1975 Unbeaten Season Still A Special JMU Memory

By Gary Michael, JMU SID Emeritus

National championships, extended periods ranked among the nation's leading programs, former Dukes playing prominent roles for championship professional franchises. All are highlights of 50 seasons of James Madison University football. But as outstanding as the program has become, its second year at the varsity level holds an unmatched distinction.

JMU's 1975 team, only the fourth at what was then Madison College, compiled a 9-0-1 record and remains the only Dukes squad to finish a season without a loss.

Football began at JMU in 1972, and the program's first two schedules consisted mostly of college junior varsity and prep school teams. The first varsity schedule came in 1974, and what followed in 1975 was a suspense-filled campaign with nail-biting finishes and late-game heroics that kept the Dukes' unblemished record intact.

Seven of JMU's 1975 victories were decided by a touchdown or less, and its largest victory margin was 11 points. The Dukes won nine straight games after a season-opening scoreless tie at Glenville State and finished the year as the fourth-ranked Division II team in the nation in scoring defense. They allowed only 75 points (7.5 per game) and shut out three opponents. Only four foes scored as many as 10 points, and JMU won the Virginia College Athletic Conference championship.

All of that was by a program that three seasons before in 1972 didn't score a point while going 0-4-1.

"Our young men believed from the very beginning of preseason practice in August that they could have an undefeated season, and then they went out and did it," said head coach Challace McMillin, who led the Dukes from 1972-84. "The players talked about an undefeated season from the very start, and I think that was an important thing. Our players really believed they could do it."

"It was a great feeling for me from a personal point of view, and I'm very happy that the players had the opportunity to experience an undefeated season," McMillin said at the end of the campaign. "It was a wonderful experience."

Following the team's season-closing 14-3 victory at Shippensburg, McMillin said, "It's been a great season for me working with these young men. It's the kind of season that a lot of coaches never have the opportunity to experience. It's a great feeling for me from a personal point of view."

"This team was able to respond to every situation it faced," he said. "There were a number of times our players could have let up or bent under pressure, but they refused to do so. I've got to believe they've grown a lot as individuals because of the experiences they had this season."

After the success of 1975, JMU extended its winning streak to 12 games early during the 1976 season when it was ranked co-No. 1 in the nation in the first poll for the NCAA's newly established Division III.

In the VCAA, JMU competed with Bridgewater, Emory & Henry, Hampden-Sydney, Randolph-Macon, and Washington & Lee. The Dukes stayed in Division III through the 1978 season, moved to Division II in 1979 with their first group of scholarship players and went to Division I-AA (now the Football Championship Subdivision) in 1980.

Fantastic Finishes
The 1975 season was full of thrilling plays as seemingly every game going to the closing moments with the outcome in doubt.

There was freshman John Tuell's end-zone interception with just more than a minute left to preserve the tie at Glenville State and JMU's defense stopping Bridgewater on four first-and-goal situations in a 10-7 win.

There was linebacker Dewey Windham blocking a fourth-quarter field goal attempt to preserve a 3-0 win over Hampden-Sydney and safety Brent Good intercepting a pass at the JMU five with 32 seconds to play in a 13-7 win over Shepherd. Other wins were saved by JMU stopping a two-point conversion try during the final seconds of a 21-20 win at Frostburg State and the Dukes thwarting last-minute scoring threats in 12-7 and 7-0 wins over Randolph-Macon and Emory & Henry, respectively.

JMU ran its record to 8-0-1 with a 24-15 win over Salisbury State before closing with its win at Shippensburg. The Dukes trailed 3-0 at Shippensburg, but Dale Eaton's blocked punt to give them possession at the Raider three, and Shane Hast's touchdown run with 11:58 left put them in front to stay.

Season Recognitions
The season was one that saw McMillin and several of his players honored.

McMillin won coach of the year honors in the NCAA district and from the VCAA and the Richmond Touchdown Club. Defensive lineman Woody Bergeria and Windham were Honorable Mention All-Americans, and tailback Ron Stith was state college division offensive player of the year.

Stith provided much of the team's offense after fellow tailback Bernard Slayton was hurt early during the season. Both eventually ran for more than 2,000 career yards.

Bergeria, Stith and Windham were First Team All-VCAA selections along with offensive guard Jeff Adams. Center Brian Grainer, offensive tackle Tim Phillips, Slayton, Eaton and Good were Second Team All-VCAA picks and quarterback Les Banich, defensive end Rich Jackson and linebacker Pat Cavanaugh were named Honorable Mention All-VCAA .

Adams and Branich were fourth-year Dukes and remained from JMU's inaugural team in 1972. Bergeria, Branich, Slayton and Stith are members of JMU's Athletics Hall of Fame.

Season Statistics
Stith ran 142 times for 735 yards and seven touchdowns in 10 games in 1975, and Slayton carried 83 times for 395 yards and four scores in five games. Branich completed 35 of 73 passes for 591 yards and a touchdown, and Chip Deringer with 13 catches for 185 yards and Chris Pineda with 12 for 236 yards were the top receivers.

The Dukes averaged 213.3 yards rushing and 62.8 yards passing per game while allowing 119.8 yards rushing and 150.2 yards passing per game.

Sept. 13, at Glenville, Va.
JMU 0, Glenville State 0
In an era before the NCAA instituted overtime play, Tuell, a freshman defensive back in his first college game, turned in JMU's biggest play of the game when he picked off a pass in the end zone after the host Pioneers had a first down at the Dukes' eight-yard line. JMU's best scoring chance came earlier during the final period, but the Dukes failed on a 36-yard field goal attempt after having a first down at the Glenville State 20.

JMU ran only 44 plays for 161 yards on a muddy field to Glenville State's 63 for 295 yards, but its defense was strong when it had to be. Windham took part 19 tackles, Bergeria was involved in 10 tackles and recovered a fumble, defensive back Joe Carico took part in 12 stops and guard Jim McHugh and Cavanaugh both were involved in 10.

Sept. 20, at JMU
JMU 21, Washington & Lee 16
The Dukes had their best offensive quarter of the season, scoring all of their points during the second period and holding on after leading 21-3. Mike Atalla's punt block set up a two-yard Stith touchdown run; Branich hit Glenn Knox on a 61-yard scoring pass; and Slayton ran seven yards for a score. Slayton injured a shoulder on the scoring play and was sidelined until the final three games of the season.

JMU forced three turnovers and gained 323 yards to Washington & Lee's 261.

Sept. 27, at JMU
JMU 3, Hampden-Sydney 0
JMU's defense registered its second shutout in three games, and Bob Ward's 23-yard, second-quarter field goal provided the only points. The Dukes rushed for 256 yards, including 138 yards on 32 carries by Stith, but squandered a scoring chance on a bad snap on a field goal try and were penalized nine times for 90 yards.

Hampden-Sydney penetrated JMU territory only twice with its only real scoring threat coming early during the fourth quarter after blocking a punt and getting possession at the JMU seven. The Tigers, who had only 144 yards overall, lost six yards in three plays, and Windham blocked a 30-yard field goal attempt on fourth down. Windham also took part in 10 tackles, intercepted a pass and broke up another pass.

Oct. 4, at JMU
JMU 13, Shepherd 7
Good's interception preserved JMU's lead and fullback Henry Pike ran for 64 second-half yards and a touchdown, but the story of the day may have been the Dukes' injury list. Already playing without Slayton, JMU lost Stith on a four-yard, first-half touchdown run and had Branich, Cavanaugh and punters Mike Marston and Winston Bersch miss time with injuries.

Branich and Cavanaugh returned, but the Dukes, who dressed only 56 players, called two junior varsity players out of the stands to join the team. Sophomore tailback Keith Joyner joined the ranks at halftime, and freshman punter Alan Leonard dressed quickly during the fourth quarter after the team's first two punters were hurt. Leonard responded with a 44-yard punt to back Shepherd to its 10-yard line late in the game.

Oct. 11, at Bridgewater
JMU 10, Bridgewater 7
Defense again was the key for the Dukes, who kept Bridgewater out of the end zone after the Eagles had first and goal from the JMU one-yard line three times and from the two on another occasion, all resulting from pass interference penalties. JMU's final defensive stand came with just less than five minutes to play when freshman defensive guard Fred Garst jarred the ball from an Eagle running back and Jeff Kraus recovered at the one-foot line.

Stith scored on a two-yard run on JMU's first series, and Ward's 30-yard field goal broke a 7-7 tie on the Dukes' first possession of the final half. Defensive tackle Bob Dunn was in on 13 tackles and had a sack; McHugh had four unassisted stops among eight overall tackles; and Windham was involved in 15 tackles for the JMU defense.

Oct. 18, at Frostburg, Md.
JMU 21, Frostburg 20
Stith ran for 189 yards and three touchdowns, and JMU stopped a two-point conversion attempt with 41 seconds to play in its fifth-straight victory. Stith had a then-team-record-long 81-yard scoring run and added touchdown carries of four and 54 yards.

His 54-yarder gave JMU a 21-14 lead with 10 minutes remaining, but Frostburg got to within a point on a 68-yard pass completion and lateral for a touchdown after getting possession at its 17 with 1:32 to play. Bergeria had the first hit on the Frostburg running back on the two-point try to preserve JMU's lead.

Oct. 25, at Emory, Va.
JMU 7, Emory & Henry 0
JMU recorded its third shutout of the season, and the offense scored on its first possession – a 45-yard play during which Branich carried for nine yards before tossing the ball to Stith, who went the rest of the way for a touchdown.

The Dukes' defense held in the second quarter after Emory & Henry reached the JMU 12 and after the Wasps got to the JMU five with less than a minute to play. Emory & Henry had a first-and-goal from the 10, but Cavanaugh and several teammates dropped a Wasp running back for a 10-yard loss to the 15 with 35 seconds to play. McHugh was in on five sacks and 15 tackles and defensive tackle Bob Dunn four sacks and 13 tackles to lead the JMU defense.

Nov. 1, at JMU
JMU 12, Randolph-Macon 7
The Dukes clinched the VCAA title with their fifth-straight league win before a homecoming crowd of 10,000. Slayton ran 29 times for 140 yards and a touchdown after missing five games, and Stith carried 14 times for 114 yards and a 39-yard score.

Randolph-Macon scored only on a 60-yard return of a blocked punt and gained but 145 yards. A third-quarter fumble recovery by Jackson set up Slayton's 18-yard run for the go-ahead touchdown and final points of the game. Windham took part in 14 tackles and Bergeria 12 for the Dukes.

Nov. 8, at JMU
JMU 24, Salisbury State 15
Slayton had his second-straight impressive outing, running for 165 yards and two touchdowns. He scored on a two-yard carry in the first quarter and on a 74-yarder in the second period as the Dukes built a 21-3 lead. Salisbury State got to within 21-15 and had possession at the JMU 19 after a fumbled kickoff return but couldn't score.

JMU ran for 346 yards, including 82 yards and a touchdown from Pike, and had 408 yards of total offense. Salisbury State had 464 yards of offense, the most all season against the Dukes.

Nov. 15, at Shippensburg, Pa.
JMU 14, Shippensburg 3
Like it had done so often during the season, JMU's defense kept the Dukes in the game and eventually presented the offense, which gained a 22-game, varsity-low 143 yards, with the opportunities it needed. The game turned early during the fourth quarter when with JMU trailing 3-0, Eaton blocked a punt to give the Dukes possession at the Shippensburg three-yard line. Hast scored two plays later from the two for a 7-3 JMU lead.

The Dukes all but sealed the victory and their unbeaten season when Branich capped a 47-yard scoring drive with a 31-yard touchdown run with 1:59 to play after Shippensburg lost its second of seven fumbles in the game. JMU also intercepted three passes and stopped a Raider fourth-and-two play from the Dukes' seven early during the second half.

1975 Team
First Row (left to right): Challace McMillin (head coach), 84 Phil Culkin, 55 Brian Grainer, 73 Tim Phillips, 76 Terry Daley, 65 Jeff Adams, 10 Les Branich, 31 Henry Pike, 63 Brian Young, 67 Craig Hoepfl, 43 Mike Atalla, 25 Brent Good, 89 Winston Bersch, Jim Prince (assistant coach).

Second Row: Harry Van Arsdale (assistant coach), 69 Dave Payne, 20 Shane Hast, 81 Rich Jackson, 51, Dale Eaton, 28 Bernard Slayton, 21 Chip Deringer, 22 Ron Stith, 56 Bob Ward, 64, Jon Brentlinger, 49 Chris Pineda, 26 Tom Parisi, George Nipe (assistant coach).

Third Row: Ellis Wisler (assistant coach), 14 Joe Carico, 11 Terry Hansrote, 42 John Gatewood, 36 Glenn Knox, 86 Mike Marston, 32 Dave Sensabaugh, 34 Don Sears, 18 Keith Pope, 62 Eric Douglas, 19 Tom Mitchell, 82 Ron Borders, Mike Clem (assistant coach).

Fourth Row: Brad Babcock (assistant coach), 23 Jim Hardesty, 71 Robbie Nicholson, 70 Chip West, 27 John Tuell, 29 Bob Logan, 79 Bob Dunn, 59 Jim McHugh, 74 Woody Bergeria, 66 Mark Baird, 50 Rich Burkhart, 80 Joe Taylor, Bob Snyder (manager).

Fifth Row: Buster Blincoe (manager), 61 Fred Garst, 72 Warren Coleman, 13 Stan Jones, 44 Dewey Windham, 30 Ed Huff, 88 Jeff Krauss, 68 Greg Sears, 48 Pat Cavanaugh, 77 Larry Smith, 46 Floyd Young, 16 John Bowers, 12 O.C. Hailey.

1975 Results

at Glenville State	T, 0-0
Washington & Lee	W, 21-16
Hampden-Sydney	W, 3-0
Shepherd	W, 13-7
at Bridgewater	W, 10-7
at Frostburg	W, 21-20
at Emory & Henry	W, 7-0
Randolph-Macon	W, 12-7
Salisbury State	W, 24-15
at Shippensburg	W, 14-3

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Completed Event: Football versus Georgia Southern on September 27, 2025 , Win , 35, to, 10

Completed Event: Football at Georgia State on October 4, 2025 , Win , 14, to, 7

Completed Event: Football versus Louisiana on October 11, 2025 , Win , 24, to, 14

Completed Event: Football versus Old Dominion on October 18, 2025 , Win , 63, to, 27

Completed Event: Football at Texas State on October 28, 2025 , Win , 52, to, 20

Completed Event: Football at Marshall on November 8, 2025 , Win , 35, to, 23

Completed Event: Football versus App State on November 15, 2025 , Win , 58, to, 10

Completed Event: Football versus Washington State on November 22, 2025 , Win , 24, to, 20

Completed Event: Football at Coastal Carolina on November 29, 2025 , Win , 59, to, 10

Upcoming Event: Football versus Troy on December 5, 2025 at 7 p.m.

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1975 Unbeaten Season Still A Special JMU Memory

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