Defensive Dominance Propels #6 JMU Past #21 Delaware in FCS First Round

Saturday, November 24

Harrisonburg, Va.

3 p.m.

James Madison University

9-3

Delaware

7-5

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Delaware

James Madison

Defensive Dominance Propels #6 JMU Past #21 Delaware in FCS First Round

11/24/2018 9:41:00 PM | Football

Box Score Box Score Highlights Press Conference Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Sixth-ranked James Madison limited Delaware to a pair of field goals and 185 total yards en route to a 20-6 triumph in the first round of the 2018 NCAA FCS Playoffs on Saturday evening at Bridgeforth Stadium/Zane Showker Field.

The Dukes improve to 9-3 on the year after conceding the fewest points in a single playoff game in program history. The Blue Hens season ends at 7-5.

QUICK RECAP

JMU allowed just 69 rushing yards, limiting Delaware to just 2.8 yards per carry. The Blue Hens converted just 2-of-14 on third down and the Dukes registered five sacks and 10 tackles for loss with a pair of interceptions.
The Dukes dominated the first half defensively, as UD gained just 52 yards of offense with two first downs, grabbing a 12-3 halftime lead.
In the second half, JMU forced two turnovers on downs and produced a pair of fourth-quarter interceptions to seal the win.
Jimmy Moreland posted a season-high 10 tackles with 2.5 for loss and a half sack. Landan Word and Dimitri Holloway each had eight stops and 1.5 tackles for loss.
John Daka tied his career high with 2.0 sacks, while Paris Black and Darrious Carter both added another.
Charles Tutt recorded his first career interception in the fourth quarter and added a career-high three pass breakups, while Wayne Davis secured the win with a late-game interception, the second of his career.
Offensively, Ben DiNucci was 23-of-31 for 223 yards and a touchdown.
Three receivers tallied five catches in the win, as Kyndel Dean had a game-high 64 yards, while Riley Stapleton and Jake Brown each had 43 yards. Brown tacked on his second career touchdown catch in the third quarter and Stapleton's second grab was the 100th of his career.
Trai Sharp led the game with 42 rushing yards, DiNucci had 29 and Marcus Marshall ran for 28 yards and a score.

SCORING SUMMARY

1:48 (1st): JMU opened the scoring with an Ethan Ratke 23-yard field goal
10:31 (2nd): The Dukes extended the lead to 5-0 after John Daka sacked Pat Kehoe in the end zone, registering JMU's first safety since Sept. 16, 2017 against Norfolk State.
1:58 (2nd): Returning from injury, Marcus Marshall bulldozed his way in from four yards out, making it 12-0 in favor of JMU
:27 (2nd): Delaware trimmed the JMU lead to 12-3 at the break with a Jake Roth 48-yard field goal.
9:10 (3rd): Frank Raggo drained a 37-yard field goal to make it a one-score game, bringing UD to within 12-6.
4:09 (3rd): JMU answered with a 13-play, 75-yard drive spanning over five minutes to make it a two-touchdown lead. Ben DiNucci capped off the drive with an eight-yard touchdown pass to Jake Brown. The Dukes converted the two-point try, as DiNucci hooked up with Dylan Stapleton.

POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE

OTHER GAME NOTES

JMU dominated the time of possession, possessing the ball for 37:04, compared to UD's 22:56.
The Dukes held Delaware to only six yards in the first quarters and the Hens did not achieve a first down until their seventh offensive drive.
JMU had 23 first downs, compared to 12 for the visitors.
Ethan Ratke's first-quarter field goal was the 15th of his season, tying him for the JMU single-season record with three other players.
UD's Pat Kehoe was 13-of-32 for 116 yards and two interceptions. Vinny Papale had 44 receiving yards and Charles Scarff added 36. Troy Reeder paced the UD defense with a game-high 16 tackles.

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JMU POSTSEASON NUMBERS

JMU is now 9-4 all-time at home in the playoffs, including six-straight wins at Bridgeforth.
Improved to 5-0 vs. CAA teams in the postseason and 2-0 against Delaware in the playoffs
The six points allowed was the fewest JMU has given up in a playoff game, besting the seven points allowed in the 2017 Second Round against Stony Brook and in the 2016 Quarterfinals versus Sam Houston State.

UP NEXT
JMU advances to next weekend's FCS Second Round, where it faces No. 8 seed Colgate. That game will kick off on Saturday, Dec. 1 at 1 p.m. in Hamilton, N.Y., and will be streamed on ESPN3.