Thornton's Record Performance Leads #3 JMU Past Campbell on Homecoming

Saturday, November 6

Harrisonburg, Va.

3:30 p.m.

James Madison University

8-1 , 5-1

Campbell

3-6 , 2-3

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Campbell	7	0	7	0	14
James Madison	10	17	10	14	51

Thornton's Record Performance Leads #3 JMU Past Campbell on Homecoming

11/6/2021 9:36:00 PM | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison wide receiver Kris Thornton registered a school-record four receiving touchdowns, and the Dukes scored points on nine of 11 offensive drives en route to a dominant 51-14 victory against Campbell on Homecoming Saturday at Bridgeforth Stadium.

The third-ranked Dukes improved to 8-1 on the year, while the Camels fell to 3-6 in the teams' inaugural meeting.

Thornton, who entered the day with five receiving touchdowns this season, turned in a masterful performance through the air, making eight receptions for a season-high 142 yards and a program-best four touchdowns. It was his second 100-yard game of the season and the most receiving yards since he transferred into the program.

Cole Johnson was 11-of-21 for 259 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 22.8 yards per completion. Billy Atkins closed the game in relief, going 5-of-5 for 27 yards and a touchdown, as his second score of the season vaulted Thornton into the record books.

The Dukes were more efficient on the ground, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. They gained 190 yards, led by Latrele Palmer's 86 yards. Solomon Vanhorse also added 47 rushing yards and 47 receiving yards on his three catches.

In addition to Thornton, Antwane Wells Jr. made three grabs for 74 yards and a touchdown, as he now has eight scores on the season.

On the defensive side of the ball, Diamonte Tucker-Dorsey tied his career high with a team-best 10 tackles with a half tackle for loss. Kelvin Azanama produced eight tackles and a half TFL, and Sam Kidd made six stops with a full TFL.

Isaac Ukwu and Bryce Carter led the Dukes with 2.0 tackles for loss and a sack each. Carter also forced two fumbles and recovered one. Josh Sarratt had a sack with a forced fumble, while Jailin Walker added five tackles and a forced fumble. Greg Ross additionally had four stops with two pass breakups, as JMU finished with six PBU.

Leading 10-7 after one, the Dukes opened the game up in the second, with a pair of Thornton touchdown catches and a field goal to make it 27-7 at the break. The Dukes extended the lead to 30 early in the second half after Ethan Ratke converted his third field goal and Johnson kept it for an 8-yard scamper. Campbell never drew closer than 37-14, as the Dukes cashed in on a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns.

Hajj-Malik Williams paced Campbell's offense with 268 passing yards and two touchdowns, both of which went to Caleb Snead, who finished with 11 catches for 198 yards. The Camels' defense was led by CJ Tillman, who had 11 tackles and one tackle for loss.

GAME NOTES

JMU out-gained Campbell 476-359, which including a 190-91 advantage in the run game.
The Dukes had a +3 turnover margin, recovering three fumbles while not turning it over once.
JMU was 6-of-12 on third down and 1-of-1 on fourth, while holding Campbell to 4-of-13 on third down. The Camels converted 2-of-4 on fourth.
The Dukes tallied 8.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks, as opposed to CU's 4.0 TFL and 2.0 sacks.
Ratke's three field goals and six point after attempts moved him to 94 career field goals and 497 career points. He needs just three points to become the FCS' fourth-ever 500-point scorer.
JMU gained 7.7 per play, while Campbell had 5.1 per snap.
The Dukes were 6-of-6 in the red zone, scoring three touchdowns, while Campbell was 1-of-2. JMU stalled one of Campbell's red-zone tries on Carter's force and recovery at the CU 2.

JMU STAT WATCH

Cole Johnson moved into seventh place at JMU in career passing yards (4,988) and into a tie for fifth in career touchdown passes (42). He also jumped into the single-season top 10 in passing yards (2,256) in eighth place.
Antwane Wells Jr. slid up to a tie for seventh in career receiving scores (14).
Kris Thornton's career day moved him into fourth in JMU single-season history in receiving touchdowns (9), while Wells Jr. is one back in a tie for fifth (8).
Ethan Ratke converted three more field goals, upping his season total to 22, which is second only to his single-season record of 27 in 2019.
Ratke's career total of 94 is just two shy of tying Arizona State's Zane Gonzalez (96 - 2013-16) for the NCAA Division I record.

UP NEXT
JMU hits the road for the final time during the regular season next Saturday, Nov. 13 when it faces William & Mary. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. at Zable Stadium in Williamsburg.