Third-Ranked Dukes Set for Homecoming Showdown Against No. 15 Stony Brook on Saturday

Saturday, October 27

Harrisonburg, Va.

3:30 p.m.

James Madison University

Stony Brook

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Third-Ranked Dukes Set for Homecoming Showdown Against No. 15 Stony Brook on Saturday

10/23/2018 1:15:00 PM | Football

@JMUFootball Game Notes Press Luncheon

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Third-ranked James Madison hosts its 45th Homecoming game this Saturday when facing No. 15 Stony Brook in Colonial Athletic Association Football action.

Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. at Bridgeforth Stadium and will be televised on MASN and SNY. It will also be streamed live on MadiZONE HD Sportsnet. The game can be heard on the JMU Sprint Broadcast Network, with pregame coverage beginning at 2:30 p.m.

Saturday's game is sponsored by University Outpost, and the 2018 JMU football season is presented by CarMax.

FAN & PRESS LUNCHEON

SERIES HISTORY
Saturday marks the fifth meeting between JMU and SBU, with the Dukes leading 3-1. JMU has won three straight in the series, including a 26-7 triumph in the second round of the 2017 FCS Playoffs. In that game, JMU tied a Division I program record with five interceptions.

HOMECOMING HISTORY
JMU is playing in its 45th Homecoming game this Saturday, but it will be the first time the Dukes have faced Stony Brook on Homecoming weekend.

The Dukes have won their past two Homecomings, with a 21-0 shutout win last season against New Hampshire and a record-setting win in 2016, with an 84-7 triumph versus Rhode Island. JMU has also won six of the past seven Homecoming games and are 29-15 all-time on this weekend. The Dukes have faced Richmond (3-3) six times for Homecoming and both William & Mary (4-1) and Delaware (2-3) five times.

LAST TIME OUT (BEFORE THE BYE)
JMU was off last weekend, but back on Oct. 13, the Dukes scored twice on punt returns and dominated all three phases en route to a 37-0 win at Villanova. It was the second time JMU shut out the Wildcats and marked the biggest win in the series. The other season in which JMU blanked VU was 2004, which was the program's first national championship season.

D'Angelo Amos tied three school records, returning two punts for a touchdown in a span of 2:10 of the third to break the game open. Jake Brown made a career-high eight catches for 72 yards and Trai Sharp rushed for 62 yards. Ethan Ratke went 3-for-3 on field goals, upping his season total to 14, which matches his 2017 total and is one shy of the JMU single-season record. JMU's defense registered 13.0 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks, and Jimmy Moreland blocked a punt while forcing a fumble on a sack.

AMOS EARNS NATIONAL AWARD FOLLOWING VILLANOVA
D'Angelo Amos not only earned CAA Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance at Villanova but was also tabbed the STATS FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week on Oct. 15. Amos had two punt returns for a score over a span of 2:10 in the third, scoring from 89 and 81 yards, respectively. He tied Gary Clark for three JMU records in the process, as the duo are the only players to ever have two punt return TDs in the same game. Amos also matched Clark with 183 punt return yards, which was also a CAA record, and his 89 yarder was tied for the longest return at JMU.

ACTIVE WIN STREAKS ENTERING THIS WEEK

Three straight wins vs. Stony Brook
Two straight wins on Homecoming
Two straight sellouts at Bridgeforth Stadium
13 straight true road wins against FCS teams
Seven consecutive wins vs. teams from Virginia

SCOUTING STONY BROOK
The Seawolves enter the week with a 6-2 overall record and 4-1 mark in CAA play following a 52-14 win against Rhode Island last week. Both of SBU's setbacks have come on the road, as it is 2-2 away from Long Island.

Stony Brook averages 32.2 points per game while allowing 21.9 to its foes. The Seawolves rush for 218 yards per game while holding opponents to only 125.1. SBU leads the country with six defensive touchdowns - the only team to lead JMU in that category in the FCS. Casey Williams ranks second nationally with three blocked kicks, including two on punts. Jordan Gowins and Donald Liotine rank in the top 20 in rush yards per game, as Gowins averages 101.9 and Liotine 98.0. Shayne Lawless leads the defense with 61 tackles, including 8.5 for loss. Noah McGinty has 60 stops with a pair of forced fumbles and Sam Kamara leads the squad with 7.0 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks.

Chuck Priore is in his 13th year at the helm, holding an 83-63 record with the Seawolves. He's guided them to three playoff appearances and four conference titles as members of the Big South Conference

MORELAND NAMED TO BUCHANAN WATCH LIST
Jimmy Moreland was added to the Watch List for the 2018 STATS FCS Buck Buchanan Award last week, which honors the subdivision's most valuable defensive player. Through seven games, Moreland leads the country with three interceptions for a touchdown and 172 total interception yards, which already set JMU single-season records in both categories. He also has four interceptions in 2018, as he owns JMU's career interceptions record, at 17. JMU has had 10 players reach finalist status for the Buchanan Award, with Arthur Moats winning the accolade in 2009 and Derrick Lloyd becoming JMU's first winner in 2001.

WAYS TO WATCH THE GAME
Saturday's game will be regionally televised live on MASN (Mid-Atlantic Sports Network) and SNY (SportsNet New York). Fans may also watch the game on MadiZONE HD SportsNet, presented by the JMU Alumni Association (www.jmusports.com/MadiZONE) or through Eleven Sports Next on Twitch.TV. Curt Dudley will provide the call for Saturday's game, with former JMU offensive lineman and Super Bowl champion Dorian Brooks on color commentary. JMU student Jack Fitzpatrick will be down on the sideline for additional analysis.

LISTEN ON THE JMU SPRINT BROADCAST NETWORK
All 11 regular-season games, as well as any 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 in his fourth season as the play-by-play man for the Dukes and is joined by Clint Estes on color commentary. Nikki Newman will provide additional analysis from the sideline at every home game. The pregame show begins this week at 2:30 p.m, ahead of the 3:30 p.m. kickoff.

UP NEXT
The Dukes hit the road next weekend on Saturday, Nov. 3, traveling to New Hampshire for a 1 p.m. kickoff. The game will be televised on FOX College Sports and streamed on FOX Sports GO as well as CAA.TV for a nominal fee. The game can also be heard on JMU Sprint Broadcast Network.