Stout Defense Leads #3 JMU to 13-10 Victory Against #15 Stony Brook

Saturday, October 27

Harrisonburg, Va.

3:30 p.m.

James Madison University

6-2 , 4-1

Stony Brook

6-3 , 4-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Stony Brook

James Madison

Stout Defense Leads #3 JMU to 13-10 Victory Against #15 Stony Brook

10/27/2018 9:35:00 PM | Football

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HARRISONBURG, Va. – Third-ranked James Madison shut out 15th-ranked Stony Brook in the second half and used one final defensive stand in the last two minutes to secure a 13-10 Colonial Athletic Association Football victory on Saturday evening at Bridgeforth Stadium/Zane Showker Field.

Leading 13-10 with 2:06 to play, Stony Brook converted twice on fourth down to keep the drive alive, reaching the JMU 33-yard line with two seconds remaining. The Dukes were able to hold on as Alex Lucansky's 51-yard field goal fell short to put the Dukes in a four-way tie atop the CAA standings.

With the win, JMU improves to 6-2 overall and 4-1 in CAA play, while the Seawolves fall to 6-3 and 4-2.

QUICK SUMMARY

JMU limited Stony Brook to 120 yards in the second half over its seven drives.
Five of SBU's seven second-half possessions resulted in punts, as the Seawolves were only 1-of-8 on third down. Another drive resulted in a tipped pass that produced a Landan Word interception and the final drive ended with the missed kick as time expired.
Dimitri Holloway set a new career high with 18 tackles, to go with 2.0 tackles for loss.
Landan Word turned in a career-best 10 tackles, including one for a loss and his first career interception. Wayne Davis also tallied career highs of six solo tackles and two tackles for a loss, to go with his first career sack.
Adam Smith added six stops and intercepted a first-quarter pass, the second of his career, and Jimmy Moreland had five tackles and two pass breakups.
Offensively, Ben DiNucci threw for 140 yards and a touchdown. Kyndel Dean had four catches for 45 yards and a first-quarter touchdown, and Jake Brown also added for catches for 30 yards.
Cardon Johnson led the ground attack with 60 rushing yards, including a long of 23.
Despite being out-gained 305-243 on the afternoon, JMU held the CAA's top-rushing offense to only 113 yards, which is over 100 yards below Stony Brook's season average.
SBU's Joe Carbone threw for 192 yards and two interceptions. Donald Liotine ran for 71 yards and a score and Jordan Gowins, who entered the week as the CAA's leading rusher, ran for just 54.

SCORING PLAYS

Johnson converted three first downs on the ground before DiNucci connected with Dean, who muscled off multiple defenders for a 15-yard touchdown. That put JMU ahead 7-0 with 1:47 left in the first.
Stony Brook tied it at 7-7 with 10:14 left in the first half on a 30-yard rushing touchdown by Liotine.
SBU took advantage on a DiNucci fumble late in the half and hit a 37-yard field goal right before halftime to take a 10-7 lead.
After a scoreless third, JMU tied it at 10-10 with 13:51 remaining on a 41-yard field goal by Tyler Gray - his first field goal of the season.
On the ensuing possession, JMU forced Stony Brook into a three-and-out, which included a big third-down sack by Davis, giving the Dukes the ball back. The Dukes ran six of the next eight plays, setting up Gray's go-ahead and eventual game-winning 24-yard field goal with 8:56 to go.

BALL HAWKS

JMU intercepted two Joe Carbone passes, including one on Stony Brook's first possession.
With the Seawolves driving, Adam Smith corralled his second career pick inside the 10, which set up JMU's first scoring drive.
In the third, Mike Greene tipped a pass at the line of scrimmage and Landan Word came down with it for his first career interception.

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UP NEXT
JMU travels north next weekend to take on the New Hampshire in Durham, N.H. Kickoff from Wildcat Stadium is set for 1 p.m. in a televised game on FOX College Sports Atlantic.