#2 JMU Opens Postseason Play Saturday vs. #14 Monmouth in Second Round

Saturday, December 7

Harrisonburg, Va.

1 p.m.

James Madison University

Monmouth

#2 JMU Opens Postseason Play Saturday vs. #14 Monmouth in Second Round

12/3/2019 11:30:00 AM | Football

Press Luncheon Game Notes

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Second-seeded James Madison begins postseason play this Saturday, Dec. 7 when it hosts 14th-ranked Monmouth in the second round of the 2019 FCS Playoffs. It marks the first meeting between the programs.

Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Bridgeforth Stadium and will be streamed live on ESPN3 and the Watch ESPN app. The game can also be heard on the JMU Sprint Broadcast Network, with pregame coverage beginning at noon.

JMU's run through the 2019 playoffs is presented by Excel Heating and Cooling.

FAN & PRESS LUNCHEON

JMU IN THE PLAYOFFS
JMU is making 16th playoff appearance in 2019, which includes this season being a program-record sixth straight berth. The Dukes are 17-13 in the playoffs with a pair of national championships - 2004 and 2016. They also advanced to the title game in 2017, falling just short (17-13 vs. North Dakota State).

JMU has won multiple playoff games in four postseason trips, going 4-0 in both national title runs, 3-1 in 2017's national runner-up finish and 2-1 in 2008 when it reached the semifinals. This is the first time since the 2011 playoffs that JMU was not matched up with a CAA team in the same pod. The Dukes are 9-4 at home in the postseason, while also going 6-8 on the road and 2-1 in neutral-site games.

ROAD TO FRISCO GOES THROUGH FARGO AND HARRISONBURG
After combining to go 23-1 during the regular season No. 1 North Dakota State (12-0) and No. 2 JMU (11-1) have homefield throughout the FCS Playoffs, needing just three wins each to reach the national title game in Frisco, Texas. It's the fourth time JMU has earned a national seed since the field expanded to 24 teams and the fifth time ever. The Dukes were No. 1 both in 2008 and 2017, No. 2 in 2019, No. 4 in 2016 and No. 5 in 2015. The winner of JMU and Monmouth faces the winner of No. 7 South Dakota State and Northern Iowa in the quarterfinals.

UNDISPUTED CONFERENCE CHAMPS
JMU went unbeaten in Colonial Athletic Association play, winning the 2019 conference title by two games. The Dukes have won three outright titles in four years, four overall crowns in five seasons. Since joining the CAA in 1993 for football, JMU has won seven conference titles, which is tied with rival Richmond. JMU has eight total in program history, adding in the 1975 VCAA championship as a Division III program.

The Dukes have won the conference outright on four occasions, which is more than any other CAA squad. New Hampshire and Maine have two outright crowns during the time span and seven others have one. JMU has also gone 8-0 in CAA play four seasons (2008, 2016, 2017, 2019). It has only been accomplished 10 total times since 1993, as UNH did it twice (1994, 2014) and four others achieved it once.

ACTIVE STREAKS ENTERING PLAYOFFS

11-game win streak - second longest active in FCS
11 straight wins vs. CAA teams (playoffs included)
9 straight wins at Bridgeforth Stadium
6 straight home playoff wins
24 straight games with foes under 50% on third down
Held opponents to under 100 rush yards in six straight
Out-rushed opponents in 16 straight games
Scored a rushing TD in 17 straight games

HISTORICAL REFERENCE TO START
JMU's extended its win streak to 11 with its win at Rhode Island, marking a couple historical achievements. JMU has started a season with at least 11 wins in its first 12 four times, including three times since 2016. JMU also began 11-1 in 2008 and 2016 and was 12-0 after an FCS second-round win in 2017. JMU also completed the CAA slate 8-0 for the fourth time in school history, as it also accomplished the feat in 2008, 2016 and 2017. JMU reached at least the FCS semifinals in the previous three instances, making the semifinals in 2008, winning the national title in 2016 and finishing national runner-up in 2017.

THREE FINALISTS FOR NATIONAL AWARDS
JMU defensive ends Ron'Dell Carter and John Daka are finalists for the 2019 Buck Buchanan Award. It is given annually to the FCS' top defensive player. During the regular season, the duo combined for 43 tackles for loss and 22 sacks. They lead one of the country's top defenses, which leads in rushing defense (62.8) and is third in total defense (277.8). JMU has had two winners of the Buchanan, as Arthur Moats won in 2009 and Derrick Lloyd in 2001. JMU has now produced 13 finalists for the award.

Curt Cignetti is one of 15 head coaches named a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award, honoring the top FCS coach in 2019. He guided JMU to an 11-1 record and a perfect 8-0 mark in CAA play in his first season at the helm. The Dukes ranked top 10 nationally in 21 statistical categories during the regular season. The Dukes earned the No. 2 overall seed for the FCS Playoffs and a first-round bye for the third time in four seasons.

DINUCCI, CARTER HEADLINE CAA AWARDS
Quarterback Ben DiNucci was voted CAA Offensive Player of the Year, and defensive end Ron'Dell Carter was named CAA Defensive Year for 2019. DiNucci is one of the nation's most efficient passers, leading in completion percentage (70.3) and ranking second in pass efficiency (175.2). He passed for 2,552 yards and 22 touchdowns with only four interceptions during the regular season.

Carter is one of the nation's premier pass rushers, ranking third nationally with 22.5 tackles for loss and 16th with 9.5 sacks. He registered 16.5 TFL and 8.5 sacks in CAA play. DiNucci is JMU's fifth Offensive Player of the Year, while Carter is the third straight JMU player to win top defensive honors and the 11th overall.

In addition to Ben DiNucci and Ron'Dell Carter, the Dukes reeled in 18 all-conference honors from 17 different players, setting a program record. JMU also set a school record with 11 First Team All-CAA selections. Joining DiNucci and Carter on the First Team were Percy Agyei-Obese, Liam Fornadel, Mac Patrick, Ethan Ratke, D'Angelo Amos (both PR and S), John Daka, Dimitri Holloway and Adam Smith. Second Team members included Brandon Polk, Dylan Stapleton and Rashad Robinson. Making the Third Team were Jawon Hamilton, Truvell Wilson, Mike Greene and Landan Word.

SCOUTING MONMOUTH
The Hawks enter Saturday's second round with an 11-2 record following a 44-27 win over Holy Cross. Monmouth averages 36.9 points per game while conceding 24.2 to its foes. Offensively, MU ranks 11th nationally in scoring and third in total offense, gaining 488.5 yards per game. It ranks top 25 in the FCS in both rushing (213.5) and passing (275.0). Big South Player of the Year Kenji Bahar has passed for 3,511 yards and 29 touchdowns, and Pete Guerriero leads the country with 1,888 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns.

Both Lonnie Moore and Terrance Greene have caught nine touchdown passes. Defensively, Monmouth is top 25 in the country against the run (123.2) and is second in the Big South in total defense (353.6). It is 13th in the FCS with 12 fumble recoveries and fifth nationally in turnover margin (+1.0). Anthony Budd leads the team with five interceptions and Da'Quan Grimes leads the team with 97 tackles. Kevin Callahan is 163-123 at the helm, having been the only coach in Monmouth's 27-season history. He is the 2019 Big South Coach of the Year.

JMU ON ESPN3 THIS WEEK
The Dukes can be seen live online through ESPN3 and digitally through the Watch ESPN app.

Digital options include Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV. Jonathan Yardley will be on the call for play-by-play and will be joined by Hutson Mason on color commentary.

JMU SPRINT BROADCAST NETWORK
Saturday's game can be heard online on the JMU Sprint Broadcast Network or on airwaves at WSVA 550AM and 92.1 FM. Online listening options include MadiZONE free audio and the TuneIn app.

Dave Thomas is in his fifth season as the play-by-play man for the Dukes and is joined by Clint Estes on color commentary and JMU student Allie Barefoot down on the sidelines. The pregame show begins this Saturday at noon ahead of the 1 p.m. kickoff. Hear interviews with Head Coach Curt Cignetti, coordinators Shane Montgomery and Corey Hetherman and players plus much more.

WHAT'S ON DECK
The winner of JMU and Monmouth advances to the FCS quarterfinals and will face the victor between No. 7 seed South Dakota State and Northern Iowa. That game will be played either on Friday, Dec. 13 or Saturday, Dec. 14.