#12 Dukes Tally Program Record 80 Points in Season-Opening Triumph

Saturday, September 3

Harrisonburg, Va.

6 p.m.

James Madison University

1-0

Morehead State

0-1

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Morehead State	0	7	0	0	7
James Madison	28	24	21	7	80

Game Notes Highlights Press Conference Photo Gallery

#12 Dukes Tally Program Record 80 Points in Season-Opening Triumph

9/3/2016 10:48:00 PM | Football

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HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison broke its program record for points scored in a single game, as the 12th-ranked Dukes opened the 2016 football season with an 80-7 victory against Morehead State Saturday evening at Bridgeforth Stadium/Zane Showker Field.

JMU scored a touchdown on each of its first seven drives and produced points on the first 11 drives to mount a massive 73-7 lead after three quarters. The Dukes' final scoring drive, a 14-yard rush by junior running back Taylor Woods, gave them 80 points to break the previous record of 76 points, scored back on Sept. 2, 1995 against Morgan State.

The 73-point triumph was the largest margin of victory as well, surpassing the 16-year old record of 72 (72-0) versus Lock Haven back in 2000. Ten of JMU's 11 touchdowns came on the ground, also a school record, and was one rushing score shy of the FCS record, set by Georgia Southern in 2004.

Junior quarterback Bryan Schor rushed for a game-high 129 yards and three touchdowns, both career highs, while throwing for 109 more on 8-of-11 passing. The Dukes had three players rush for 100 yards, as sophomore Trai Sharp ran for a career-high 110 yards and redshirt junior Cardon Johnson added 104 yards with a pair of scored. Nearing the century was Woods, who produced 89 rushing yards and three touchdowns, both career bests.

Senior safety Raven Greene led the defense with a team-best seven tackle while recovering a fumble and intercepting a pass. Both turnovers later produced JMU scores. Junior safety Marcell Johnson and redshirt sophomore corner Jimmy Moreland also notched interceptions in the win. JMU forced MSU into five turnovers, resulting in 28 points off takeaways. The Dukes limited the Eagles to just 182 yards of total offense, including 57 rushing yards against.

JMU gained 607 yards of total offense on 498 yards rushing and 109 passing. The 498 rushing yards were just three shy of tying the program record. It was, however, JMU's Division I record, surpassing the previous record of 442 against Towson State on Oct. 12, 1991.

The Dukes opened the game scoring four rushing touchdowns, two by Schor, to take a 28-0 lead. The 28 points in the opening 15 was the most scored by JMU in first-quarter history. JMU added three more rushing scores and a Tyler Gray field goal to take a program-best 52-7 advantage into the locker room.

After the break, JMU added three more touchdowns, including a 76-yard punt return by Rashard Davis to take a commanding 73-7 lead after three quarters. Woods capped off his career night by scoring his third touchdown with 11:17 remaining, which gave JMU the program record for points in a game.

QUOTING COACH HOUSTON
"We are extremely pleased with the way our team came out and played tonight. I am very happy with the way we approached the game and the way we executed through all three phases throughout the bulk of the game. The kids worked very hard since they got here, and we really pushed during preseason camp and throughout the spring. Throughout this week, we tried to go a great job to get the team mentally prepared to go out and play the way we want to play. We did that. That's credit to the them. They bought into us and what we are trying to do and how we are trying to do things. It's also a credit to the phenomenal coaching staff that I have as far as my assistants go. From the job Bob Trott and his crew did with the defense, to the job that Donnie Kirkpatrick and his crew with the offense, to John Bowers and his guys with the special teams, we played the way we wanted to play. I'm very excited with the performance tonight."

PLAY OF THE GAME

Rashard Davis takes a punt return 76 yards to the house in the third quarter.

PHOTO OF THE GAME | COMPLETE PHOTO GALLERY
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The Dukes celebrate and sing the JMU Alma Mater after their record-setting win on Saturday evening.

TWEET OF THE GAME

The 3 touchdowns I got tonight were dedicated to my grandfather. I love you papa. Thank You for watching over me tonight! #Rip #GoDukes ????
— Taylor Woods (@Ayo__DreadHead) September 4, 2016

BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCES
Three Dukes turned in career rushing performances in JMU's record-setting win Saturday night. Bryan Schor paced the Dukes with 129 yards on the ground and three touchdowns on just 10 carries for a 12.9 average. His day was highlighted by a 63-yard scamper after a spin move off a defender opened up the field. Trai Sharp also had his first 100-yard day with 110 yards on 15 carries, averaging 7.3 per touch. Taylor Woods also added 89 yards and matched Schor's three rushing scores.

ONE FOR THE CONFERENCE RECORD BOOKS
JMU's 80 points was the third-most ever by a member school in a single game, but more importantly was the most by a CAA team against a Division I program. The previous DI record in the CAA was 77, set by Maine (vs. Morgan State, 11/8/03) and UMass (vs. Northeastern, 10/9/99).

COACHING FIRSTS
First-year Head Coach Mike Houston saw his squad break JMU's single-game record for points in a game in only his first game at the helm. JMU broke the 1995 record of 76 points when Alex Wood coached the Dukes to the former record, also in his first career game as the head coach.

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT
Raven Greene produced two takeaways in a game for the first time in his career on Saturday night. He first recovered a fumble in the first quarter after Austin Gahafer bobbled the snap. Two defensive drives later, Greened picked off Gahafer and returned it 43 yards, setting up a Sharp touchdown on the ensuing play. Greene led the Dukes with seven tackles and a pass breakup.

RUNNING AT WILL
JMU broke its Division I record for rushing yards in a game, gaining 498 yards on the ground. The total, just three off the all-time record, came on 74 carries for an average of 6.7 per rush. The 74 runs was also the third most total in history, trailing just 84 (Richmond, 1990) and 79 (Frostburg State, 1976). Five Dukes scored at least one rushing touchdown, marking the first time since Sept. 6, 2008 when a quintet of Dukes combined for six TDs.

UP NEXT
JMU is back home next Saturday, Sept. 3 when it plays Central Connecticut State at Bridgeforth Stadium. The Dukes will host a "White Out" and the first 2,000 students will receive a game shirt for the event.