#7 JMU Survives Late Scare for 42-39 Triumph at UNH

Saturday, October 15

Durham, N.H.

Noon

James Madison University

6-1 , 4-0

New Hampshire

4-3 , 3-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

James Madison

New Hampshire

10/15/2016 4:07:00 PM | Football

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DURHAM, N.H. - Wide receivers Terrence Alls and Brandon Ravenel reeled in a career-high two touchdown catches each and a big second-half run lifted seventh-ranked James Madison to a 42-39 Colonial Athletic Association Football victory at New Hampshire on Saturday afternoon at Wildcat Stadium.

The Dukes (6-1, 4-0 CAA) led 42-12 with 10 minutes to go in the fourth quarter when the Wildcats (4-3, 3-1 CAA) strung together 27 straight points to cut the lead to 42-39. After successfully recovering an onside kick with 1:15 remaining, JMU was able to take two knees to run out the clock, ending UNH's 17-game home win streak during the regular season. JMU also snapped a three-game skid against the 'Cats, notching its first win in the series since 2007 and the first victory in Durham since 2006.

Junior quarterback Bryan Schor had a career-high five total touchdowns in the win. He was 18-for-27 for 264 yards and four touchdowns, both career highs. He added a game-high 70 rushing yards and a score. Alls, a junior, had career highs of 95 yards and two touchdowns on just four receptions, while Ravenel, a senior, had three grabs for 55 yards and two scores. Senior running back Khalid Abdullah rushed for 57 yards, picking up the majority of his yards in the second half. Senior receiver Rashard Davis also tallied five catches for 57 yards.

Though JMU was out-gained 569-437 in total offense, the Dukes dominated the run game by a 195-57 ledger. JMU was 7-for-13 on third down, as compared to UNH's 10-for-19. Redshirt junior safety Jordan Brown turned in a career-best 16 tackles and two pass breakups, and redshirt senior linebacker Gage Steele accrued a season-best 15 total stops. JMU had its first special teams touchdown since week two when sophomore corner Charles Tutt picked up a fumble on a fourth-quarter kickoff and returned it for his first score of the year.

JMU opened up a two-touchdown lead in the first half, by virtue of back-to-back touchdown passes from Schor to Ravenel. The Dukes led 7-0 just over six minutes on a 30-yard touchdown throw and doubled the lead to 14-0 a minute into the second quarter on a 20-yard pass-and-catch. UNH answered with its first touchdown of the game less than three minutes later to make it 14-6 but Schor capped off an 11-play, 77-yard drive, scampering in from five yards out for this first rushing score and third total touchdown to make it 21-6 with 7:03 to play. A late Wildcat field goal made it 21-9 at the break.

Leading 21-12 in the third, JMU reeled off three straight touchdowns, including two just four seconds apart, to take a commanding 42-12 lead. Schor found Alls twice on long scoring passes of 54 and 26 yards, respectively, and Tutt capped off the team's scoring with his six-yard fumble recovery on the ensuing kickoff following Alls' second score. Over the next 10 minutes, UNH scored 27 straight, utilizing a fumble recovery and an onside recovery to create additional offensive possessions.

UNH was led by Trevor Knight, who passed for 314 yards and a touchdown and Adam Riese, who threw for 198 yards and a pair of scores. Malik Love had 12 catches for 127 yards and Neil O'Connor has 192 yards on 10 catches.

QUOTING COACH HOUSTON
"Going into the bye week at 6-1 says a lot about what we can be. We're one or two corrections away from being a really good football team. If we can make those corrections, we'll see what we can do down the stretch."

QUOTING RAVENEL
"Winning football games in this conference is a hard thing to do. It's something that you shouldn't take lightly."

PLAYS OF THE GAME

Terrence Alls breaks a tackle and goes 54 yards for his second career touchdown

Twice as Nice: Terrence Alls with a huge fourth-quarter Grab for his second Td.

RAVENEL SURGES INTO TOP 10
Brandon Ravenel turned in his first career game with two receiving touchdowns and moved into the top 10 all-time at JMU in the process. He now has 13 receiving touchdowns, which ranks tied for eighth for the Dukes.

TOP 5 CAREER RUSHER FOR ABDULLAH
Khalid Abdullah ran into the top 5 all-time at JMU in career rushing, passing Alvin Banks (2,694, 2003-06). Abdullah now stands at 2,723 yards, which is just 60 yards off fourth-place Curtis Keaton (2,783, 1998-99). He is also tied for fourth in career rushing touchdowns and sixth in career rush attempts (490).

ALLS AND RAVENEL FIND END ZONE TWICE
It's been some time that two wide receivers scored a pair of receiving touchdowns in the same game. You have to go back to Sept. 19, 2009, when Mike Caussin and Rockeed McCarter each caught a pair of touchdowns. That also came from two different quarterbacks, as Justin Thorpe had the first and Drew Dudzik reeled off the next three.

DUKES GO 2-0 IN NEW ENGLAND
JMU completed its New England swing this regular-season with a 2-0 record, notching wins at Maine (31-20) and UNH (42-39). It was the first time in four years the Dukes went 2-0 on the northeast trips, when they won at Rhode Island (32-7) on Sept. 22, 2012, and at Maine (31-7) on Nov. 3, 2012.

BEEN A DECADE SINCE VICTORY AT THE DUNGEON
Winning at New Hampshire has not been easy for any squad over the last decade, as the Wildcats had won 17 straight regular-season home games and put together a 49-6 record at home since the 2007 campaign. JMU's previous win in Durham came 10 years and one day ago - Oct. 14, 2006 - when the Dukes dropped top-ranked UNH 42-23.

"When you go into a game under these circumstances [UNH's regular-season win streak at home], winning feels extra sweet," Ravenel said.

PHOTO OF THE GAME - View Full Photo Gallery
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TWEET OF THE GAME

His second career TD might be the biggest of the season! Big-time play for Marcell and Charles on special teams. https://t.co/DGRDRBQoeq
— JMU Football (@JMUFootball) October 15, 2016

Charles Tutt picks up a fumble on the kickoff and scores to give JMU a 30-point lead in the fourth.

ATOP THE CAA
At the midway point of the conference schedule, JMU is one of two remaining unbeaten teams in the league. The Dukes stand at 4-0 following their win at New Hampshire and Stony Brook is 3-0 following a comeback win over Rhode Island. Richmond, Villanova and New Hampshire are all 3-1 in CAA play, followed by Maine, at 2-1.

UP NEXT
JMU is off next week but returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 29 when it hosts Rhode Island for Homecoming. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. at Bridgeforth Stadium.