Dukes Return Home to Face Phoenix Saturday at Bridgeforth

Saturday, October 30

Harrisonburg, Va.

2 p.m.

James Madison University

Elon

Dukes Return Home to Face Phoenix Saturday at Bridgeforth

10/27/2021 3:59:00 PM | Football

HARRISONBURG, Va. – #5 James Madison returns home for game #8 of its 50th football season, as it hosts Elon in Colonial Athletic Association on Saturday, Oct. 30.

It's the first of two straight home games, as JMU finishes the regular season with three of four in Harrisonburg.

Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. at Bridgeforth Stadium and will be televised on NBC Sports Washington Plus 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.

Saturday's game is sponsored by United Bank, and the 2021 JMU football season is presented by CarMax.

#5 James Madison (6-1, 4-1 CAA) vs. Elon (4-3, 3-1 CAA)
Saturday, October 30, 2021
Harrisonburg, Va. | Bridgeforth Stadium

Game Information
Television: NBC Sports Washington Plus
Online: FloFootball ($)
Radio: WSVA 92.1 FM/550 AM
Listen: Morris Insurance & Financial JMU Radio Network
Live Stats
JMU Game Notes

BREAKING DOWN THE SERIES

Saturday marks the 10th meeting all-time between the teams, with JMU leading 8-1.
JMU has won two straight games against Elon, which includes JMU's narrowest win last spring in a 20-17 comeback win at Rhodes Stadium.
The Dukes are 4-1 in games played at Bridgeforth Stadium, with Elon's lone win in the series coming on Oct. 6, 2018 (27-24) when Curt Cignetti was head coach for the Phoenix.
JMU averages 39.3 points per game, as opposed to Elon's 14.6 per game.
The Dukes have scored 42 or more points in five of nine meetings, including 63 back in 2016.
This weekend will also be Coach Cignetti's first game at Bridgeforth against his former school, with the previous two meetings occurring on the road.

DEFENSE, SPECIAL TEAMS PROPEL JMU AT DELAWARE

Ethan Ratke converted a JMU-record five field goals and the defense limited Delaware to just 109 total yards en route to a 22-10 road win last Saturday.
Ratke converted three field goals over 40 yards, including a pair of 47 yarders in rainy conditions, to outscore the opponent by himself for the second straight week.
JMU shut out its foe in the second half for the second consecutive game, conceding just 25 second-half yards, as UD finished 2-of-13 on third down.
The Dukes registered 10 tackles for loss and three sacks and produced three takeaways on the afternoon.
Reigning CAA Player of the Year Dejon Lee from UD was held to just 31 rushing yards.

RATKE GOES BACK-TO-BACK

JMU kicker Ethan Ratke was named CAA Special Teams Player of the Week for the second straight week and third time this season.
Ratke was 5-for-5 on field goals, breaking his own JMU single-game record while tying the CAA single-game mark. Adding in an extra point, his 16 points was a career high.
His 18 field goals through 7 games leads the country and already ranks second in JMU single-season history.

.500 OR BETTER IN 19 STRAIGHT YEARS

JMU's success from year to year has come to be expected, as the Dukes have secured at least a .500 record or better for a league-best 19 straight seasons.
The Dukes cemented its 17th winning season during the span on Oct. 23 in their road win at Delaware, improving to 6-1 on the year. JMU is the only CAA team to achieve such a feat.
The Dukes have secured a winning record in 32 of 50 seasons since beginning football in 1972.
JMU tallied nine wins in a program-record five consecutive seasons from 2015-19.

CRAZY NUMBERS ON DEFENSE

After suffering its first loss of the season to Villanova, JMU's defense put up some crazy numbers in road wins at Richmond and Delaware.
JMU has conceded 6.5 points per game, a tough feat to accomplish, especially on the road.
The Dukes have also allowed just 297 yards combined, with 168 passing yards and 129 rushing yards for the Spiders and Blue Hens.
Richmond gained just 64 yards on its final nine drives against the Dukes, and Delaware tallied only 25 second-half yards on their Homecoming.
Richmond was 2-of-15 on third down, while the Hens were only 2-of-13. The 4-of-28 (14.3%) clip moved JMU into second place nationally on third-down defense in 2021 (21.5%).