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James Madison
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James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
Saturday, September 26
Dallas, Texas
7 p.m.
James Madison University
at
SMU
No. 9 Dukes Take First Road Trip to Face SMU
9/22/2015 2:34:00 PM | Football
HARRISONBURG, Va. - James Madison hits the road for the first time this season when it travels to Dallas, Texas, to face FBS-foe SMU out of the American Athletic Conference. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. Central Time, and the game can be seen on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app. The 2015 football season is presented by CarMax.
This will be the first meeting between JMU and SMU. JMU has played 23 games since 1979 against FBS (formerly 1-A) opponents. The Dukes are 4-19 all-time against the bowl subdivision with their first win coming in 1982, a 21-17 win at Virginia. The second and third wins came in back-to-back seasons against Navy with a 24-20 win in 1989 and 16-7 triumph in 1990. The most recent FBS win came on Sept. 11, 2010 and was an absolute stunner as JMU rallied for a 21-16 victory at Virginia Tech.
LEADING THE NATION
JMU leads FCS teams in three offensive categories, including scoring offense (51.0), total offense (652.0) and first downs (100). The Dukes are also second in both rushing offense (328.3) and completion percentage (73.0%) while ranking third on third-down conversions (58.5%).
Individually, Khalid Abdullah leads the country in rushing touchdowns (6) and is sixth in total rushing yards (340). Vad Lee ranks fourth in total offense (377.7), passing touchdowns (8) and completion percentage (71.7%) and is fifth in passing yards (906). Cardon Johnson ranks sixth in yards per rush (7.7) and is eighth in rushing scores (4).
EVERETT WITHERS FAN AND PRESS LUNCHEON
OFFENSE ON FIRE
After three weeks, the JMU offense is moving at a pace unmatched in program history. Through three games, the Dukes have gained 1,956 (652.0/game) yards of total offense, scored 153 (51.0/game) points and picked up 100 (33.3/game) first downs, all three-game program records.
DUKES SETTING RECORDS
The Dukes gained 625 yards of total offense against Albany, marking the first time ever that JMU has gone over the 600-yard mark in three consecutive contests, as JMU posted 713 yards against Morehead State and 618 over Lehigh. JMU also picked up 40 first downs on Saturday, marking a new program record. The previous record was 38, set versus St. Francis (Pa.) on Sept. 1, 2012.
TWEET OF THE WEEK
SCOUTING SMU
The Mustangs enter this weekend's game with a 1-2 record following a 56-37 setback at No. 3 TCU last Saturday. SMU got to within 42-37 in the fourth quarter before a pair of TCU touchdowns put the game away.
Matt Davis threw for 330 yards with a touchdown and finished the game with 392 yards of offense after rushing for 62 yards and scoring two more TDs on the ground. Courtland Sutton made four receptions for 115 yards and a touchdown while Ryheem Malone had three catches for 90 yards, including a game-high 63-yard reception. SMU gave up 720 yards of offense to the Horned Frogs, including 454 through the air and five passing scores.
Through three games, SMU averages 29.7 points per game while conceding 41.7 per outing. The Mustangs tally just over 440 yards of offense per game while the defense has struggled, giving up 561 per contest. SMU dominates time of possession, keeping its offense on the field for over 35 minutes per game.
TALE OF THE TAPE
CAA STANDINGS
DUKES ON THE BROADCAST
JMU will be watchable nationwide on Saturday afternoon as the Dukes make their first appearance on ESPN3. After this weekend, all but one of JMU's remaining seven contests will be broadcast on Comcast SportsNet or NBC Sports Network.
JMU NTELOS WIRELESS BROADCAST NETWORK
All 11 regular-season games, as well as any potential postseason matchups, can be heard online on the JMU nTelos Wireless Broadcast Network or on local airwaves at WSVA 550AM and 92.1 FM.
Dave Thomas is in his first season as the play-by-play man for the Dukes and calls alongside color commentator Clint Estes at home while Curt Dudley provides analysis on the road.
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This will be the first meeting between JMU and SMU. JMU has played 23 games since 1979 against FBS (formerly 1-A) opponents. The Dukes are 4-19 all-time against the bowl subdivision with their first win coming in 1982, a 21-17 win at Virginia. The second and third wins came in back-to-back seasons against Navy with a 24-20 win in 1989 and 16-7 triumph in 1990. The most recent FBS win came on Sept. 11, 2010 and was an absolute stunner as JMU rallied for a 21-16 victory at Virginia Tech.
LEADING THE NATION
JMU leads FCS teams in three offensive categories, including scoring offense (51.0), total offense (652.0) and first downs (100). The Dukes are also second in both rushing offense (328.3) and completion percentage (73.0%) while ranking third on third-down conversions (58.5%).
Individually, Khalid Abdullah leads the country in rushing touchdowns (6) and is sixth in total rushing yards (340). Vad Lee ranks fourth in total offense (377.7), passing touchdowns (8) and completion percentage (71.7%) and is fifth in passing yards (906). Cardon Johnson ranks sixth in yards per rush (7.7) and is eighth in rushing scores (4).
EVERETT WITHERS FAN AND PRESS LUNCHEON
OFFENSE ON FIRE
After three weeks, the JMU offense is moving at a pace unmatched in program history. Through three games, the Dukes have gained 1,956 (652.0/game) yards of total offense, scored 153 (51.0/game) points and picked up 100 (33.3/game) first downs, all three-game program records.
DUKES SETTING RECORDS
The Dukes gained 625 yards of total offense against Albany, marking the first time ever that JMU has gone over the 600-yard mark in three consecutive contests, as JMU posted 713 yards against Morehead State and 618 over Lehigh. JMU also picked up 40 first downs on Saturday, marking a new program record. The previous record was 38, set versus St. Francis (Pa.) on Sept. 1, 2012.
TWEET OF THE WEEK
We ?? our fans! #VadToTheBone pic.twitter.com/lbOMDIitBF
— JMUSports (@JMUSports) September 19, 2015
SCOUTING SMU
The Mustangs enter this weekend's game with a 1-2 record following a 56-37 setback at No. 3 TCU last Saturday. SMU got to within 42-37 in the fourth quarter before a pair of TCU touchdowns put the game away.
Matt Davis threw for 330 yards with a touchdown and finished the game with 392 yards of offense after rushing for 62 yards and scoring two more TDs on the ground. Courtland Sutton made four receptions for 115 yards and a touchdown while Ryheem Malone had three catches for 90 yards, including a game-high 63-yard reception. SMU gave up 720 yards of offense to the Horned Frogs, including 454 through the air and five passing scores.
Through three games, SMU averages 29.7 points per game while conceding 41.7 per outing. The Mustangs tally just over 440 yards of offense per game while the defense has struggled, giving up 561 per contest. SMU dominates time of possession, keeping its offense on the field for over 35 minutes per game.
TALE OF THE TAPE
| James Madison | SMU | |
| 51.0 | Scoring Offense | 29.7 |
| 17.3 | Scoring Defense | 41.7 |
| +33.7 | Scoring Margin | -12.0 |
| 323.7 | Passing Yards | 222.3 |
| 328.3 | Rushing Yards | 218.0 |
| 652.0 | Total Offense | 440.3 |
| 59% (24/41) | 3rd Down Offense | 47% (21/45) |
| 35% (17/48) | 3rd Down Defense | 43% (15/35) |
| 50% (2/4) | 4th Down Offense | 29% (2/7) |
| 20% (1/5) | 4th Down Defense | 50% (3/6) |
| 90% (18/20) | Red Zone Scoring | 79% (11/14) |
| 8/3/3 | Sacks/INTs/Fumble Recoveries | 5/4/2 |
CAA STANDINGS
| School | CAA | Overall |
| James Madison | 1-0 | 3-0 |
| Stony Brook | 1-0 | 2-0 |
| Villanova | 1-0 | 2-1 |
| UAlbany | 1-1 | 1-2 |
| Richmond | 0-0 | 2-1 |
| Towson | 0-0 | 2-1 |
| William & Mary | 0-0 | 1-1 |
| Elon | 0-0 | 1-2 |
| Maine | 0-0 | 0-2 |
| Delaware | 0-1 | 1-2 |
| New Hampshire | 0-1 | 1-2 |
| Rhode Island | 0-1 | 0-3 |
DUKES ON THE BROADCAST
JMU will be watchable nationwide on Saturday afternoon as the Dukes make their first appearance on ESPN3. After this weekend, all but one of JMU's remaining seven contests will be broadcast on Comcast SportsNet or NBC Sports Network.
JMU NTELOS WIRELESS BROADCAST NETWORK
All 11 regular-season games, as well as any potential postseason matchups, can be heard online on the JMU nTelos Wireless Broadcast Network or on local airwaves at WSVA 550AM and 92.1 FM.
Dave Thomas is in his first season as the play-by-play man for the Dukes and calls alongside color commentator Clint Estes at home while Curt Dudley provides analysis on the road.
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Players Mentioned
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