JMU Falls to No. 25 Delaware 30-23 in Overtime Thriller

Saturday, September 27

Harrisonburg, Va.

4 p.m.

James Madison University

2-3 , 0-2

Delaware

3-1 , 1-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Delaware

James Madison

9/27/2014 7:48:00 PM | Football

Box Score

Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – The James Madison football team scored 17 points in the final 5:15 of regulation but saw its comeback attempt fall just inches short, dropping a 30-23 overtime heartbreaker to No. 25 Delaware on Saturday evening. With the loss, the Dukes fell to 2-3 and 0-2 in Colonial Athletic Association action, while the Blue Hens improved to 3-1 and 1-0 in CAA play.

The last 5:15 of the game featured 24 points, 17 of them by the Dukes. After Delaware went on top 16-6 on Garrett Greenway's 28-yard field goal with 8:09 to go, JMU moved down the field efficiently, going 77 yards in 13 plays, finished off by redshirt-junior Vad Lee's 3-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver DeAndre' Smith to trim the lead to 16-13.

Delaware got the ball back on its own 32, but the Dukes got it back immediately as redshirt-sophomore linebacker Gage Steele got his first career interception to give JMU the ball back at the Delaware 45 with 4:54 to play. From there, Madison could not find the end zone but knotted the game at 16 on redshirt-junior Connor Arnone's 43-yard field goal with 2:55 to go in regulation.

The Blue Hens scored again quickly and dramatically after starting at their own 10. On third and 6 from the UD 14, quarterback Trent Hurley found wide receiver Jerel Harrison on the right side, and he escaped several tackles for an 86-yard touchdown, putting Delaware back up 23-16 with 1:37 to play.

JMU moved down the field quickly and efficiently as Lee hit several key passes down the field. A pass interference penalty gave the Dukes the ball on the UD 2 and Lee took it in on the next play with 20 seconds remaining. Arnone's PAT split the uprights and the game was again tied, this time at 23-23, to send the contest into overtime.

The Dukes won the toss and deferred, putting Delaware on offense to start. Using Wes Hills' ground attack for the first three plays to get to the JMU 4, Hurley again found Harrison, this time from four yards out, and the visitors were back on top 30-23.

After a pair of incompletions forced third down, Lee found redshirt-junior tight end Deane Cheatham for 16 yards to put the Dukes at the 9-yard line. Three carries later, the Dukes were on the doorstep at the UD 1, but the final carry on a pitch to freshman Taylor Woods came up just inches short of the goal line, as confirmed by television replay, to end the game.

JMU slightly outgained Delaware, 489-463, including a balanced attack of 237 yards on the ground and 252 through the air. JMU was just 8-for-21 on third down conversions, while UD was 6-for-13, but held an advantage in time of possession of 32:04 to 27:56. While yardage and possession were close, JMU ran 99 total plays compared to 65 for Delaware.

Lee rushed 19 times for 86 yards and one score, while Abdullah had 21 carries for 73 yards. Lee was also 25-for-44 for 252 yards and one touchdown through the air. Cheatham finished with six catches for 80 yards while Smith had six receptions for 55 yards and one score.

Delaware was led by Hills with 17 rushes for 136 yards while Hurley was 18-for-29 passing for 295 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Boyle had a team-best five receptions for 48 yards, and Harrison finished with four catches for 127 yards and two touchdowns.

The game got off to a quick start as Delaware got the opening kickoff. On the opening play from scrimmage, Hurley hit running back Jalen Randolph on a screen pass, which went 75 yards for the score. Greenway's point-after hit the left upright, leaving UD with a 6-0 lead just 15 seconds into the contest.

JMU got its first points of the game late in the first quarter after its longest drive of the season in terms of time and plays with a 19-play possession covering 75 yards in 7:28. Lee capped it off with a 5-yard touchdown pass to redshirt-senior wide receiver Daniel Brown. Arnone's PAT was wide left and the game was tied at six with 25 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

The ball movement was limited by both teams throughout the second quarter until the visitors put together a late drive. Starting at their own 21, the Blue Hens went 79 yards in 11 plays, finished by Michael Johnson's 1-yard run to go up 13-6 with 2:27 to go in the second. JMU moved past midfield in the final drive but could not put points on the board and the hosts trailed by seven at the halftime intermission.

Madison returns to action next week, making its first-ever trip to Albany, New York, to take on the University at Albany Great Danes. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Bob Ford Field.