Dukes Drop First-Place Battle at Georgia Southern

Saturday, October 19

Statesboro, Ga.

4 p.m.

James Madison University

5-2 , 1-2

Georgia Southern

5-2 , 3-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

James Madison

Georgia Southern

10/19/2024 7:45:00 PM | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery

STATESBORO, Ga. – Georgia Southern jumped out to an early 21-0 lead, and James Madison's offense struggled to find a rhythm on offense, as it fell 28-14 on Saturday evening at Allen E. Paulson Stadium.

The Eagles remain in first place in the Sun Belt Conference East Division, improving to 5-2 on the year and 3-0 in league play, while the Dukes fell to 5-2 on the year and 1-2 in SBC games. GS also moved to 6-0 all-time against JMU in games played at Paulson Stadium.

Georgia Southern dominated the yards category, out-gaining JMU by a 405-253 margin, including 190-67 on the ground. JC French finished 24-of-33 for 215 passing yards and three touchdowns with three interceptions. Jalen White rushed for 134 yards, averaging 5.8 per carry, while David Mbadinga added 38 yards and a score.

Jacob Dobbs led the way for JMU on defense, recording a season-high 17 tackles, including eight solo, and a fumble recovery. Jacob Thomas grabbed his third interception of the season and finished with eight stops and a career-high 2.0 tackles for loss, while Darold DeNgohe chipped in with a career-best 2.0 TFL. The defense also produced interceptions by Immanuel Bush and DJ Barksdale, with the latter resulting in JMU's fourth pick-six of the season.

Offensively, Alonza Barnett III was 22-of-41 for 186 passing yards while George Pettaway ran for 63 rushing yards. Cam Ross (five catches) and Yamir Knight (four catches) combined for nine receptions for 78 yards. Omarion Dollison hauled in three receptions for a team-best 51 yards.

HOW IT HAPPENED

JMU forced a pair of first-quarter turnovers with a tipped-pass interception by Bush, and a fumble recovery by Dobbs, but the Dukes weren't able to produce points off either takeaway.
Georgia Southern converted a third-and-long and a play later, Mbadinga had a wide-open seam down the near sideline, going 29 yards for the score to make it 7-0 Eagles after one.
Southern doubled its lead to 14-0 with 3:48 to go before halftime on a five-yard pass from French to Derwin Burgess Jr., scoring on a GS-record, 18-play drive that stretched 96 yards and 9:14 off the clock.
After another 3-and-out by JMU, the Eagles needed just five plays to score again, this time on a 15-yard pass from French to Tyler Fromm, giving the hosts a 21-0 halftime lead.
JMU got on the board midway through the third quarter, to climb within 21-7, as Barksdale jumped the route at the line of scrimmage and returned it 10 yards for a pick-six.
GS responded with a one-yard touchdown toss from French to Elijah Walton for his first career touchdown, giving the Eagles a 28-7 lead after three.
Barnett connected with Dollison for a 35-yard touchdown to make it 28-14 with 14:32 remaining in the final frame.
Still trailing 28-14, the Dukes took over at their own eight-yard line at the 4:43 mark and drove deep into Georgia Southern territory, but failed to register points before time expired.

GAME NOTES

The Eagles were solid on third down, going 9-of-13 to extend drives, while JMU was just 7-of-18.
Georgia Southern turned in its lopsided total-offense advantage with a huge second quarter, in which it held a 135-47 margin to move the score from 7-0 to 21-0 at the break.
The 21-0 halftime deficit was the largest for JMU in its FBS history (2022-present).
With Bush's first-quarter interception, JMU's defensive line has now produced an FBS-leading four interceptions.
JMU had four takeaways and now has 21 this season, and Barksdale's third-quarter touchdown was JMU's fourth pick-six of the year and first by a safety.

UP NEXT
JMU returns home to Harrisonburg for Homecoming Weekend on Saturday, Oct. 26 where it hosts Southern Miss. Kickoff from Bridgeforth Stadium is set for 3:30 p.m. on ESPN+.