James Madison Hosts Saint Francis In Home Opener Sept. 13

Saturday, September 13

Harrisonburg, Va.

4 p.m.

James Madison University

Saint Francis (Pa.)

Buy Tickets

James Madison Hosts Saint Francis In Home Opener Sept. 13

9/11/2014 10:43:00 PM | Football

Complete Game Notes (Adobe PDF Format)

Starting the Home Campaign: James Madison will start the home portion of its 2014 schedule today, hosting the Saint Francis Red Flash. This will be the only regular season non-conference home game this fall.

The Coaches: James Madison Head Coach Everett Withers (Appalachian State, '86) is in his first season at JMU with a 1-1 mark and second as a head coach overall with an 8-7 record.

Saint Francis Head Coach Chris Villarrial (Indiana (Pa.), '96) is in his fifth year with the Red Flash and as a head coach overall, sporting a 19-28 record.

History With Saint Francis: This will be the third time that JMU and Saint Francis have met on the football field, with the Dukes taking the first two meetings. Both games were played at Bridgeforth Stadium, with last year's close 24-20 decision in favor of the home team.

vs. Saint Francis -- JMU leads 2-0 (Home 2-0)

Date Location W/L Score

9/1/2012 Home W 55-7

9/14/2013 Home W 24-20

The First at Home Tends To Be Good: Bridgeforth Stadium has been the home to many happy openings for the Dukes. Since its start in 1973, JMU is now 31-10 (.757) in the first home game of the year, including the current 11-game winning streak. The last time that Madison lost a home opener was in 2002, falling to Hampton.

Withers Takes the Reins: Head Coach Everett Withers has taken over the leadership of the JMU football program for the 2014 season. Withers is just the sixth head coach in the program's 42-year history.

JMU Coaching History

Challace McMillin (1972-84)
Joe Purzycki (1985-90)
Rip Scherer (1991-94)
Alex Wood (1995-98)
Mickey Matthews (1999-2013)
Everett Withers (2014)

Can It BE Any Tougher?: JMU sports one of the toughest schedules in FCS football, with four opponents currently ranked in the top 25 of both polls and two others among the receiving votes in each.

Calling Long Distance: In last Saturday's thrilling win at Lehigh, the Dukes put together a pair of extremely long drives. On the second scoring drive of the final half, Madison marched 99 yards in nine plays to tie a school-record long drive. Then on the eventual game-winning possession, JMU used 11 plays to go 98 yards, capped off by redshirt-senior Jauan Latney's six yard run. In all, all five Dukes' scoring drives were 65 yards or more, with four of them eight plays or more.

Putting Together Offense at Lehigh: JMU had some dynamic play at times on the offensive side of the ball against the Mountain Hawks. The Dukes put together 322 yards of rushing (averaging 7.5 yards per carry) while connecting on 284 yards of passing (7.7 yards per attempt) to total 606 yards of total offense.

The 322 yards of rushing for JMU was the most since the 2012 season opener when it racked up 377 yards and five touchdowns against Saint Francis. That game was also the last time that Madison had 600-plus yards of total offense, finishing with 602. Last week's total was also the most since the 2004 regular-season starter against Lock Haven on Sept. 4, when the Dukes amassed 609 yards of total offense.

Individually, freshman running back John Miller had his first career 100-yard game with 106 yards and one score on 16 carries. Through the air, junior Vad Lee had 284 yards passing and two scores, with 123 of those and both touchdowns going to sophomore Rashard Davis, a career-high for the wide receiver.

Earning CAA Weekly Honors: JMU picked up its first two weekly honors from the CAA, as freshman Jimmy Moreland was named Special Teams Player of the Week and freshman John Miller earned Rookie of the Week, Sept. 8.

In his second collegiate game, Moreland came around the right side of the Lehigh defense and blocked a game-tying 27-yard field goal attempt to preserve JMU's 31-28 victory at Lehigh. It was the first blocked kick for the Dukes since the 2012 season. In addition, Moreland recorded eight tackles on the day, with all eight of them solos.

Miller came off the bench and gave JMU a spark in its battle at Lehigh. The freshman had 16 carries for a game-high 106 yards and one score, part of a 322-yard rushing effort for the Dukes in the come-from-behind win. Miller's 9-yard touchdown run came less than three minutes into the second half, sparking Madison to 21 points in the final two quarters for the win. He only had one carry for a 1-yard loss, while Miller's season-best 36-yard scamper put the Dukes at the Lehigh 28, setting up their final and eventual game-winning score.

Last Meeting - JMU Escapes With Home Victory: Redshirt-senior running back Dae'Quan Scott posted his 15th career 100-yard rushing game, including 137 yards and two scores in the second half, to lead the No. 17 James Madison Dukes to a 24-20 come-from-behind victory over Saint Francis at Bridgeforth Stadium.

Scott ran for 190 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries on the night, opening up the 2013 season with three consecutive 100-yard rushing games. Sophomore quarterback Michael Birdsong was 10-of-23 for 145 yards and one touchdown. Redshirt-senior linebacker Stephon Robertson led the defensive effort with 14 tackles, including two sacks. Junior defensive end Sage Harold also was a standout, making seven tackles including three sacks and a forced fumble.

Saint Francis quarterbacks Capri Thompson and Max Ward were a combined 11-of-20 for 177 yards and a touchdown, while running back Kyle Harbridge ran 25 times for 100 yards and one score. (Complete recap on page 20.)

Last Time Out - Dukes Rally To Win at Lehigh: James Madison's offense put together three long second-half scoring drives, and freshman cornerback Jimmy Moreland blocked a potential game-tying field goal in the final minute as the Dukes posted a 31-28 non-conference football victory at Lehigh Saturday.

After JMU overcame a 21-10 halftime deficit with touchdown marches of 66, 99 and 98 yards, Moreland blocked Lehigh placekicker Ryan Pandy's 27-yard field goal attempt with 51 seconds remaining to give first-year Dukes' coach Everett Withers his initial JMU victory.

Moreland came around the left side to solidly block Pandy's kick after the Mountain Hawks had driven from their 25 to the JMU 10 during the final 4:32. JMU had gone ahead by the final margin during the previous possession on redshirt-senior tailback Jauan Latney's 6-yard scoring run to cap an 11-play, 98- yard series.

JMU finished with 606 yards of total offense (322 rushing, 284 passing) and out-gained Lehigh 310 yards to 208 during the second half. Both teams had 296 total yards at halftime.

Freshman John Miller finished with 106 rushing yards to lead a balanced JMU ground attack. Sophomore tailback Khalid Abdullah ran for 86 yards and Lee for 68. Junior quarterback Vad Lee completed 20 of 37 passes for 284 yards and wasn't intercepted while senior wide receiver Sean Tapley was the Dukes' leader in catches with seven for 49 yards and sophomore Rashard Davis had five for a career-high 123 yards and two scores.(Complete recap on page 21.)

JMU Football History: The 2014 season is JMU's 43rd season of football, its 41st varsity football season, its 36th season with football scholarship players and its 35th season competing at what is now the NCAA's Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level, formerly Division I-AA.

JMU began football in 1972, moved to a recognized varsity schedule in 1974, first awarded scholarships for the 1979 season and moved to Division I-AA in 1980. JMU moved from Division III to Division II in 1979 and to then-Division I-AA for the 1980 season.

JMU's top seasons in addition to winning the 2004 NCAA Division I-AA championship (13-2) have been in 2008 when the Dukes reached the FCS semifinals as the playoffs' top-seeded team and compiled a 12-2 record, 2007 (8-4, NCAA playoffs), 2006 (9-3, NCAA playoffs), 1999 (8-4, NCAA playoffs), 1995 (8-4, NCAA playoffs), 1994 (10-3, NCAA playoffs, second round), 1991 (9-4, NCAA playoffs, second round), 1987 (9-3, NCAA playoffs), 1982 (8-3), 1978 (8-2, No. 9, Division III), and 1975 (9-0-1, College Division).

Newcomers Making an Impact: Looking at the two-deep for James Madison to start the 2014 season, there are a lot of new faces for the Dukes and first-year Head Coach Everett Withers. On the offensive side of the ball, five slated starters are Football Bowl Subdivision transfers into the program this year, with four total freshmen and eight transfers total (including one junior college) on the two-deep. For the defense, two transfers are among the starters while seven other freshmen add to the depth of the lineup.

For the first game of the year at Maryland, five offensive and five defensive players made their first start for the Dukes, including six making their first ever at the college level. Additionally, 13 others made their debuts with JMU, with 10 playing in their first college football game.

FBS Transfers to JMU on Two-Deep (including former school and year)

Offense: 2 Vad Lee - Georgia Tech (2014)

6 Sean Tapley - North Carolina (2014)

13 Ishmael Hyman - Kansas (2014)

30 Alden Hill - Tennessee (2014)

61 A.J. Bolden - Toledo (2014)

69 Nick Appel - North Carolina (2014)

77 Austin Lane - Syracuse (2011)

Defense: 1 Titus Till - Maryland (2012)

21 Jeremiah Wilson - Maryland (2012)

95 Xavier Gates - Kansas State (2014)

A New But Not Inexperienced Signal Caller: For the third time in three years, the Dukes will open the season with a new quarterback leading the charge, but this one has a strong base of experience to count on. Redshirt-junior Vad Lee transferred to JMU in the spring and went through both spring and fall drills to earn the starting job here. For the past two years, he had been the man under center at Georgia Tech. Coincidentally in 2012, he came in off the bench against Maryland to score a pair of rushing touchdowns and lead the Ramblin' Wreck to a 33-13 victory in Byrd Stadium.

In the 2014 season opener at Maryland, Lee was 16-for-37 for 141 yards and two interceptions through the air and rushed eight times for 27 yards. Lee improved against Lehigh, going 20-for-37 for 284 yards, two touchdowns and no turnovers in leading the Dukes to the late road victory.

Smith Experienced On Both Sides of the Ball: Senior DeAndre' Smith showed his versatility for Madison in his career, spending significant time on both sides of the football. He tallied his best game of his career at Richmond, Oct. 20, 2012. Smith had six receptions for career highs of 122 yards and two touchdowns. From the 2012 season, Smith was the top receiving returner for last year's squad with 323 yards last year on 29 catches (second among returners) and two scores.

In 2013, Smith had 10 catches for 126 yards with a long of 30. However, he missed part of two and a half games due to an ankle injury. He returned in the CAA opener at Delaware, making four catches for 41 yards.

Due to injuries and depth issues, Smith moved over to defensive back for the Richmond game and remained there. In his five games on the defensive side, he had 17 tackles (11 of them solo) and two interceptions, including an 86-yard touchdown return in a home victory over Villanova.

This fall, Smith has spent time in camp on both sides of the football, with an emphasis lately on working out at wide receiver. Smith's hard work to regain his offensive knowledge paid off with a key 46-yard reception in the win at Lehigh.

James Madison Football On TV: The Dukes will be on television seven times this year, with four of the five home games at the friendly confines of Bridgeforth Stadium among that list. The first will be the season opener at FBS Maryland, Aug. 30 as part of the Big Ten Network package.

JMU was picked for six games as part of the CAA's television package, starting with the Sept. 20 game at Villanova televised on Comcast SportsNet (CSN) with a 12:30 p.m. kickoff. The following week, Madison returns home to host Delaware Sept. 27, which will be a 4 p.m. kickoff for the CSN broadcast. On Friday night prior to the UD game, the Duke Club will host its annual Duke Club Auction in the Bridgeforth Stadium Club Level.

The final CSN TV game for the Dukes will be the Oct. 11 Family Weekend tilt with defending CAA champion and 2013 National runner-up Towson, a game scheduled for a 12:30 p.m. start as the final of three CSN TV games.

The William & Mary contest for Homecoming on Nov. 1 will be a 3:30 p.m. start and the first time JMU will appear on the American Sports Network, a new CAA broadcast partner. Another Madison road contest will be shown, as JMU and Richmond on Nov. 15 will be shown nationally on NBC Sports Network at 12:30 p.m. JMU will honor its 2014 Hall of Fame class on Nov. 21, prior to the regular-season finale against CAA-newcomer Elon on Nov. 22, shown on ASN starting at noon.

All JMU home games are live videostreamed by MadiZONE HD SportsNet presented by the JMU Alumni Association on JMUSports.com. The ones that are part of the CAA television package are blacked out in the regions that the TV broadcasts will be carried.

Road Challenges: JMU will find the challenges on the road, playing seven of its 12 regular season contests away from home. The Dukes opened the season with back-to-back road contests at Maryland and last week's game at Lehigh, who was receiving votes in both major Football Championship Subdivision polls. CAA road opponents Villanova (#12/13) and Richmond (#20/24) continue to make the road challenging throughout the season. Of the seven opponents this year, six of them won at least five games last year and had a combined 22-18 mark at their home fields in 2013.

Preseason CAA Poll: JMU was picked to finish eighth in the 2014 preseason poll, but did garner one first-place vote. New Hampshire, who finished third in the conference last season, topped the poll with 15 of the 24 first-place votes, while Villanova (two first-place votes) and Richmond (three) checked in at second and third, respectively. William and Mary received the other three first-place votes as the fourth-place pick, followed by 2013 national runner-up Towson, Delaware and Maine, last year's CAA Champion, in fifth, sixth and seventh.

Marlowe Preseason Honors: Senior Dean Marlowe is one of the top returning players for the Dukes, having earned Second Team All-Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) honors last season as a safety and third team honors as a punt returner. Selected as an All-CAA safety in each of his first three years, Marlowe recorded 77 total tackles, including 37 solo stops, one interception and eight passes defended last season. He ranked 12th among league defensive backs with 6.4 tackles per game, including a career-high 13 against Stony Brook, and was named to The Sports Network Preseason All-America Third Team earlier this summer.

In 2012, Marlowe earned First Team All-CAA honors as the only sophomore on the CAA defensive first team and was selected as First Team All-State by both the Roanoke Times and Virginia Sports Information Directors Association. As a sophomore, Marlowe recorded 82 tackles on the year including 44 solos, 5.0 for loss, seven passes defended, a team-high tying three interceptions, one forced fumble and one safety.

This year, Marlowe currently has 12 tackles on the season with three pass breakups.

Brown Showed His Catches Count: Redshirt-senior Daniel Brown made his presence felt last season. After missing the opening game due to injury, Brown led the Dukes with 42 catches for 665 yards and eight touchdowns. He ranked eighth in the league at 60.5 receiving yards per game. Against UAlbany, Brown had three touchdown catches, tying a school and stadium single-game record. His 98 yards on five catches at Delaware was a personal career best.

His eight touchdowns on the season tied for the second-best single season in school history with David McLeod (1991) and L.C. Baker (2006).

With two road games this season, Brown has three receptions for 25 yards.

Taking on FBS Teams Not Kind to JMU: Against NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision teams that still compete in the division, JMU has a 4-19 record. The Dukes last played an FBS opponent earlier this year, losing at Maryland, 52-7.

Opponent JMU Rec. Last

Akron 0-1 2013

Ball State 0-1 1997

Duke 0-1 2008

Maryland 0-3 2014

Navy 2-1 1990

North Carolina 0-2 2011

Virginia 1-2 1983

Virginia Tech 1-6 2010

West Virginia 0-2 2012

Of JMU's 22 games against FBS teams, 11 of the previous contests have been season-openers. JMU started the 1988 season at Navy, the 1991, 1992 and 1999 seasons at Virginia Tech, the 1997 season at Ball State, the 1998 season at Maryland, the 2007 and 2011 seasons at North Carolina, the 2008 season at Duke and 2009 and 2014 at Maryland.

JMU'S FBS Games: JMU's games against Football Bowl Subdivision:

1979 Virginia 69, JMU 9 10/13 at UVA

1980 Virginia Tech 38, JMU 6 9/27 at VT

1982 JMU 21, Virginia 17 9/18 at UVA

1983 Virginia 21, JMU 14 9/17 at UVA

1988 Navy 27, JMU 14 9/3 at Navy

1988 Virginia Tech 27, JMU 6 11/19 at VT

1989 JMU 24, Navy 20 10/28 at Navy

1990 JMU 16, Navy 7 10/27 at Navy

1991 Virginia Tech 41, JMU 12 8/31 at VT

1992 Virginia Tech 49, JMU 20 9/5 at VT

1997 Ball State 24, JMU 6 9/6 at BSU

1998 Maryland 23, JMU 15 9/5 at UM

1999 Virginia Tech 47, JMU 0 9/4 at VT

2003 Virginia Tech 43, JMU 0 9/6 at VT

2004 West Virginia 45, JMU 10 9/25 at WVU

2007 North Carolina 37, JMU 14 9/1 at UNC

2008 Duke 31, JMU 7 8/30 at Duke

2009 Maryland 38, JMU 35 (ot) 9/12 at UM

2010 JMU 21, Virginia Tech 16 9/11 at VT

2011 North Carolina 42, JMU 10 9/3 at UNC

2012 West Virginia 42, JMU 12 9/15 at FedEx

2013 Akron 35, JMU 33 9/7 at UA

2014 Maryland 52, JMU 7 8/30 at UM

Dukes in the Show: JMU is well represented in the NFL on the 2014 rosters entering the season. The Dukes have four former players that are on the opening day 53-man rosters for their respective teams. Linebacker Akeem Jordan spent his first six years in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles, spent last year with the Kansas City Chiefs and is now a backup at middle linebacker with the Washington Redskins. Starting his fifth season in the NFL is former defensive end turned linebacker Arthur Moats (Pittsburgh Steelers), who is listed as the backup at both outside linebacker slots. Additionally,second-year offensive lineman Earl Watford is backup at right guard with the Arizona Cardinals. From last year's squad, offensive tackle Josh Wells recently made the 53-man roster with the Jacksonville Jaguars while defensive lineman Jordan Stanton is on the practice squad with the New York Giants.

Dukes Historically in the NFL: In addition to the former Dukes currently active with professional football organizations, JMU's leading all-time performers include several other players who have enjoyed success in the NFL - placekicker Scott Norwood (1978-81), wide receiver Gary Clark (1980-83), defensive end Charles Haley (1982-85), linebacker Dion Foxx (1990-93), wide receiver Macey Brooks (1993-96), running back Curtis Keaton (1998-99), tight end Ed Perry (1993-96) and return specialist Delvin Joyce (1997-2000).

Norwood received All-Pro honors as a placekicker with the Buffalo Bills. Clark was All-Pro with the Washington Redskins and a member of two Super Bowl title teams and later played with the Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins. He was selected in the first round of the first United States Football League draft in 1984.

Haley was the first player to be a member of five Super Bowl title teams while playing with the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys. He was the first Duke to be a first-team Division I-AA All-America and the first Duke chosen in the NFL draft (San Francisco, 1986, fourth round). He is JMU's career tackles leader.

Foxx played with the Miami Dolphins. Brooks was with the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears.

Keaton was with the Cincinnati Bengals and New Orleans Saints after being the 1999 Atlantic 10 offensive player of the year when he ran for 1,719 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Perry was a tight end and long snapper with the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs after being Miami's sixth-round 1997 draft pick and first-team All-Yankee Football Conference during each of his final three collegiate seasons.

Joyce was a return specialist for the New York Giants and New York Jets. He ended his career at JMU as the only player in Division I-AA history with 1,000 yards in each of the career statistical categories of rushing, receiving, punt returns and kickoff returns and as the all-time Division I-AA leader in punt return yards and combined kick return yards. He holds many of JMU's career kick return marks and is the program's all-time leader in all-purpose yards with 5,659.

Two other former Dukes saw extensive time during the 2007 preseason with NFL teams, including tailback Alvin Banks (2003-06) with the New York Jets and offensive lineman Corey Davis (2003-06) with the Buffalo Bills. Justin Rascati, JMU's starting quarterback from 2004-06, briefly was with the Chicago Bears. Former tight end Mike Caussin spent time with Buffalo Bills (active) and Jacksonville Jaguars (practice squad) last season.