Dukes Travels to Capital for Saturday Showdown with Spiders
10/13/2021 11:30:00 AM | Football
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HARRISONBURG, Va. – #8 James Madison football looks to return to the winning track this weekend, as it travels Richmond for game six of its 50th season on Saturday, Oct. 16.
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Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. at Robins Stadium and will be televised on NBC Sports Washington while being streamed on FloFootball. The game can be heard on the Morris Insurance & Financial JMU Radio Network, with pregame coverage beginning at 1 p.m.
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The 2021 JMU football season is presented by CarMax.
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#8 James Madison (4-1, 2-1 CAA) at Richmond (2-3, 0-2 CAA)
Saturday, October 16, 2021
Richmond, Va. | Robins Stadium
Saturday marks the 39th meeting all-time between the teams, with JMU leading 20-18 in a series dating back to the 1981 season.
JMU has won five straight matchups against the Spiders since 2016, with the past two wins coming by a combined 134 to 22 margin.
The Dukes have claimed three straight wins at Robins Stadium, scoring 47 or more in each victory. The last meeting at UR was JMU's largest margin of victory in the series with a 63-10 win in 2018. JMU is also 10-8 all-time at Richmond.
Richmond's last victory over JMU came back on Oct. 24, 2015 - a 59-49 win in Harrisonburg. UR also beat JMU 35-29 in 2012 for its last home triumph against the Dukes.
Last time the teams met, JMU limited Richmond to just 200 total yards to capture the CAA south division title in a 23-6 win back on Apr. 17, 2021.
The Dukes and Spiders have played once a season since 1983.
JMU's last Robins Stadium in 2018 was the most points and largest margin of victory (63-10) in the history of the series.
 JMU AGAINST THE COMMONWEALTH
The Dukes have faced 15 teams from the Commonwealth since beginning football in 1972.
In 153 games, JMU has racked up an 92-61 record against teams from around the state.
JMU has claimed 13 straight victories over state schools, with William & Mary's 44-41 win in Williamsburg on Oct. 31, 2015 being the Dukes' last setback to another Virginia team.
The Dukes have played William & Mary (26-17) more than any other state team, at 43 games, and have faced Richmond (20-18) 38 times and Liberty (12-6) on 18 occasions.
 DUKES EDGED BY VILLANOVA
JMU suffered its first loss of 2021 last week, falling 28-27 to then-#11 Villanova.
JMU led 27-16 at half before 'Nova scored all 12 second-half points to complete the rally.
The Dukes had a pair of field-goal misses in the fourth and Villanova converted a fourth down deep in its own territory late to seal the win.
The loss ended a number of streaks for JMU, including a 15-game win streak against conference teams (including playoffs), a 14-game CAA win streak, 20 straight regular-season wins, 19 straight wins at Bridgeforth stadium and 21 consecutive games out-gaining its opponent.
804 DUKES RETURN HOME
A number of Dukes get set to return to their hometown for Saturday's game with Richmond.
JMU has 14 players who call Richmond or the Richmond area home while another played high school ball in the 804.