Dukes Dominate All Three Phases, Cruise Past Southern to Move to 6-0

Saturday, October 14

Harrisonburg, Va.

Noon

James Madison University

6-0 , 3-0

Georgia Southern

4-2 , 1-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Ga. Southern

James Madison

Dukes Dominate All Three Phases, Cruise Past Southern to Move to 6-0

10/14/2023 6:06:00 PM | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison jumped out to a big lead and never looked back, controlling all phases en route to a 41-13 Sun Belt Conference football victory on Saturday afternoon against Georgia Southern in front of a sold-out Bridgeforth Stadium.

The Dukes remained unbeaten, moving to 6-0 on the year and 3-0 in Sun Belt Conference play, while the Eagles fell to 4-2 overall and 1-1 in league games. The win for JMU ended GS's eight-game series win streak, marking the Dukes' first win against the Eagles since the first meeting back on Nov. 2, 1985.

JMU also became the first transitioning team from the FCS to FBS to start a season with a 6-0 record.

Kaelon Black found the endzone three times for a new career high, which included twice in the pass game and once on the ground. Black rushed for 45 yards and made three receptions for 38 yards to account for 83 total yards.

Jordan McCloud was 20-of-31 for 259 passing yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 20 yards to net 279 total yards.

Elijah Sarratt turned in his second career 100-yard game, reeling in five catches for 105 yards and a touchdown. Five total players had at least three catches, as Phoenix Sproles made four for 51 yards and Reggie Brown had four for 50.

JMU's defense recorded three interceptions and seven tackles for loss, as JMU's starters held Georgia Southern without a touchdown. GS finally found the end zone in the final minute with most starters out of the game.

Chauncey Logan led the way with a career-high 11 tackles with an interception and breakup. JMU also got picks from James Carpenter and Chris Chukwuneke, while Jalen Green had 1.5 sacks. JMU also broke up nine passes, led by two each from Jacob Thomas, who had a career-high eight stops, and Jailin Walker, who made five tackles in his return. Carpenter also made a sack with two PBUs in the win.

JMU out-gained Georgia Southern 384-368, which included a 125-64 advantage in the run game. Passing numbers were close, with GS edging JMU 304-259, however the visitors had 59 pass attempts, as opposed to JMU's 31.

For GS, Davis Brin was 31-of-52 for 271 yards with two interceptions, while JC French also threw a pick. Khaleb Hood has a game-high 10 catches for 78 yards, while the defense was paced by Marques Watson Trent's seven tackles and a sack.

The Dukes led 20-6 at the break and ran away in the third quarter with a trio of touchdowns to lead by as many as 35 down the stretch.

HOW IT HAPPENED

JMU drove 75 yards on opening drive, converting a third-and-long and fourth-and-short, as the 10-play drive was capped off by a 23-yard touchdown pass from McCloud to Sarratt.
After a stop, JMU went 80 yards, and the drive ended with another McCloud touchdown pass from 15 yards out to Black. It was Black's second receiving score of the year and gave JMU a 14-0 edge after one.
Both teams traded field goals, with Camden Wise converting on a 23-yard boot, while Michael Lantz was good from 43 to make it a 17-3 game late in the half.
Wise kicked home a career-long 46-yarder to answer, but a GS drive in the final seconds got the visitors another field goal as time expired for a 20-6 lead at the break.
JMU took advantage of a short field, needing just three plays to go 38 yards to extend the lead to 27-6 midway through the third. After a 15-yard run by Black, McCloud found him all alone for a 15-yard touchdown catch, his second receiving score of the afternoon.
Carpenter's tipped interception set up a one-play touchdown drive for the Dukes, as Black scored for a career-high third time with a 20-yard scamper.
JMU quickly made it 41-6 to close the third, as Cheese Sarratt's 47-yard punt return set up another short field, and Ty Son Lawton rumbled in from four yards out.
GS provided the only scoring in the fourth with a David Mbadinga one-yard run with 26 seconds to play.

GAME NOTES

JMU's 20-6 halftime lead signified Georgia Southern's first deficit at the break this season.
The Dukes scored on all four first-half drives, and the team's combined eight drives all ended on the positive side of the field.
Georgia Southern had only given up three touchdown passes all season entering Saturday, and McCloud matched that number in two-and-a-half quarters.
JMU had scored 17 points in third quarters over the first five games but put up 21 in the third of today's win.
JMU has now had interceptions by defensive lineman in consecutive weeks, as Carpenter joined Green's pick-six from Sept. 30 versus South Alabama.
JMU's remarkable third-down streak of holding the opposition under 50% ended Saturday, as GS finished 12-of-21. JMU went 39 straight games with teams finishing under 50, and the Eagles are the first squad in 66 games to finish over 50%.
This is JMU's ninth consecutive victory, dating back to last season.

UP NEXT
JMU has a quick turnaround, as it heads to Huntington, W.Va., on Thursday, Oct. 19 for a matchup at Marshall. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m., and the game will be televised on ESPN.