#11 JMU Takes First Road Trip To Face ACC-Foe North Carolina

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison hits the road for the first time this season when it travels to Chapel Hill, N.C., to face FBS-foe North Carolina out of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. from Kenan Stadium as the game will be televised on Comcast SportsNet and the Raycom Sports Networks. Fans can also stream Saturday's contest online on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app via the ACC Network Extra and can listen live on the JMU/Sprint Broadcast Network. The 2016 football season is presented by CarMax.

MIKE HOUSTON FAN AND PRESS LUCHEON

JMU HEADS SOUTH TO BATTLE ACC-FOE NORTH CAROLINA
JMU and North Carolina will face off for the third time ever, all of which have been in Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels hold a 2-0 series lead, winning the first meeting 37-14 to open 2011 and taking a 42-10 decision in the 2011 season opener. Saturday's contest marks the first of five regular-season road games for JMU and the first against an ACC opponent since facing UNC back in 2011.

The last time they met, the Heels opened the game with three straight touchdowns spanning the first 15:28. Daniel Brown hauled in a 41-yard touchdown pass from Justin Thorpe for the Dukes' lone touchdown. Giovani Bernard rushed for two touchdowns for UNC while Brynn Renner threw for over 275 yards and a pair of scores in the UNC win.

JMU AGAINST FBS OPPOSITION
Saturday marks JMU's 25th meeting all-time against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents. The Dukes will seek their second straight win against the FBS after downing SMU 48-45 last September in Dallas, in which Vad Lee became the first Division I player to run and pass for over 275 yards in the same game.

Over the previous 24 FBS games, JMU is 5-19, notching a pair of wins against Atlantic Coast Conference programs. The first ACC win came back in 1982 - a 21-17 win at Virginia. The latter and most notable FBS win in JMU history occurred six seasons back - a 21-16 triumph at Virginia Tech in 2010. JMU has played one FBS team a year each season since 2007, going 2-7 in those matchups.

SCOUTING UNC
The Tar Heels enter this weekend's game with a 1-1 record after notching a 48-23 road win at Illinois last week. UNC opened the season with a 33-24 defeat against #18 Georgia at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. The Heels finished 11-3 a year ago and reached the ACC title game and Russell Athletic Bowl.

UNC is averaging 36.0 points per game while allowing 28.0 to the opposition. Mitch Trubisky has thrown for 421 yards and two touchdowns while Elijah Hood has run for 160 and a pair of scores through two weeks.
T.J. Logan has returned a kick for a touchdown, averaging 34.7 per return in his seven attempts. Defensively, Andre Smith averages 10.5 tackles per game while three others have at least eight per game.

Larry Fedora is in his fifth season at the helm, amassing a 33-21 record. He has taken the Heels to four straight bowl games and had an 8-0 ACC record a year ago to reach the conference title game.

HOMECOMING FOR THE DUKES
There are a lot of ties to JMU coaches and players to the state of North Carolina but none more than defensive coordinator Bob Trott. Trott is a UNC alum and was a three-year letterwinner in the secondary for the Tar Heels. He was named captain as a senior and was an ACC All-Academic Team member in 1975. After he graduated in 1976, he was a graduate assistant at his alma mater for two seasons and earned his Master's in 1982.

Joining Trott with North Carolina ties are North Carolina natives Head Coach Mike Houston, who hails from Franklin, N.C., and Cornerbacks Coach Tripp Weaver, an Asheville native. Offensive Coordinator Donnie Kirkpatrick, Wide Receivers Coach Drew Dudzik, Director of Football Administration Dale Steele and Director of Strength & Conditioning John Williams all have previous playing a coaching experience with universities within the state.

JMU also has nine players from North Carolina on the 2016 roster. Most notably, Trai Sharp out of Carrboro was born and raised in Chapel Hill, while three Dukes – Connor Mitch, Marcell Johnson, and Hunter Etheridge – all were raised 45 miles or less from UNC's campus.

TWO-GAME SCORING RECORD FOR THE DUKES
JMU set a two-game scoring record as it has reeled off 136 points over the first two games, amassing 562.0 yards of offense on average in the wins over Morehead State and Central Connecticut State. The Dukes broke their single-game scoring record in the opener on Sept. 3, putting up 80 points against the Eagles, and tacked on 56 more points in the five-touchdown win in week two versus the Blue Devils.

TWEET OF THE WEEK

Congrats, Khalid Abdullah! Welcome to the 2,000 yard club. https://t.co/8iciwh85WE
— JMUSports (@JMUSports) September 10, 2016

TALE OF THE TAPE

James Madison		North Carolina
68.0	Scoring Offense	36.0
14.0	Scoring Defense	28.0
+54.0	Scoring Margin	+8.0
157.0	Passing Yards	210.5
405.0	Rushing Yards	178.0
562.0	Total Offense	388.5
71% (17/24)	3^rd Down Offense	40% (10/25)
18% (5/28)	3^rd Down Defense	44% (14/32)
100% (2/2)	4^th Down Offense	0% (0/1)
100% (1/1)	4^th Down Defense	50% (1/2)
100% (16/16)	Red Zone Scoring	89% (8/9)
0/3/2	Sacks/Interceptions/Fumble Recoveries	6/0/2

CAA STANDINGS

School	CAA	Overall
#25 Albany	1-0	2-0
Delaware	0-0	2-0
#11 James Madison	0-0	2-0
#2 Richmond	0-0	2-0
#22 New Hampshire	0-0	1-1
Stony Brook	0-0	1-1
Towson	0-0	1-1
#21 Villanova	0-0	1-1
#13 William & Mary	0-0	1-1
Elon	0-0	0-2
Maine	0-0	0-2
Rhode Island	0-1	0-2

DUKES ON THE BROADCAST
JMU will be watchable nationwide on Saturday afternoon as the Dukes' contest at UNC will be streamed on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app via the ACC Network Extra. The game will also be televised on Comcast SportsNet and the Regional Sports Network (RSN).

JMU SPRINT BROADCAST NETWORK
All 11 regular-season games, as well as any potential postseason matchups can be heard online on the JMU Sprint Broadcast Network or on airwaves at WSVA 550AM and 92.1 FM. Dave Thomas is entering his second season as the play-by-play man for the Dukes and is joined alongside color commentator Clint Estes at home, while Curt Dudley provides analysis on the road.

LOOKING AHEAD
JMU remains out on the road for the second straight week when it flies North to face Maine in Orono on Sept. 24 at noon. It will be the 17th meeting all-time between the Dukes and Black Bears with JMU leading 11-5, including a 6-3 record in Orono.

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