Dukes Storm Back for Thrilling 42-40 Victory Over Georgia State

Saturday, November 19

Harrisonburg, Va.

2 p.m.

James Madison University

7-3 , 5-2

Georgia State

4-7 , 3-4

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Georgia St.	10	24	0	6	40
James Madison	7	7	21	7	42

Game Notes Highlights Cignetti Press Conference Players Press Conference

Dukes Storm Back for Thrilling 42-40 Victory Over Georgia State

11/19/2022 8:34:00 PM | Football

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HARRISONBURG, Va. – Early turnovers put James Madison in a hole, but a furious rally in the second half propelled the Dukes to a thrilling 42-40 victory against Georgia State in Sun Belt Conference action on Saturday afternoon at Bridgeforth Stadium.

The win moved the Dukes to 7-3 on the year and 5-2 in Sun Belt play while the Panthers fell to 4-7 overall and 3-4 in league games. JMU also improved to 2-0 all-time against GSU.

Georgia State took advantage of three first-half turnovers by JMU to build a 27-7 lead in the second and later 34-14 at the break. However, the third quarter was all JMU, as it outgained GSU by a 171-5 margin, scoring three touchdowns to take a 35-34 lead entering the fourth.

The Dukes extended their lead to 42-34 with just over 10 minutes remaining on a 16-yard stripe from Todd Centeio to Kris Thornton, which was the fourth passing touchdown for Centeio in the game.

The Dukes then got a stop, but a fumble gave GSU possession in JMU territory with 6:10 to play. The Panthers capitalized, scoring on a Marcus Carroll touchdown run to make it 42-40 with 2:30 to go. JMU's defense forced an incompletion on the two-point try to maintain the lead. After recovering the onside kick a second later, JMU converted on third down with a Centeio 10-yard gain on a keeper to run out the clock.

Centeio had yet another stellar day through the air, finishing 21-of-27 for 274 yards and four touchdowns. That included 15 straight completions to open the game. He added 12 rushing yards to tally 286 total.

Thornton made four catches for 68 yards and two touchdowns for his ninth career multi-touchdown game. Devin Ravenel had a career-high five receptions for 35 yards and a touchdown, while Terrance Greene Jr. caught two balls for 81 yards. That included a season-long 62-yard completion from Centeio in the third quarter. Kaelon Black also added a receiving score, making four grabs for 26 yards.

On the ground, Percy Agyei-Obese rushed for 89 yards and two touchdowns, as he's now found the endzone 39 times in his career.

JMU's defense was led by six tackles apiece from Isaac Ukwu and Jamare Edwards, as Ukwu tied game-high honors with 1.5 sacks. Jamree Kromah was active in the backfield, finishing with 2.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks, while Devyn Coles had a sack, forced fumble and fumble recovery.

GSU was paced by Darren Grainger, who threw for 176 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 25 and a score. Jamari Thrash had four catches for 136 yards and a touchdown.

In all, JMU outgained Georgia State by a 425-257 margin, which included a 271-62 lead in the second half.

HOW IT HAPPENED

JMU struck first when Centeio connected on a dart over the middle to Thornton, who bounced off a defender into the endzone for a 26-yard touchdown with 5:22 to go in the first.
GSU scored 10 straight in a 16-second span, as Michael Hayes drilled a career-long, 51-yard field goal. On the ensuing play, Centeio was sacked and Javon Denis picked up a fumble and returned it 21 yards for a touchdown to give the Panthers a 10-7 lead after one.
After a stop, Grainger drove the Panthers down the field and scored on a 28-yard keeper to extend the GSU lead to 17-7 with 10:12 left in the half. The Dukes fumbled on the kickoff and the Panthers recovered at the JMU four, but settled for a 22-yard field goal to make it a 20-7 game.
Another offensive miscue immediately turned into points for Georgia State. A fumble by Agyei-Obese resulted in a 31-yard scoop-and-score by Terrell Gordon to give the visitors a 27-7 lead midway through the second.
JMU ended the drought just before halftime, going 75 yards and capping off the drive with a four-yard touchdown pass from Centeio to Ravenel to bring the Dukes within 27-14.
GSU wasn't done, going 75 yards on a shovel pass on the next play to extend its lead to 34-14 at the break.
On its opening possession of the second half, Centeio hit a wide-open Greene Jr. for a 62-yard catch, a season-long for both Dukes, to set up Agyei-Obese's one-yard touchdown.
Black caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Centeio with 6:18 left in the third to close within a score at 34-28. After a strip and recovery by Coles, Agyei-Obese burst through the line for a 36-yard touchdown, giving JMU a 35-34 lead after three.
In the fourth, JMU extended the play, converting a fourth down in GSU territory to set up Centeio's second TD pass to Thornton, this time on a 16-yard catch in the corner of the end zone.
GSU scored with 2:30 left on a Carroll six-yard rush, but the two-point conversion was stopped when JMU's defense was all over Grainger in the backfield to force the incompletion.
JMU recovered the onside kick, and with GSU having no timeouts left, the Dukes secured the win on a Centeio first-down carry.

GAME NOTES

JMU won six games over FBS opponents in its first 50 seasons of football and matched that win total in year one competing in the subdivision.
JMU held leads in both passing (274-176) and rushing (151-81) for the second straight week.
JMU had a season-high seven fumbles, losing four to GSU, while the visitors had one turnover on a lost fumble.
JMU was stout on third down, going 9-for-14 offensively and limiting GSU to just 3-of-13.
JMU's defense produced five sacks, as opposed to GSU's three. However the Panthers had a 9-8 lead in tackles for loss.
A total of 13 Dukes had two or more tackles with six having at least a half TFL.
GSU produced two defensive touchdowns, both on fumble recoveries, marking the first time since Oct. 2, 2021 that an opponent had a pair of defensive scores.
JMU has allowed just 19 points in first quarters this season, though just 10 have been conceded by the Dukes' defense.
Thornton moved into second place all-time at JMU with 23 career touchdowns, passing Riley Stapleton (2016-19). He's two away from tying Macey Brooks (1993-96), who had 25. Thornton also slid into third place in career receptions, at 162, as he surpassed Brandon Ravenel's 160 (2013-16).
Agyei-Obese's 39 career rushing touchdowns is now just two shy of Khalid Abdullah's (2013-16) record of 41.
Centeio's first-half completion numbers were flawless for the second-straight game, going 13-for-13 against Georgia State. Last week at Old Dominion, he began 11-for-11, totaling 24-for-24 in the first half in the last two games.

UP NEXT
JMU closes the 2022 season on Saturday, Nov. 26 when it hosts Sun Belt East-leading Coastal Carolina (9-1, 6-1 SBC). Kickoff for Senior Day is set for noon at Bridgeforth Stadium and will be nationally televised on ESPNU.