Dukes Win Sixth Straight, Down Bobcats 52-20

Tuesday, October 28

San Marcos, Texas

8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT)

James Madison University

Texas State

10/28/2025 11:55:00 PM | Football

Box Score Highlights Photo Gallery

SAN MARCOS, Texas – Behind another explosive performance by the offense and a three-takeaway evening by the defense, James Madison reeled off its sixth straight win, upending Texas State, 52-20, on Tuesday night at UFCU Stadium.

The Dukes (7-1, 5-0 Sun Belt) registered their second straight game over the half-century points mark to remain atop the Sun Belt Conference East Division standings. The loss for Texas State (3-5, 0-4 Sun Belt) was the host's fourth in a row, as JMU improved to 2-0 all-time against the Bobcats.

Alonza Barnett III scored five touchdowns and accrued 362 total yards to pace the offense. The signal caller finished 12-of-18 for 264 passing yards and four touchdowns while rushing for 98 yards and a score on just 10 carries.

Nick DeGennaro turned in his second consecutive 100-yard game, as he finished with three catches for 101 receiving yards and two touchdowns, which included a career-long, 76-yard grab.

Wayne Knight combined for over 100 yards, as he ran for 48 yards and made two catches for 69 receiving yards, which included a 57-yard pitch-and-catch. Jordan Fuller also ran for two scores, reaching 46 yards on the ground. Two days removed from National Tight Ends Day, Josh Phifer and Logan Kyle each scored touchdowns through the air.

On the defensive end, DJ Barksdale, Justin Eaglin and Xavier Holmes all came away with interceptions. Trent Hendrick and Tyler Brown tied for the team lead in total tackles with eight, while Andrew Taddeo finished with two sacks in the win.

JMU led 28-20 at the break before forcing back-to-back interceptions while scoring 21 in the third to pull away.

JMU out-gained Texas State by a 511-352 margin, including 236-74 in the second half, as the Dukes posted their fourth consecutive second-half shutout against a Sun Belt opponent.

For Texas State, Brad Jackson was 18-of-32 for 230 passing yards and a touchdown with three interceptions. He also rushed for 43 yards and a score.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Braeden Wisloski set up JMU's first score with a 26-yard catch on a screen, as Barnett found DeGennaro on a six-yard touchdown pass just before the midway point of the first.
After a three-and-out, JMU doubled its lead to 14-0, as a career-long, 57-yard reception by Knight set up Fuller's third rushing score of the season from eight yards out.
After an interception, TXST cut into the lead two plays into the second on a 14-yard touchdown pass to Mavin Anderson.
JMU regained a two-score lead on Fuller's second touchdown of the night to cap off a 75-yard drive early in the second.
After a Tyler Robles 35-yard field goal, Barnett used a 51-yard run and a 14-yard touchdown strike to Josh Phifer to extend the lead to 28-10.
TXST trimmed JMU's lead to 28-20 at the break on a Jackson three-yard touchdown and a Robles 36-yard field goal.
Out of the break, JMU recaptured a three-score lead with a pair of touchdowns with a takeaway in between.
On the second play of the third, Barnett went deep and connected with DeGennaro on a 76-yard bomb, which was a career-long pass and catch for both the QB and receiver. After a 42-yard return on Justin Eaglin's third interception of the year, Barnett found a wide-open Logan Kyle for the score, making it 42-20.
An Xavier Holmes interception on the ensuing drive set up Barnett's fifth of the night, as he scampered in from four yards out to make it 49-20 after three.
Early in the fourth, Morgan Suarez knocked down his fourth field goal of the year, a 31-yarder, extending the lead to 52-20.

GAME NOTES

The game-opening interception by Barksdale was his first of the season and the third of his career.
Fuller now has 13 multi-touchdown games in his career.
The first half featured 553 combined yards, as TXST used a late surge in the second to out-gain JMU, 278-275.
It was JMU's second straight game forcing three turnovers, and the third time this season, tying a season high.
In JMU's two games against TXST, it has outscored the Bobcats by a 92-33 margin after winning 40-13 in 2022.

UP NEXT
JMU returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 8 with a trip to Huntington, W.Va., to take on Marshall. Kickoff is set for a noon start and will be televised on ESPN2 or ESPNU.