No. 6 Dukes Aim For First-Ever 5-0 Start, Host Stony Brook

HARRISONBURG, Va. - James Madison returns home this Saturday, Oct. 3, to host CAA foe Stony Brook at Bridgeforth Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon and the game will be televised on Comcast SportsNet. The 2015 JMU football season is presented by CarMax and Saturday's game is sponsored by University Outpost.

This is the third meeting between the two teams, and the series is tied 1-1. Stony Brook won the first meeting in 2013, a 41-38 decision in Harrisonburg, and the Dukes captured a 27-24 triumph in Long Island last season. JMU overcame a 24-10 first-half deficit, outscoring the Seawolves 17-0 over the final 30 minutes, to notch its fifth straight win and fourth consecutive conference win to that point in 2014. Vad Lee was 20-for-33 for 314 yards and three touchdowns while Jauan Latney rushed for 104 yards. JMU recovered a fumble off a sack with less than one minute to play to secure the win.

LEADING THE NATION
JMU leads the FCS in three offensive categories, including total offense (671.3), rushing offense (356.3) and first downs (134). The Dukes are also second in scoring (50.3), fourth in completion percentage (69.9%) and fifth on third down conversion (53.7%).

Individually, Vad Lee is tops in FCS in total offense (424.5) and rush yards per carry (8.8) while ranking in the top five in points responsible for (2nd, 90), passing touchdowns (3rd, 11) and rushing yards per game (5th, 125.8). Khalid Abdullah continues to lead the nation with six rushing touchdowns, Kyre Hawkins is second with a pair of fumble recoveries and Andrew Ankrah is sixth with 1.25 sacks per contest.

EVERETT WITHERS FAN AND PRESS LUNCHEON

VAD IN THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
On Monday, quarterback Vad Lee was named STATS FCS National Offensive Player of the Week and ESPN came to campus to feature the senior signal caller for SportsCenter's Big Man on Campus, airing Tuesday at 6 p.m. on ESPN.

AWARDS GALORE
In addition to Vad's STATS FCS accolade, he was also named CFPA FCS National Performer of the Week and was the CAA Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season. Linebacker Andrew Ankrah picked up his first weekly honor as the conference's Defensive Player of the Week, while being named the Honorable Mention for the nation's top defensive player of the week award from STATS.

TWEET OF THE WEEK

Vad Lee shows me the slick new @JMUFootball locker room. You don't step on the Duke Dog. @_VL2 pic.twitter.com/X4rTZFOtx1
— Jeannine Edwards (@jeanninee12) September 28, 2015

JMU TRIUMPHS OVER FBS FOE SMU IN SHOOTOUT
Senior quarterback Vad Lee capped a historic night with a 17-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver John Miller with 27 seconds on the clock to lead the No. 9 James Madison football team to a 48-45 victory over FBS foe SMU at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. The win moved JMU to 4-0 (1-0 CAA) for the first time since the 1978 campaign and dropped SMU to 1-3 on the year.

The Dukes, who led by 10 on two occasions, fell behind 45-41 with 2:04 to play after a pair of touchdown drives from the Mustangs. After a touchback on the ensuing kickoff, the Dukes used eight plays to march 75 yards in just 1:37. Lee, who went 5-for-6 on the drive and accounted for all 75 yards of total offense, put the finishing touch on the evening when he found Miller on an inch-perfect corner route that put JMU on top for good with 27 seconds left on the clock.

SCOUTING STONY BROOK
The Seawolves enter this weekend's CAA game with a 2-1 record and 1-1 mark in conference play following a 21-0 setback last Saturday at William & Mary.

Stony Brook was limited to just 167 yards of offense, including just 64 on the ground, as William & Mary only conceded nine first downs in the ball game. Despite the lackluster performance, wide receiver Ray Bolden pulled down a career-high seven receptions for 53 yards.

SBU is highly ranked on the defensive side of the ball, ranking fourth in scoring defense (12.0) and red-zone defense (42.9%), sixth in sacks (3.67), ninth in total yards allowed (279.7) and 10th in pass yards allowed (145.3). The Seawolves are averaging 23 points per game for a +11 scoring margin through their first three games.

They will be without the services of running back Stacey Bedell, who was ruled out for this Saturday's game. He ranks sixth in FCS in rushing yards per game (118.0) and 15th in yards per carry (6.9) while scoring four TDs on the ground. SBU will utilize both Conor Bednarski and Joe Carbone at quarterback, who have combined for 402 yards passing and two touchdowns.

TALE OF THE TAPE

James Madison		Stony Brook
50.3	Scoring Offense	23.0
24.3	Scoring Defense	12.0
+26.0	Scoring Margin	+11.0
315.0	Passing Yards	134.0
356.3	Rushing Yards	212.3
671.3	Total Offense	346.3
54% (29/54)	3rd Down Offense	42% (22/53)
35% (22/63)	3rd Down Defense	34% (14/41)
40% (2/5)	4th Down Offense	83% (5/6)
33% (2/6)	4th Down Defense	50% (3/6)
88% (23/26)	Red Zone Scoring	73% (8/11)
13/3/5	Sacks/INTs/Fumble Recoveries	11/3/2

CAA STANDINGS

School	CAA	Overall
James Madison	1-0	4-0
William & Mary	1-0	2-1
Elon	1-0	2-2
Villanova	1-0	2-2
Maine	1-0	1-2
Stony Brook	1-1	2-1
UAlbany	1-1	2-2
Richmond	0-0	2-1
New Hampshire	0-1	2-2
Towson	0-1	2-2
Delaware	0-1	1-3
Rhode Island	0-2	0-4

PROMOTIONS - For a complete list of 2015 promotions, click here.
Family Weekend - JMU welcomes families to campus to visit their current students.
University Outpost Fan Zone

DUKES ON THE BROADCAST
JMU will be making its second appearance on television of 2015 on Saturday, with Comcast SportsNet broadcasting the Dukes matchup with Stony Brook. This will mark the second of seven television appearances for JMU, with the Oct. 31 contest at William & Mary being televised nationally on NBC Sports.

JMU NTELOS WIRELESS SPORTS NETWORK
All 11 regular-season games, as well as any potential postseason matchups, can be heard online on the JMU nTelos Wireless Sports 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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