JMU Sets Two-Game Scoring Record in 63-7 Victory over Ball State

Saturday, September 28

Harrisonburg, Va.

1:30 p.m.

James Madison University

4-0 , 0-0

Ball State

1-3 , 0-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Ball St.

James Madison

JMU Sets Two-Game Scoring Record in 63-7 Victory over Ball State

9/28/2024 7:51:00 PM | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison dominated every phase, and Alonza Barnett III had another stellar performance, accounting for six total touchdowns, to lead the Dukes to a convincing 63-7 Family Weekend victory against Ball State on Saturday afternoon in front of a sold-out Bridgeforth Stadium.

The Dukes moved to 4-0 on the year, while the Cardinals fell to 1-3. It was JMU's first win over a Mid-American Conference team in its third attempt and the fifth straight season the program has started with at least a 4-0 record.

The second consecutive scoring outburst set JMU's two-game scoring record against scholarship programs, with 133 points. The win follows JMU's 70-50 victory at North Carolina on Sept. 21. The 133 points over the past eight quarters surpassed the previous record of 131 points, which JMU scored on Oct. 29, 2016 (84-7 vs. Rhode Island) and on Nov. 5, 2016 (47-43 at Richmond).

Barnett III tallied 324 yards and six touchdowns, as he was 20-of-28 for 280 yards and five touchdowns while rushing for 44 yards and a score. In his past two outings, he's combined for 13 total touchdowns (10 passing, 3 rushing) and 811 yards of offense, which includes 668 passing yards.

Four different Dukes caught touchdown passes, including Yamir Knight, who made four receptions for 44 yards and a career-high two touchdowns. Taylor Thompson made a career-best five catches for 91 yards and a score. Omarion Dollison caught four balls for 48 yards and a touchdown, while Cam Ross added a touchdown, making three grabs for 46 receiving yards.

The Dukes were strong in the ground game, accounting for 236 yards of rushing, averaging 6.9 per carry. Three players had at least 50 rushing yards, led by Wayne Knight, who had a career-high six rushes for 63 yards, with a long of 37. Aside from Barnett III's 60, Jobi Malary tacked on 50 yards on just five carries, scoring his first JMU touchdown to complete the scoring output. George Pettaway added a touchdown after contributing 35 yards.

The Dukes scored eight times on offense and didn't punt one time, which was the first time since Dec. 7, 2019, the punt team didn't have a single snap. JMU out-gained Ball State by a wide margin, at 522-250, including 236-77 on the ground.

Defensively, JMU forced three interceptions, including one pick-six, and also stopped Ball State three times on fourth down. Terrence Spence made five tackles and had an interception to set a single-season career high with three after his two a week ago. Eric O'Neill made a season-best 2.0 sacks and returned an interception 27 yards to the house for his first career touchdown. Khairi Manns also registered a pair of sacks for a new career high, while DJ Barksdale produced his first career interception.

For the Cardinals, they were paced by Kadin Semonza, who was 22-of-35 for 168 yards and a touchdown with three interceptions. Braedon Sloan rushed for a game-best 72 yards.

HOW IT HAPPENED

JMU opened the game with scoring drives on its two opening drives, as Barnett III drove the length of the field, connecting with Yamir Knight on his first career touchdown on a 12-yard pass.
After a Spence interception, JMU needed just 35 yards to score again, as Pettaway hit paydirt from 24 yards out for the score. Thompson rushed it in for two more points, making it 15-0 just over eight minutes in.
Ball State answered with multiple chunk plays, and Semonza threw a dart to Tanner Koziol for the 15-yard touchdown, trimming JMU's lead to 15-7.
JMU came back with another touchdown drive, converting a 30-yard pass on fourth down to Logan Kyle before Dollison caught a five-yard toss in the back corner of the endzone to make it 22-7 after one.
Possessions were at a premium in the second, as Ball State ran nearly eight minutes off the clock to bridge the quarters, but sacks by O'Neill and Manns thwarted the drive.
JMU made the most with its only full possession of the quarter, as Barnett III accounted for 46 of 59 yards, capped off by a 10-yard pass to Yamir Knight for the score, making it 29-7.
Ball State threatened but a tipped pass interception by Barksdale, which was his first career pick, kept it a 22-point game at the break.
The interception train continued into the opening minute of the second half, as O'Neill jumped a pass at the line of scrimmage and returned it for his first career pick-six, making it 35-7.
JMU extended the lead to 49-7 with consecutive touchdown drives that ended with a Ross 26-yard touchdown catch and a Barnett III 18-yard rush.
In the fourth Barnett III finished his day with a dime to Thompson from 22 yards out for the score, making it a 56-7 lead.
Late in the game, JMU put together one more drive to the goal line, as Malary found a seam for a 32-yard touchdown scamper.

GAME NOTES

The Dukes averaged 8.3 yards per play, while Ball State was limited to 3.5 per snap.
JMU turned in arguably its best third-down performance in recent memory, going 9-of-10 to extend drives. Ball State did a decent job on third down as well, finishing 7-of-16.
On fourth down, JMU went 1-of-1, while Ball State was 2-of-5.
JMU had five sacks, as opposed to the Cardinals' three. JMU also held an 8-3 lead on tackles for loss.
After Ball State's touchdown drive, its final eight possessions consisted of two interceptions (one pick-six), three turnovers on downs and a pair of three-and-outs.
The 63 points were the second-most points JMU has ever scored against an FBS opponent, trailing the 70 it scored just last week at UNC.
Over the past two games, JMU has combined for 47 first-quarter points, as it had 25 at North Carolina on Sept. 21.
JMU was out-possessed by a 33:41 to 26:19 in the game. Despite only having 2:09 of possession time in the third quarter, JMU outscored Ball State 20-0 in that stanza.

UP NEXT
JMU opens Sun Belt Conference play on Saturday, Oct. 5 with a trip to Monroe, La., to face ULM. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET and will be nationally televised on ESPNU.