JMU-Richmond game blog
The SportsDominion is live at Bridgeforth Stadium in Harrisonburg for today’s matchup between the sixth-ranked JMU Dukes and the 14th-ranked Richmond Spiders.
Join us here for commentary and analysis during the game – and after the final whistle, come back right here for a special broadcast of “The SportsDominion Show” featuring postgame comments from JMU coach Mickey Matthews, UR coach Dave Clawson and players from both teams.
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Bob Picozzi and Sonny Randle are a few feet to my left calling the game for Comcast Mid Atlantic.
UR, the knife. JMU, the hot butter.
Impressive drive by Richmond stalls inside the JMU – 17 plays, 70 yards, eight-plus minutes.
It began with UR converting a third-and-long with a long scramble by quarterback Eric Ward. From there, the Spiders moved the ball almost exclusively on the ground.
Mickey Matthews feared what would happen if Richmond committed to running the ball.
Two straight three-and-outs for JMU – sandwiched around that 17-play UR drive. JMU’s defense needs to get an early stop on the next Spiders drive.
Gutsy performance by JMU D – three and out.
Apparently, one is not allowed to block in the shoulder on kick returns in the CAA. Interesting perspective on the rules of football there.
End of one quarter – Richmond 3, JMU 0.
The score does not reflect how thoroughly Richmond has dominated on both sides of the ball. JMU has two three-and-outs and a fumble to show for its three offensive possessions. Richmond has a classic 17-play drive and a second starting inside Dukes’ territory after a fumble recovery to show for its three.
I’m a little surprised at the attendance for today’s game. Two top-15 teams, and we have scads of empty seats here at Bridgeforth.
I like Tim Hightower. He hits the hole hard and fast.
I’ve not been impressed with Tony LeZotte. He’s been getting beaten on pass coverage and missed an important tackle on the first possession on a reverse.
Hightower 4-yard TD run called back because of a holding penalty.
Fourth-and-goal for UR inside the JMU 1.
JMU holds – Eric Ward tried a QB sneak, but the interior of the JMU line stood him up at the line.
JMU has its first first down – nearly 21 minutes into the game.
UR has had the ball for long stretches – and still has only three points.
This is why you don’t run trick plays inside your own 20. JMU fumbles on a reverse, and UR has the ball back at the Dukes 10.
Eric Ward connects with Scott Riddell on a 10-yard TD pass – UR 10, JMU 0, 8:28/2nd.
Back to that offensive play call by JMU – seriously, that could get your play-calling duties taken away. JMU had done nothing to set that play up, and as a result UR was in position to snuff it out before the fumble came into play.
Another three-and-out for JMU.
The skinny – three three-and-outs, two fumbles, one single solitary first down.
So far, this is a beatdown.
Four-yard run by Tim Hightower for a UR touchdown, and the rout is on. Forty econds before halftime, and it’s 17-0 Richmond.
Drive: 10 plays, 59 yards, 6:04.
Go Richmond!
The rout is off – Landers connects with Bosco Williams on a 61-yard TD pass with 16 seconds left to bring JMU back to within 17-7.
The D there is hard to figure. Landers was able to run a play-action with 22 seconds to go at the snap, and UR’s secondary all bit for it. Obviously a run there is what you want them to do that late in a half – but if they do it and gain 10 or 15 yards even, what is the big deal?
First-half stats and analysis …
Richmond had 162 yards total offense on 39 plays.
JMU had 108 yards of offense on 18 plays.
Sixty-one of those yards came on the last play of the half for the Dukes.
That was the one pass that Rodney Landers completed in the first half.
The official stats here have three first downs for JMU – though if you take out the touchdown, I only can account for one.
Tim Hightower had 56 yards rushing on 15 carries for Richmond. UR quarterback Eric Ward completed 7-of-12 passes for 50 yards and a touchdown,and ran for 37 yards on 10 carries (two of which were sacks on which he lost 10 yards).
As thoroughly as JMU was outplayed for 29:38, it’s a 10-point game at the half – and you have to expect that the Dukes won’t still have bye-week rust in half #2.
Jay Whitaker roots for one of his alma maters. Does that mean that I can root for the school that almost became one of mine?
The weather button on my computer says that it is 68 degrees and sunny back at home in Waynesboro. It must be 30 here in wind-swept Harrisonburg. I swear I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see snow flurries here in the second half. It is frigid.
Come to think of it, both of these schools were almost future alma maters of mine. I therefore maintain neutrality.
JMU converts on a UR turnover – getting a 40-yard field goal after the Spiders’ D stiffens to cut the lead to 17-10.
13:25/3rd.
Eric Ward intercepted at the JMU 35.
A poor decision. He sidestepped a safety blitz and slid left, and underthrew a receiver on the left sideline who was bracketed.
Another JMU field goal following a UR turnover. UR 17, JMU 13.
Richmond is still moving the ball well. I wonder about how they will come out on this series, though. Back-to-back turnovers can get the play-callers a little antsy.
We’re heading into the fourth quarter – UR 17, JMU 13.
Teams trading punts now – UR 17, JMU 13, 13:12/4th.
Anybody’s game.
JMU inside the Richmond 25. First and 10, UR 24, 7:12 to go.
Dave Stannard hits his third field goal of the game. UR 17, JMU 16, 6:00/4th.
JMU defense holds. UR to punt, 2:12 to go, UR 17, JMU 16.
Key penalty on UR – fair-catch interference. JMU 1st and 10 at the UR 34.
JMU 1st and 10 at UR 44, 1:09 to go
Landers intercepted at JMU 24, :58 to go.