#2 JMU Bottles Up #16 Towson in 27-10 Homecoming Victory

Saturday, October 26

Harrisonburg, Va.

3:30 p.m.

James Madison University

8-1 , 5-0

Towson

4-4 , 1-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Towson

James Madison

#2 JMU Bottles Up #16 Towson in 27-10 Homecoming Victory

10/26/2019 6:53:00 PM | Football

Box Score Box Score Highlights Press Conference Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Second-ranked James Madison registered seven sacks and shut out #16 Towson in the second half, surging to a 27-10 Colonial Athletic Association win on Saturday at Bridgeforth Stadium/Zane Showker Field.

The Dukes improved to 8-1 on the year and 5-0 in CAA play, while the Tigers fell to 4-4 and 1-3. JMU has won four straight against Towson and is now 11-1 against the Tigers in conference games.

Percy Agyei-Obese rushed for 111 yards and a touchdown to lead the ground attack, averaging 5.6 yards per carry Jawon Hamilton also tacked on 64 rushing yards with 5.3 yards per run.

Ben DiNucci was 14-of-25 for 201 yards and two touchdowns with an interception. He has now thrown two or more touchdowns in three straight games and five times this season. His top target, Brandon Polk, pulled in career highs of eight catches for 121 yards, scoring a touchdown on a career-long, 60-yard pass. Riley Stapleton also recorded four receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown.

John Daka led the JMU defensive effort, totaling seven tackles, a career-high 2.5 sacks, and one fumble recovery. Mike Greene added five tackles and a career-best two sacks, and Ron'Dell Carter registered 2.0 sacks, including a strip sack in the fourth quarter. Dimitri Holloway tied his season high with 13 tackles, which led all players. Five different players recorded at least 1.0 TFL, as the team had nine, seven of which went for sacks.

The Dukes won the turnover battle in Saturday's game, forcing two turnovers which turned into 10 points off takeaways.

JMU put together a stellar performance on the ground, totaling 249 rushing yards while averaging 5.8 yards per carry and out-rushing Towson by nearly 200 yards, holding the visitors to 60. The Dukes conceded just 270 total yards to Towson's offense, which included allowing just 29 yards (0 passing) in the third quarter alone.

PRESS CONFERENCE

KEY MOMENTS
After an opening-quarter score by the Dukes, Towson answered with 10 straight in the second to take a 10-7 lead with 9:15 to go in the half. The Dukes came back with a 17-point spurt over the final 4:56 of the first half, with touchdown passes by DiNucci and an Ethan Ratke field goal after a Towson turnover.

Ratke added his second field goal of the night on the opening drive of the third quarter for the game's final score. In the fourth, After Towson failed to score on a drive lasting more than 7:30, the Dukes used 10 plays to run out the final 6:30.

ADDITIONAL GAME FACTS

JMU outgained Towson 450-270, including a 249-60 advantage on the ground.
The Dukes averaged 6.6 yards per play, as opposed to TU's 4.4.
JMU tallied 17 points in the second quarter to take the lead for good and finished with a 20-0 scoring run.
Both of Towson's turnovers occurred on the positive side of the field, thwarting a pair of scoring opportunities.
Adam Smith recorded his fourth interception of the season, which leads the team.
JMU converted 6 of 14 third downs while Towson was successful on 4 of 12.
Tom Flacco led the Tigers' passing attack, completing 18 of 32 attempts for 210 yards and a touchdown with an interception. Caleb Smith was Towson's leading receiver with 69 yards.
S.J. Brown led Towson's defense with 11 tackles, and Cody Tippett had an interception and two breakups.

UP NEXT
JMU is on a bye next week and returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 9 when it hosts New Hampshire. Kickoff is set for a 3:30 p.m. start at Bridgeforth Stadium/Zane Showker Field.

This article created using technology provided by Data Skrive.