#6 Dukes Complete Undefeated CAA Season with 63-14 Win over Elon

Saturday, November 19

Harrisonburg, Va.

1:30 p.m.

James Madison University

10-1 , 8-0

Elon

2-9 , 1-7

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Elon

James Madison

#6 Dukes Complete Undefeated CAA Season with 63-14 Win over Elon

11/19/2016 5:53:00 PM | Football

Box Score @JMUFootball Box Score Press Conference Photo Gallery Highlights

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Freshman quarterback Cole Johnson threw for two touchdowns in his first career start, and sixth-ranked James Madison rolled to a 63-14 Colonial Athletic Association victory against Elon on Saturday afternoon at Bridgeforth Stadium/Zane Showker Field.

The Dukes (10-1, 8-0 CAA) completed the eight-game CAA slate with an undefeated record for just the second time in school history, and the win over the Phoenix (2-9, 1-7 CAA) marked JMU's fourth season with 10 or more wins all-time.

Johnson was 12-of-13 for 274 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 23 yards to total 297 yards of total offense. Senior running back Khalid Abdullah went over the century mark for the eighth time this season, rushing for 125 yards and a score. Junior Taylor Woods and sophomore Trai Sharp each ran for an identical 80 yards and a touchdown, while Woods threw his first career touchdown pass in the wildcat formation.

Senior Domo Taylor paced the receiving corps with four receptions for 114 yards and two touchdowns – both career highs. Senior Rashard Davis took a 76-yard punt return for a touchdown in the fourth, tying the program's single-season record of three. The Dukes now have four as a team, which ties the team's 2008 single-season mark.

The Dukes out-gained Elon 699 to 337, which included a 16-of-17 mark for 337 yards through the air and 362 on the ground (7.7 yards per carry). The Dukes averaged 10.9 yards per play and 19.8 yards per pass attempt. JMU was 4-for-7 on third down while holding the Phoenix to a 5-of-14 mark.

Senior linebacker Gage Steele led the defense with a game-high 10 tackles and a 0.5 tackle-for-loss. Senior safety Raven Greene and junior linebacker Brandon Hereford each tallied eight stops. The Dukes had five tackles for loss, led by redshirt senior Martez Stone's 2.0 for loss.

Elon was paced by Daniel Thompson, who threw for 132 yards and a touchdown. De'Sean McNair rushed for 87 yards and a score, while Malcolm Summers added 61 on the ground.

The Dukes opened the game scoring with five consecutive scoring drives to mount a 27-0 lead before the midway point of the second quarter. After Elon struck for back-to-back touchdowns to bridge the halves, the Dukes found the end zone on all five second-half drives, including three times in the fourth quarter.

UP NEXT
JMU, the outright CAA champions, will find out its path to the national championship during the NCAA FCS Playoffs Selection Show, which airs Sunday at 11 a.m. on ESPNU. The Dukes are likely to receive a national seed and first-round bye for the second consecutive season. JMU's run in the 2016 playoffs will be presented by Excel Heating and Cooling.

QUOTING COACH HOUSTON
"I was obviously very excited with the win today and the way the team played and very proud of our senior class. We talked earlier in the week what a special group that is. Truly, I attribute the performance of the team this year to our seniors and the way they have bought into our coaching staff, the way they've been loyal to us, and they way they've gone out and done everything we've asked them to do since January."

PHOTO OF THE GAME - view full photo gallery
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Jeff Bourne and Mike Houston with the CAA champion Dukes after the win.

DOUBLE-DIGIT WINS
This year marks the fourth season in JMU history with 10 or more wins, and the second with double-digit victories during the regular season. The last was in 2008 when the Dukes went 12-2 (10-1 in the regular season) and made the FCS semifinals as the No. 1 seed. JMU also totaled double-digit wins in 1994 (10-3) and the national title season of 2004 (13-2).

8-0 IN CAA PLAY IS A TALL ORDER
The Dukes became the eighth team to finish the CAA slate undefeated since the league expanded to an eight-game schedule in 1988. New Hampshire accomplished the feat most recently in 2014 when they won the league title. JMU went 8-0 in the CAA in 2008 as well.

PLAY OF THE GAME

Taylor Woods throws a touchdown pass to Trai Sharp in the wildcat.

TWEET OF THE GAME

This has been an amazing season, @JMUFootball. Can't wait to see what you can do in a few weeks! #godukes @JMUSports
— Sarah H. Berlinger (@SarahHBerlinger) November 19, 2016

SOLID SENIOR SEND OFF
JMU honored its group of 13 seniors prior to kickoff Saturday and the seven-touchdown win on Senior Day was a great way to close their final regular-season game at Bridgeforth Stadium. To date, the senior class has gone 34-14 overall over the past four seasons. They helped lead JMU to back-to-back CAA championships and three straight playoff appearances, both for the first time in school history.

DAY OF FIRSTS
In addition to Cole Johnson's first career start and touchdowns and Domo Taylor's first-ever 100-yard game, multiple Dukes notched career firsts. Hunter Etheridge threw his first career touchdown pass to Robbie Walker, which was also Walker's first career touchdown catch. Freshman tight end Nick Carlton caught his first two career passes for 41 yards in the fourth quarter.