#2 JMU Gets Set for First Meeting with Chattanooga Saturday

Saturday, September 21

Chattanooga, Tenn.

4 p.m.

James Madison University

Chattanooga

#2 JMU Gets Set for First Meeting with Chattanooga Saturday

9/17/2019 12:00:00 PM | Football

Press Luncheon Game Notes

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Second-ranked James Madison opens up a three-game road trip this weekend, as it travels to the Volunteer State to face Chattanooga out of the Southern Conference for the first time ever.

Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. at Finley Stadium and will be streamed on ESPN+ (subscribe here) and can be heard on the JMU Sprint Broadcast Network, with pregame coverage beginning at 3 p.m.

The 2019 JMU football season is presented by CarMax.

FAN & PRESS LUNCHEON

BACK AT FINLEY FOR FIRST TIME IN 15 YEARS
James Madison football heads to Chattanooga to face off against the Mocs for the first time in program history. It is not the first time JMU has been to Finley Stadium, as the Dukes won the 2004 national championship against Montana. JMU is 24-22 all-time against SoCon teams, but has only faced one team from that league in the last decade.

LAST TIME OUT
Seven JMU players scored a touchdown and the Dukes' three quarterbacks combined for six touchdown passes in a 63-12 victory over Morgan State last Saturday. Ben DiNucci threw for a career-high four touchdown passes, going 18-of-23 for 240 yards in just over two quarters of action. The signal caller added three carries for 35 yards to his offensive output. Six different players caught a touchdown pass in the win, led by Brandon Polk, who pulled in six catches for 67 yards and one score.

Brandon Ravenel and Percy Agyei-Obese each had a career-high two touchdowns, as Ravenel had a receiving touchdown and kickoff return for a score and Agyei-Obese rushed for a pair of touchdowns.

JMU produced 3.0 sacks and 9.0 tackles for a loss, as 12 total players were involved in at least a half tackle for loss. JMU was also +3 in the turnover margin, forcing two interceptions, in addition to a fumble recovery. JMU forced two of three turnovers in the first quarter, resulting in touchdowns on ensuing drives.

DUKES RANKS #2 IN BOTH MAJOR POLLS AGAIN
Following a 51-point win over Morgan State, JMU maintained its #2 ranking in both the STATS FCS Top 25 and AFCA FCS Coaches' Poll. The Dukes garnered eight first-place votes from the media, trailing just defending champion, North Dakota State, who took home 150 first-place votes.

South Dakota State remained third, while UC Davis rose a spot to fourth and Towson entered the top five. The CAA has an FCS-best six teams ranked this week. Following JMU and Towson were #12 Maine, #18 Villanova, #20 Delaware and #22 Elon.

SCOUTING CHATTANOOGA
The Mocs enter Saturday's showdown at Finley Stadium with a 1-2 record, having lost two straight to Jacksonville State and Tennessee. Chattanooga averages 14.7 points while allowing 32.0 to its foes. It has given up 413.0 yards per game, gaining just shy of 300.0 per contest.

Ailym Ford averages 72.7 rushing yards per game and has scored a pair of touchdowns this season. Nick Tiano has completed 49% of his passes, throwing for 443 yards and a score, to go with two rushing scores. Bryce Nunnelly has 15 catches, including the lone passing TD while averaging 64.7 yards per game. The Mocs are led by first-year head coach Rusty Wright, who is a former Chattanooga tight end. He was previously the inside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at Georgia State for three seasons.

15TH ANNIVERSARY OF FIRST NATIONAL TITLE
The last time JMU stepped foot in Finley Stadium, history was made. It was December 17, 2004 and the Dukes became the first and only team to win four playoff games away from home en route to a national championship, which was capped off by their 31-21 win over Montana. JMU trailed twice, but scored the game's final two touchdowns and used a final drive that spanned 6:14 to run out the clock.

The Dukes rushed for 314 yards, including 257 in the second half. Justin Rascati and Maurice Fenner each had two rushing scores, as Fenner put the Dukes up for good late in the third and Rascati put the icing on the cake midway through the fourth.

WATCH THE DUKES ON ESPN+
The Dukes can be seen online through ESPN+ and digitally through the ESPN app with the proper subscription. Monthly subscriptions are available and fans can subscribe here. Once subscribed, fans can watch any ESPN+ regular programming, which includes many FCS football games during the fall. Digital options include Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV and through gaming systems such as the PS4 and Xbox One. Chris Goforth will be on the call this Saturday, with Scott McMahen providing color commentary.

JMU SPRINT BROADCAST NETWORK
All 12 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. 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. The pregame show begins this Saturday at 3 p.m., ahead of the 4 p.m. kickoff.

UP NEXT
The Dukes will stay out on the road for the second of three straight road games, as they open up Colonial Athletic Association play at Elon. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. from Rhodes Stadium.