#2 JMU Opens Home Slate at Bridgeforth Saturday Against Saint Francis

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Second-ranked James Madison opens the home slate on Saturday when it plays host to Saint Francis out of the Northeast Conference.

Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Bridgeforth Stadium/Zane Showker Field and will be televised on NBC Sports Washington. It will be streamed on MadiZONE and can be heard on the JMU Sprint Broadcast Network, with pregame coverage beginning at 5 p.m.

Saturday's home opener is sponsored by the Duke Club, and the 2019 JMU football season is presented by CarMax.

FAN & PRESS LUNCHEON

SERIES HISTORY
Saturday marks the fourth meeting all-time between the two programs, with JMU leading the series 3-0. The Dukes are also 6-0 against the Northeast Conference. James Madison has outscored the Red Flash 117-49 in the previous three meetings. JMU has notched wins by tallies of 55-7 (2012), 24-20 (2013) and 38-22 (2014).

JMU IN THE HOME OPENER
James Madison is 36-11 all-time in home openers dating back to 1972. The Dukes have won 16 straight home openers. JMU has outscored its opponents by an average of 48.4 to 9.5 and has put up over 40 points in 12 of those games, including 80 in the 2016 opener against Morehead State and 73 against Robert Morris a season ago.

DUKES RETAIN #2 RANKINGS
Despite falling to West Virginia last Saturday, JMU comfortably held on to its #2 ranking in both the STATS FCS Top-25 and the AFCA FCS Coaches' Poll. The Dukes garnered 11 first-place votes from the media and one from the coaches. The top-five remained unchanged as North Dakota State took home the top spot, followed by #2 JMU, #3 South Dakota State, #4 Eastern Washington and #5 UC Davis. A total of five CAA teams were ranked this week. Three teams ranked in the top eight of the STATS poll, as JMU was joined by #6 Maine, #8 Towson, #21 Delaware and #24 Villanova.

SCOUTING SAINT FRANCIS
The Red Flash come to town sporting a 1-0 record following a 14-13 comeback win last weekend in their season opener at Lehigh. SFU trailed 13-0 before blanking the Mountain Hawks in the second half, scoring with 1:17 remaining to complete the comeback. Saint Francis limited Lehigh to just 11 rushing yards and 0.6 yards per carry. It also produced a red-zone interception in the victory.

Jason Brown passed for 293 yards and two touchdowns, as he found a pair of receivers five times in EJ Jenkins, who had 125 yards and a score, and Ra'Shaun Henry, who had 68 yards. SFU is led by 10th-year head coach Chris Villarrial. He has guided the Red Flash to a 41-59 record since 2010, which included winning the NEC title in 2016. Villarrial is a former NFL All-Pro offensive linemen who played at IUP under Curt Cignetti's father, Frank.

NEW GAMEDAY ENHANCEMENTS – click here for more
New at Bridgeforth Stadium in 2019 is the implementation of a clear-bag policy, walk-through metal detectors and the sale of alcohol at home football games. All fans entering the stadium must use a clear bag must use a clear bag measuring no greater than 12 x 12 x 6 inches. A maximum of 4.5 x 6.5-inch clutch or wallet is allowed. Blankets are allowed to be carried loosely.

Everyone who enters the facility must pass through a metal detector. Most small items will not be required to be removed unless the alarm triggers. Alternative screening is available for those unable to pass through the metal detectors. Alcohol sales will be available in various locations at Bridgeforth. Guest must first visit an ID checkpoint to obtain an arm band and a hand mark to validate age. A maximum of four alcoholic beverage may be purchased up until the end of the third quarter.

JMU SPRINT BROADCAST NETWORK
All 11 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 5 p.m., ahead of the 6 p.m. kickoff.

UP NEXT
The Dukes will stay in the friendly confines of Bridgeforth Stadium next Saturday, September 14 when they host Morgan State from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. and will be televised on NBC Sports Washington and streamed on FloFootball. It is the second meeting between the two programs, with JMU leading the series 1-0.

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