Dukes Set Multiple Records in Season-Opening Win Against Morehead State

Saturday, September 4

Harrisonburg, Va.

6 p.m.

James Madison University

1-0 , 0-0

Morehead State

0-1 , 0-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Morehead St.

James Madison

Dukes Set Multiple Records in Season-Opening Win Against Morehead State

9/4/2021 11:32:00 PM | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison kicked off the 50th season of football in style, setting two team records while matching another in a 68-10 victory against Morehead State on Friday night at Bridgeforth Stadium.

The second-ranked Dukes limited the Eagles to an astounding -57 rushing yards, shattering the previous record of -35 against Bloomsburg in 1989. JMU also scored 51 second-half points, the most in a second half in school history and the second most in any half.

Quarterback Cole Johnson threw for a career-high five touchdowns and the Dukes had six total passing touchdowns, tying both JMU records for passing touchdowns by an individual and a team.

The Dukes out-gained MSU by nearly 500 yards, as they racked up 687 yards of total offense, the fifth most in school history. JMU rushed for 345 yards and threw for 342.

Running back Kaelon Black rushed 12 times for 100 yards, the second 100-yard game in just his third career outing. Fellow running back Latrele Palmer also ran for 98 yards and a pair of touchdowns for his third career two-touchdown game. Peyton Rutherford finished the game strong, adding 58 yards in the fourth quarter, which included a game-long 56-yard rush.

Johnson was 19-of-28 for 298 yards with his five scores, while rookie quarterback Billy Atkins finished the game 4-of-7 for 44 yards and his first career touchdown.

The quarterback duo found four different Dukes for touchdowns in the passing game, led by Kris Thornton, who had four catches for 82 yards and a pair of scores. Antwane Wells made four grabs for 60 yards and a touchdown, Kevin Curry had three receptions for a career-best 50 yards and a touchdown while Solomon Vanhorse reeled in three passes for 39 yards and two touchdowns.

Defensively, safety Chris Chukwuneke turned in a career-high six tackles with one for loss. Safety Que Reid made five stops with an interception and a breakup, as he was one of four Dukes to produce a takeaway. Cornerbacks Greg Ross and Taurus Carroll each had an interception, while defensive lineman Abi Nwabuoku-Okonji registered his first career fumble recovery.

JMU led 17-3 at the half, before turning on the jets, scoring four touchdowns in the third to extend the lead to 45-10. Palmer sparked the offense with a 47-yard touchdown on the fourth play of the second half, and the Dukes followed that with Johnson touchdown passes to Thornton and Vanhorse. In the fourth, the Dukes found the endzone four times, with three touchdowns and a safety. That included first career touchdowns for both Atkins and quarterback Patrick Bentley, who capped off the scoring with a four-yard touchdown run in the final minute.

MSU's Mark Pappas threw for 243 yards and three interceptions, finding his All-PFL receiver BJ Byrd nine times for 127 yards.

GAME FACTS

JMU out-gained MSU 687-196, which included a dominant 345 to -57 margin in the run game
The Dukes also held a significant lead through the air, at 342 to 253.
JMU had a +4 turnover margin, with three interceptions and a fumble recovery while turning it away zero times.
JMU scored 21 points off of its four takeaways
The Dukes tallied 11 tackles for loss and three sacks, while MSU had seven and one.
13 different JMU players recorded a reception for JMU while the visiting Eagles had 12 players with catches.
Place kicker Ethan Ratke made his 73rd career field goal, moving within three field goals of the all-time FCS record. Adding in his nine extra points, Ratke moved into second place all-time by kickers in the FCS with 404 points. He needs just 10 more points to break that record as well.

COLE JOINS JMU QB GREATS

Cole Johnson joined a short list of JMU quarterbacks to ever go for five touchdown passes in a single game.
It was just the sixth time an individual has achieved the feat for the Dukes.
Bryan Schor threw for five touchdowns a JMU-record three times – once in 2017 and twice in 2016
Vad Lee went for five touchdowns in 2015, while Michael Birdsong was the first to do so in 2013

UP NEXT
JMU opens Colonial Athletic Association play on Saturday, Sept. 11 with a 4 p.m. kickoff against Maine. The game will be televised on NBC Sports Washington Plus and streamed on FloFootball.