Staff Report
Sophomore tailback Scott Noble (Baltimore, Md./Franklin) ran for a career-high 105 yards and James Madison’s defense scored a touchdown and set up a field goal as the Dukes defeated Massachusetts 17-14 in Colonial Athletic Association football Saturday.
JMU improved to 5-5 overall and to 3-4 in the CAA with the win, its third-straight victory. Massachusetts also is 5-5 overall and 3-4 in the CAA.
Noble started for the first time in 2009 and ran 29 times from scrimmage and caught three passes for 32 yards.
JMU got the game’s first points – a field goal after recovering a fumble at the Massachusetts six – and got a 38-yard fumble return for a touchdown by senior cornerback Jamaris Sanders (Newport News, Va./Warwick). The Dukes’ other points came on a 21-yard touchdown run by redshirt freshman quarterback Justin Thorpe (Richmond, Va./Varina).
Thorpe ran 20 times for 89 yards and completed eight of 13 passes for 120 yards.
JMU compiled 332 total yards (212 rushing, 120 passing) and Massachusetts 247 (159 rushing, 88 passing).
The Dukes scored all of their points during the first half and led 17-7 at halftime. They gave up a 77-yard touchdown drive on Massachusetts’ second series of the final half but allowed the Minutemen only one first down on their final four possessions. Massachusetts had a net of only 23 yards of total offense on its final four series.
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