DUKES WIN 20-8 IN FOOTBALL AT DELAWARE

Saturday, October 31

Newark, Del.

12:05 p.m.

James Madison University

3-5 , 1-4

Delaware

5-3 , 3-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

James Madison

Delaware

10/31/2009 7:45:00 PM | Football

Box Score

NEWARK, Del, Oct. 31, 2009 - Redshirt freshman quarterback Justin Thorpe (Richmond, Va./Varina) ran for one touchdown and threw for another to lead the James Madison football team to a 20-8 victory at Delaware Saturday.

Thorpe ran 12 yards for JMU's first touchdown and hit senior tight end Charlie Newman (Harrisonburg, Va./Turner Ashby) on a seven-yard scoring play for the Dukes' second touchdown.

The first-year quarterback threw for 262 yards overall, and JMU compiled 386 yards of total offense in winning at Delaware for the first time since 1994.

The victory snapped a four-game JMU losing streak and raised the Dukes' overall record to 3-5 and their Colonial Athletic Association mark to 1-4.

Delaware fell to 5-3 overall and to 3-3 in the CAA.

JMU trailed 3-0 at halftime but scored on three of its first four possessions of the final half. The Dukes drove 75 yards on their first series of the third quarter to go up 7-3, went 66 yards on their third series of the half to lead 13-6 and drove 83 yards for a third score.

JMU during the second half compiled 287 yards of total offense, including 229 passing. The Dukes limited Delaware to 107 yards after halftime and to 224 yards (9 rushing, 215 passing) overall after the Blue Hens entered the game averaging 30.9 points, 364.9 yards of total offense and 125.4 rushing yards per game.

JMU used six plays in grabbing the lead during the initial possession of the final half. Thorpe hit senior tight end Mike Caussin (Springfield, Va./West Springfield) on a 27-yard pass to start the series and sophomore tailback Scott Noble (Baltimore, Md./Franklin) on a 31-yard completion to the Delaware 15 to set up his 12-yard scoring run on an option to the right side.

Delaware pulled to within 7-6 on the following series, and JMU turned the ball over on its next possession before controlling the final quarter and a half.

The Dukes were in position to extend their lead on their second series of the half when Thorpe hit senior wide receiver Rockeed McCarter (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic) on a 51-yard pass play from the JMU 39. However, a Delaware defender knocked the ball away as McCarter headed toward the end zone with the Blue Hens returning it to their 43.

Delaware got only one first down after the turnover, failing to convert on a fourth-and two play from the JMU 34 with 5:06 left in the third period, and JMU quickly moved for its second score.

The Dukes used only five plays while navigating the 66 yards with Newman's scoring catch coming with 3:18 left in the third quarter. A 53-yard Thorpe-to-McCarter completion to the Delaware 11 set up the touchdown.

JMU held Delaware without a first down on the ensuing series and used 14 plays to move for its third touchdown. Thorpe completed four straight passes for 50 yards and had an 11-yard run before junior tailback Jamal Sullivan (Ruther Glen, Va./Caroline) scored from the three to give JMU a 20-6 lead with 9:57 left in the game.

Delaware came back three series later to reach the JMU nine but suffered a second-down sack before JMU freshman free safety Jakarie Jackson (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora) intercepted a fourth-down pass from the 19.

Delaware took its 3-0 lead with 13:14 left in the second quarter on a 34-yard Jon Striesky field goal. The Blue Hens moved 67 yards in 11 plays from their 22 with Pat Devlin completing four of five passes for 57 yards during the series.

Devlin hit on 19 of 42 passes for 215 yards but was intercepted twice and sacked eight times. The Hens didn't have a running play by a running back of more than 10 yards. Their final points came when JMU took an intentional safety during the finals minutes.

Four Dukes had sacks, including senior defensive end Arthur Moats (Portsmouth, Va./Churchland), who was credited with 2.5 among his seven tackles. Moats entered the game as the national leader in tackles for loss, and his sacks raised his season total to 9.5 and his career mark to 27.5.

Redshirt freshman linebacker Chase Williams (Gaithersburg, Md./Northwest) had a team-high 11 tackles, including 10 unassisted and 1.5 sacks, for the JMU defense. Senior defensive tackle Sam Daniels (Portsmouth, Va./Woodrow Wilson) had two sacks and five tackles overall and sophomore defensive end D.J. Bryant (Baltimore, Md./Randallstown) a sack.

Sullivan ran for 44 yards and Thorpe for 42 for JMU. McCarter finished with three catches for 125 yards and Caussin with three receptions for 71 yards.

JMU returns home next Saturday (Nov. 7) to face CAA opponent Maine in 3 p.m. game.

NOTES: JMU's last win at Delaware (1994) came during a 10-3 NCAA playoff season. Delaware had won the teams' last six meetings on its field... Delaware was the fourth-straight nationally ranked opponent JMU had faced (16th). The teams JMU met during its previous three games (Richmond, Villanova, William & Mary) began play Saturday with a combined record of 20-2.