Larry Smith (1975-78) also had 25 career sacks.