Dukes Hold Off Runnin' Bulldogs in Home Opener

Saturday, September 7

Harrisonburg, Va.

6 p.m.

James Madison University

2-0 , 0-0

Gardner-Webb

0-2 , 0-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Gardner-Webb

James Madison

9/7/2024 11:46:00 PM | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison football used big stops on the defensive side of the ball and held Gardner-Webb to three points in each half for a 13-6 victory in the home opener on Saturday night at Bridgeforth Stadium.

The Dukes moved to 2-0 on the year, while the Runnin' Bulldogs fell to 0-2 after suffering its second straight single-digit defeat.

JMU forced Gardner-Webb into two turnovers, both on interceptions, while also stopping the visitors twice on fourth down, including for the final time in the red zone with 2:32 remaining. An Alonza Barnett III first-down rush on the ensuing drive sealed the win.

Jacob Dobbs led the Dukes with a game-high 13 tackles, while Chris Shearin had nine, including four solo stops. Raymond Scott, Kye Holmes and Khairi Manns each tallies six tackles each. Chris Fitzgerald led the team with a pair of TFLs and a sack.

The running back tandem of George Pettaway and Tyler Purdy paced the offense, as the duo combined for 142 rushing yards and the game's only touchdown. Pettaway had a career night, turning in his first career games with over 100 total yards (116).

He rushed for a career-high 84 yards on 10 carries (8.4 avg.) while making a career-high four receptions for 32 yards. Purdy found the end zone for the first time at JMU, as he had a big second half to finish with 58 yards on 10 attempts (5.8 avg.).

Additionally, Barnett was 14-of-22 for 135 passing yards, finding six different pass catchers. Aside from Pettaway, Taylor Thompson and Cam Ross also made three catches each, combining for 49 receiving yards.

For Gardner-Webb, Tyler Riddell finished 17-of-30 for 160 passing yards and two interceptions, while Edward Saydee rushed for a game-high 87 yards. Camden Overton had five grabs for 65 receiving yards, while Trevor Moffitt paced the defense with 12 tackles, 2.5 TFL and a sack.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Teams traded turnover on downs in the opening stanza, leading to a scoreless tie after the opening quarter.
Gardner-Webb struck first with 8:51 to play in the half on a 44-yard field goal by Jay Billingsley.
JMU couldn't muster a scoring drive, gaining just 124 yards on 30 offensive plays in the first half, giving the visitors a 3-0 lead into the locker room.
The Dukes finally got on the scoreboard on its first drive of the second half, as the ground game accounted for 51 of 58 yards, capped off by a Purdy one-yard touchdown scamper.
Chauncey Logan recorded his third career interception on the ensuing drive, setting up a Noe Ruelas 48-yard field goal, extending the lead to 10-3 midway through the third.
GWU threatened late in the third, getting to the JMU eight, but a defensive stand held the visitors to a 30-yard Billingsley field goal, making it 10-6 heading to the fourth.
JMU's 12-play drive to bridge the third and fourth quarters was stopped in the red zone, as Ruelas converted his second field goal of the night from 26 yards out to extend the lead to 13-6.
Gardner-Webb had one last chance to tie it in the closing minutes, but a Fitzgerald and Amar Thomas shared sack set up a fourth-and-long, and the pass was incomplete to allow JMU to run out the clock.

GAME NOTES

JMU out-gained GWU by a 285-269 margin, including 150-109 on the ground.
JMU was 3-of-12 on third down, while GWU managed just 2-of-15.
Fourth downs favored the visitors, as it finished 4-of-6, while JMU failed on both attempts.
JMU scored on both trips to the red zone, while the Runnin' Bulldogs were 1-for-2.
Gardner-Webb had six tackles for loss and three sacks, as opposed to JMU's four and two.
Despite the win, JMU was out-possessed by Gardner-Webb, 33:58 to 26:02.
The first-quarter interception by Jacob Thomas was the first of his career.
JMU was shut out in the first half for the first time since Dec. 17, 2021, when it trailed 13-0 to North Dakota State in the 2023 FCS semifinals.
Purdy's third-quarter score was his first JMU touchdown and the sixth of his career.
Ruelas made two of three field goals and now has 18 for his career.
The home opener was the 50th career game and punt start for Ryan Hanson, as he averaged 49.3 yards on his three boots, which included a season-long 53-yarder.

UP NEXT
JMU is on a bye next week and returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 21 when it travels to Chapel Hill, N.C., to face North Carolina. Game time and TV network will be announced for the game on Monday, Sept. 9.