Dukes Drop Heartbreaker at North Dakota State

Friday, December 17

Fargo, N.D.

9:15 p.m. ET (8:15 p.m. CT)

James Madison University

12-2 , 7-1

North Dakota State

13-1 , 7-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

James Madison

North Dakota St.

12/18/2021 12:33:00 AM | Football

Box Score Box Score

FARGO, N.D. – No. 3 James Madison erased a 13-0 halftime deficit on Friday night, but dropped a hard-fought 20-14 decision to No. 2 North Dakota State in the NCAA FCS Semifinals in front of 16,550 raucous fans at the Fargodome.

The Dukes (12-2) piled up 234 yards in the second half, but could not find the end zone in the fourth quarter as NDSU (13-1) advances to the NCAA Division I National Championship Game.

Antwane Wells Jr. set three JMU single-season records, breaking the program marks for receptions (83) receiving yards (1,250) and receiving touchdowns (15). He finished with five receptions for 53 yards and a score.

Cole Johnson was 25-of-34 for 210 yards and two touchdowns with a pair of interceptions. Kris Thornton made six catches for 47 yards, as he matched Wells atop the single-season receptions list at JMU. Devin Ravenel also caught his third touchdown of the season in the second half. Latrele Palmer ran for 89 yards to lead JMU's ground attack.

The Bison struck first, as Cam Miller connected on a 32-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Luepke to put the hosts up 7-0 with 5:12 left in the opening quarter. NDSU extended the lead to 10-0 on a 43-yard field goal early in the second.

JMU had a chance to get on the board, but Cole Johnson's deep pass was picked off in the endzone. NDSU had a lengthy drive to end the half, getting down to the JMU 2, but the defense held the Bison to a field goal, making it 13-0 at the break.

The Dukes gained more yards on their opening possession of the second half than in the entire first half, as Johnson led the Dukes on a 13-play, 80-yard drive. Converting multiple third downs, he capped it off with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Wells Jr., making it a 13-7 game.

JMU used a huge special-teams play, as MJ Hampton blocked an NDSU punt, and JMU capitalized with a Johnson touchdown pass to Ravenel to give the Dukes a 14-13 lead heading to the fourth.

NDSU answered with back-to-back big passing plays to Luepke, including a 22-yard touchdown with 13:44 left to put the Bison back in front, 20-14.

The Dukes were yards from going back on top two drives later, but the Bison made an incredible interception in the end zone with 3:05 to play to halt the drive. JMU would get a final possession with 55 seconds to play, but could not get closer than the NDSU 45 as the Bison closed out the victory.

Miller threw for 165 yards and a pair of touchdowns, both of which went to Luepke, who had three catches for 89 yards. Luepke had 199 all-purpose yards, finishing with a game-high 110 rushing yards.

GAME NOTES

NDSU out-gained JMU 339-305, but JMU had a 210-165 lead through the air. This came after the Bison had a 193-71 lead in the opening half, with JMU's offensive output marking a first-half season low.
Antwane Wells Jr. broke the JMU single-season receiving yards record on his first catch of the night. He surpassed David McLeod's 1993 record of 1,207 yards.
His 15th touchdown grab in the third also passed Macey Brook's 1996 record of 14 and he and Thornton beat the previous receptions record held by Earnest Payton (82 in 1998).
Both defenses shined on third down, as JMU was 5-of-12 and NDSU was just 5-of-14.
NDSU improved to 4-1 all-time against JMU and 2-1 in games played in the Fargodome.
JMU finished its FCS career with a 24-16 postseason record with two national championships (2004 and 2016).