CAA, NBC reach deal on TV rights for basketball, football
The Colonial Athletic Association has reached five-year agreements with the NBC Sports Group that will provide the most extensive and comprehensive exposure of the conference in its history with coverage on NBC Sports Network and across the group’s regional sports networks.
The agreements, which begin with the 2012-13 season and runs through 2016-17, will provide national television coverage of CAA men’s basketball and football games on the NBC Sports Network, regional television coverage of CAA men’s and women’s basketball and football through the Comcast SportsNet regional networks and coverage of a variety of other CAA sports through NBCSports.com. The CAA is the first collegiate athletic conference to sign a broadcast agreement with the NBC Sports Network, which launched on January 2, 2012. Continue reading “CAA, NBC reach deal on TV rights for basketball, football” »
JMU announces 2012 football signing class
James Madison University has signed 14 to National Letters of Intent to play football for the Dukes next fall, Head Coach Mickey Matthews announced today.
The class includes two players (Titus Till and Jeremiah Wilson) that are already attending JMU and will be a part of spring practices. Of the signees, Madison remained strong through the region, signing eight out of Virginia, four from Maryland and one each from Delaware and New Jersey. Continue reading “JMU announces 2012 football signing class” »
JMU wins playoff thriller
Redshirt-sophomore Cameron Starke drilled a 35-yard field goal into a strong wind as time expired to lift #17 James Madison to a 20-17 win at Eastern Kentucky in the opening round of the NCAA Division I Football Championship at Roy Kidd Stadium, Nov. 26. With their third consecutive victory, the Dukes move to 8-4 on the year and advance to play No. 2 seed North Dakota State next Saturday, while the Ohio Valley Conference co-champion Colonels end the season at 7-5.
Late in the fourth quarter, JMU halted EKU’s drive as redshirt-sophomore Stephon Robertson flushed quarterback T.J. Pryor from the pocket and forced him into redshirt-senior linebacker Pat Williams for a sack at the EKU 18. Jordan Berry’s 46-yard punt was muffed but recovered by JMU to give them possession on its own 36. From there, the Dukes got a first down and moved to the EKU 43 for a 4th-and-2 with 1:34 left in regulation. The Colonels called a time out as JMU was setting up to punt. The Dukes reconsidered, sending the offense out for the play and converting it as redshirt-sophomore running back Dae’Quan Scott got four yards to keep the drive alive. Madison earned another first down and got the ball down to the EKU 19 with one second remaining. Two time outs were called by the hosts to try and ice the JMU kicker, but Starke stepped up and drilled his second game-winning field goal of the season down the middle to propel the Dukes to the second round.
JMU controlled the flow of the game, holding the ball for a staggering 40:30 of the contest while outgaining the Colonels 393-213. In the second half alone, JMU has 52 offensive plays to just 14 for the Colonels while keeping the ball for more than 23 minutes. The Dukes rushed for 244 yards in the game and threw for 149, while limiting EKU to just 119 yards on the ground, more than 80 yards below its season rushing average. Madison also didn’t give the ball up on a turnover in the game to a team that came in as a plus-16 in the turnover column for the year.
Eastern Kentucky had the first threat of the game after a long punt return by Justin Bell put the Colonels in business at the JMU 16, with junior Jakarie Jackson making the touchdown-saving tackle. However on the second play from the Dukes 13, Pryor was intercepted by cornerback Leavander Jones in the end zone to end the threat.
JMU dominated the possession in the first quarter and eventually made it count early in the second after the interception, converting several third downs on the arm of redshirt-junior quarterback Justin Thorpe. Redshirt-sophomore running back Jordan Anderson capped off the 14-play, 80-yard drive by plunging in from one yard out for the first points of the game. Starke hit the scoreboard with his made point after attempt and the Dukes led 7-0 with 13:55 to go in the first half.
Going with the strong wind, EKU got on the board in the second quarter, utilizing two big passes to get down to the JMU 1. On second down, running back H.B. Banjoman scored over the left side of the line for the touchdown. Kicker Luke Pray hit the point after attempt and the game was knotted at 7 with 7:41 remaining in the second.
The Colonels had the last shot in the first half, as Pray came on for a 48-yard field goal attempt from the right hash mark with a stiff wind at his back. The line shot split the uprights as time expired and host EKU went into the halftime break with a 10-7 advantage.
JMU opened with the ball to start the second half and moved into the red zone. However, the drive stalled at the EKU 19. From there, Starke appeared to hit a 36-yard field goal but the attempt was ruled wide right by the officials and the host Colonels held on to the 10-7 lead.
On the ensuing drive, Eastern Kentucky got back on the scoreboard as running back Matt Denham busted off a 66-yard run to get to the JMU 1. From there, Banjoman took it in over the right end and extended the lead to 17-7 for the Colonels with 5:55 to go in the third.
Madison battled back and drove down the field again, getting down to the EKU 4. However, the Dukes had to settle for a field goal attempt, with this one good by Starke from 21 yards out to trim the lead to 17-10 with 27 seconds left in the third.
The Dukes put together a drive on their following possession after stopping EKU on a 3rd-and-1. Getting the ball its own 24, JMU put together an 8-play, 76-yard drive, keyed by a 25-yard third-down conversion from Thorpe to senior wide receiver Kerby Long. After moving it to the EKU 40, Anderson took it on the final two carries, going 16 yards on the first and 24 yards into the end zone on the second, busting a pair of tackles. The point after was good, tying the game at 17 with just over 10 minutes remaining in the contest.
JMU was led by Thorpe, who gained a career-high 93 yards on 28 carries while he was also 9-for-16 for 149 yards through the air. Scott and Anderson both chipped in solid games on the running attack, with Scott going for 75 yards on 24 carries and Anderson recording 15 carries for 71 yards and the two scores. Three players reeled in two receptions each, led by Renard Robinson’s 50 yards.
Denham led all rushers with 17 carries for 125 yards, but was limited to just 59 yards on 16 of those carries. Proyor finished 10-for-15 for 94 yards and one interception, with Matt Lengel is top target with three catches for 27 yards.
The Dukes will head to Fargo, N.D. to take on the Bison Saturday, Dec. 3 in the second round of the playoffs. Kickoff at the Fargo Dome is set for 3 p.m. Central.
#9 JMU falls at #15 ODU
In the first-ever football meeting between the two programs, the #9 James Madison football team lost a tight Colonial Athletic Association battle at #15 Old Dominion, falling to the host Monarchs, 23-20, Oct. 29. With the loss, the Dukes fall to 5-3 and 3-2 in CAA play, while ODU advanced to 7-2 overall and 4-2 in league action.
A key part of the story was JMU’s offensive line, as three starters went down during the game, two in the first half and one early in the second. This stymied the Dukes to just 76 yards of offense in the second half after putting together 266 in the first.
JMU had one last chance late in the game after getting the ball at its own 28, trailing by three. The Dukes got it down to the ODU 30-yard line but sophomore kickerCameron Starke (Halifax, Va./Halifax County (West Virginia)) had his 47-yard field goal attempt blocked at the line of scrimmage as time expired.
JMU was slightly outgained overall, as ODU had 362 yards of offense to 342 for JMU. The Dukes had 103 yards of rushing and a season-high 239 yards of passing. JMU also held a slight time advantage, holding the ball 31:44 in the game.
ODU took opening kickoff and went 75 yards in eight plays for the game’s first score. The final play came on 17-yard touchdown from freshman quarterback Taylor Heinecke to wide receiver Larry Pinkard. The extra point by Jarod Brown was good and the Monarchs had an early 7-0 lead.
JMU answered with a 12-play, 60-yard drive of its own. However, the drive stalled at the Monarch’s 15 yard line. Sophomore kickerCameron Starke (Halifax, Va./Halifax County (West Virginia)) split the uprights from 32 yards out, his eighth straight made field goal, and the ODU lead was trimmed to 7-3 with 4:55 to play in the first quarter.
After JMU’s defense forced a 3-and-out possession, the Dukes got the ball back on their own 29 yard line. A 36-yard pass from redshirt-freshman quarterbackJace Edwards (Midland, Texas/Robert E. Lee) to sophomore wide receiver Renard Robinson (Baltimore, Md./Mt. St. Joseph’s) on the first play put JMU back on the ODU side of the field at the 40. Six plays later, sophomore running backDae’Quan Scott (Staunton, Va./Robert E. Lee) went around right end and cut through a hole to score the touchdown and put JMU up 10-7 at the end of the first quarter.
Old Dominion came back and appeared to be stopped short of the end zone. On 4th-and-1 from the 23-yard line, the snap was fumbled by Heinecke who was scrambling and threw a prayer into the end zone, which was caught by for a touchdown by Pinkard, giving the hosts a 14-10 lead early in the second.
Madison punched the ball on the end zone to the cap its next possession. Another key play a 34-yard pass from Edwards to wide receiverDaniel Brown (Windsor, Va./Isle of Wight) to put the ball deep in ODU territory. Scott took it the final five yards for his second touchdown of the game and the Dukes had a 17-14 advantage with just over nine minutes to go until halftime.
Another stop for the Dukes’ defense resulted in the ball coming back to JMU. From there, Madison put together a 13-play, 74-yard drive that chewed up just over six minutes on the game clock. However, the drive was squelched at the ODU 6. Starke came on and banged through his second field goal of the game, this time from 23 yards out, to push it to a 20-14 lead for the visitors with 46 seconds left in the half.
ODU got the ball in position for one final field goal attempt, but seniorTaveion Cuffee (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial (Fork Union)) came off the end and blocked Brown’s 45-yard attempt and Madison went into the locker room with a six-point halftime lead.
After a muffed kickoff resulted in JMU not getting out of its own 10 on the first possession, ODU got the ball on the Dukes’ 41 for its first drive of the second half. The drive was stopped at the JMU 3, forcing the field goal attempt. Brown hit the 19 yarder and the lead was down to 20-17 Madison with 9:45 to go in the third.
After several changes of possession, ODU put points on the board again. The 8-play, 53-yard drive again ended in JMU territory and Brown hit a 40-yard field goal attempt to tie the game at 20 with 2:05 to go in the third quarter.
The host Monarchs took the lead again on their first drive of the second half, going 56 yards in 10 plays over 2:34. Heinecke keyed the drive with his feet, getting out of the pocket at the right time and eluding the JMU defense for a 33-yard run to get the ball at the Dukes’ 11. However, the Madison defense stiffened again at the right time, forcing a 25-yard field goal by Brown that made it 23-20 ODU with 12:14 to play in the game.
Edwards finished the game 17-for-26 for a career-high 239 yards and no turnovers, while Scott was the leading rusher for the Dukes with 16 carries for 77 yards and two scores before his injury in the third quarter. Junior tight end Brian Barlow (Stephens City, Va./Sherando) had career-highs of eight catches for 79 yards. Sophomore linebackerStephon Robertson led the Dukes with 11 total tackles, the sixth time in eight games he has led JMU.
Heinecke was the key for the Monarchs, going 22-for-35 for 236 yards and two scores through the air, while rushing 11 times for 50 yards, including several key scrambles. Pinkard finished with six catches for 94 yards and two scores.
Madison will remain on the road for its next game, traveling next Saturday, Nov. 5 to Concord, N.H., to take on the #10 New Hampshire Wildcats. Kickoff is slated for noon.
Second-half surge pushes JMU past ‘Nova
In front of a Family Weekend crowd of 25,047, James Madison scored 28 unanswered points in the second half to secure a 34-10 victory over Villanova in a Colonial Athletic Association football game Saturday afternoon at Bridgeforth Stadium/Zane Showker Field.
JMU sophomore tailback Jordan Anderson’s (Chantilly, Va./Edison) rush into the end zone gave JMU its first lead. That was followed by sophomore tailback Dae’Quan Scott’s (Staunton, Va./Robert E. Lee) touchdown run on a swing pass from freshman quarterback Jace Edwards (Midland, Texas/Robert E. Lee), the first of his career. Edwards then connected on his longest career pass, an 80-yard touchdown strike to senior wide receiver Kerby Long (Arlington, Va./Yorktown). Anderson capped the offensive burst with his third touchdown of the game on an 8-yard rush.
JMU, ranked 13th nationally in both The Sports Network and FCS Coaches Polls, moved its record to 5-2 overall and 3-1 in CAA play while Villanova dropped to 0-4 in conference standings and 1-6 overall.
James Madison finished the game with 23 first downs and 456 yards of total offense on a balanced 253 rushing yards and 203 passing yards. Villanova tallied 107 yards of rushing and 127 total passing yards.
Edwards threw 9-for-12 for a career-high 203 yards. Scott led the team with 109 rushing yards with Anderson contributing 85 yards and his three scores. Long recorded 103 receiving yards for JMU, 80 of which came on his fourth quarter touchdown reception.
After a scoreless first quarter, Villanova posted the first points of the game with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Dustin Thomas to Kenny Miles with 8:53 left in the second quarter.
James Madison responded with a five-play scoring drive as Anderson rushed 22 yards into the end zone with 6:10 left in the second quarter. Sophomore kicker Cameron Starke’s (Halifax, Va./Halifax County) attempt at the extra point was wide left and ricocheted off the uprights, making the score 7-6 with Villanova still on top.
With 30 seconds left in the first half, Long’s option pass attempt from the 18-yard line was intercepted in the end zone by Villanova’s James Pitts, keeping the score at 7-6 Villanova at the half.
Villanova returned the second half kickoff to the 43-yard line and capped an eight-play drive with a 41-yard field goal by Mark Hamilton. The field goal came after Dustin Thomas was sacked by senior cornerback Mike Allen for a eight-yard loss with Villanova recovering a loose ball to set up the field goal attempt.
On the ensuing JMU drive, Edwards’ 41-yard pass to freshman wide receiver Daniel Brown (Windsor, Va./Isle of Wight) brought the team to the Villanova 5-yard line. Consecutive Anderson rushes of four yards and one yard put the Dukes in the end zone to take the lead for the first time at 13-10.
After holding Villanova three-and-out, JMU quickly increased the score to 20-10 with 1:44 left in the third quarter on an eight-play, 87-yard scoring drive. Scott ran for 12 yards into the Villanova end zone on a completed Edwards pass.
On Villanova’s next position into the early fourth quarter, the Wildcats reached the 30-yard line. Pressured by JMU freshman cornerback Corey Davis (Union, N.J./St. Peter’s Prep), Thomas’ pass attempt to Dorian Wells on fourth-and-long was incomplete to end the drive.
With 12:27 left in the fourth quarter, Edwards threw his longest career touchdown pass of 80 yards to Long, who made a leaping catch over the receiver near midfield and broke a pair of tackles on his way to the end zone for a 27-10 JMU lead. Edwards’ 80-yard pass is the longest for the Dukes since the 2003 season when Jayson Cooke threw for 81 yards to Tahir Hinds in a contest against Rhode Island.
JMU scored its final touchdown of the game with 4:30 left on the clock as Anderson rushed eight yards to conclude a four-play, 30-yard scoring drive in just over two minutes of play. The short field was set up by a 40-yard interception return by Ryan Smith (Ashland, Va./Patrick Henry).
Junior safety Smith, junior cornerback Leavander Jones (Atlantic City, N.J./Atlantic City) and sophomore linebacker Stephon Robertson (Alexandria, Va./Edison) each recorded eight tackles to lead the Dukes defense.
After a bye week, JMU travels to Old Dominion Oct. 29 for its first meeting against the Monarchs in the 2011 Oyster Bowl. The game will be televised at noon on Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic.
Notes: Edwards recorded JMU’s first 200-yard passing game since Drew Dudzik threw for 213 yards on Oct. 23, 2010 at Villanova… Long posted the first 100-yard receiving game for the Dukes since he had 112 in the 2010 opener against Morehead State… Anderson became the second JMU player with three touchdowns in a game this season, joining Scott’s three at Liberty Sept. 17… JMU led time of possession 34:05 to 25:55… besides Thomas’ 127 yards passing, no Villanova player had more than 50 yards of total offense.
#8 JMU rolls over #10 Richmond
Fueled by 297 yards rushing and seven quarterback sacks from its defense the James Madison football team powered past the University of Richmond 31-7 at Bridgeforth Stadium on Saturday.
JMU won its fourth straight game to improve to 4-1 this season and 2-0 in the Colonial Athletic Association. UR lost its second straight, dropping to 3-2 and 0-2 in the conference.
JMU running backs combined to average 5.5 yards per carry, gaining 297 yards and four touchdowns on 54 carries. Redshirt sophomore running backJordan Anderson (Chanitlly, Va./Westfield) rushed for a career-high 162 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries. Redshirt freshmanJauan Latney (Fredericksburg, Va./Massaponax) added 98 yards and a touchdown on 19 rushes.
Richmond struck for the game’s first score as DeShawn Holmes blocked a punt during the Dukes’ opening drive and ran it back to the three-yard line. Three plays later, Kendall Gaskins plunged in from a yard out for the first score of the game. Wil Kamin added the extra point and the Spiders led 7-0 less than four minutes into the game.
The Dukes evened the score with an 11-play, 62-yard drive that took more than five minutes off the clock. Latney finished the drive with a five-yard scoring run and sophomore kickerCameron Starke’s (Halifax, Va./Halifax County) extra point split the uprights to tie the game at seven at the 12:29 mark in the second quarter.
After a three-and-out by the Spiders, the Dukes’ started their next drive on the UR 43-yard line. Latney led another scoring drive with four rushes for 18 yards, and redshirt freshman quarterbackJace Edwards (Midland, Texas/Robert E. Lee) capped the drive with a 10-yard scramble up the middle for the touchdown.
On the next possession, Richmond was held to just four plays, before quarterback Aaron Corp fumbled on fourth-and-12 on a sack from freshman defensive endSage Harold (Virginia Beach, Va./Ocean Lakes). JMU redshirt senior defensive endD.J. Bryant (Baltimore, Md./Randallstown) recovered at the 37-yard line to send Madison into the half with a 14-7 advantage.
In the opening drive of the second half, the Dukes snuffed out a fake punt as redshirt senior safetyVidal Nelson (Virginia Beach, Va./Kellam) intercepted punter Nick Hicks’ throw to set the Dukes’ up at their own 30. The Dukes went 70 yards In just three minutes in a six-play scoring drive. Anderson broke off the drives’ big play, scoring from 45-yards out to stretch the JMU lead to 21-7.
Starting the fourth quarter at its own one-yard line, Richmond was forced to punt and JMU began its next possession on its own 47. On the second play of the drive, Anderson outraced the UR defense, scoring from 49-yards out for his second touchdown of the day.
On the ensuing drive, JMU’s defensive line continued its domination as it forced another three-and-out to set up a 44-yard field goal by Starke to cap the day’s scoring at 31-7.
Harold finished the day with two and a half sacks and a pair of forced fumbles to lead the defense. Redshirt senior defensive tackleLamar Middleton (Newark, N.J./Shabazz) added two tackles for loss, including a sack while redshirt senior linebackerPat Williams (Virginia Beach, Va./First Colonial) had a team-high eight tackles. Collectively, JMU’s defense limited the Spiders to -12 yards rushing.
In his first start at quarterback, Edwards went 5-for-12 for 34 yards, adding 11 yards rushing and a touchdown. Redshirt junior tight endBrian Barlow (Stephens City, Va./Sherando) led the team with two catches for 22 yards.
Corp finished his day 16-for-31 for 130 yards. Tre Gray picked up 38 yards receiving on four catches while running back Kendall Gaskins was limited to 22 yards on nine carries.
Linebacker Darius McMillan led all playes with 15 tackles and strong safety Colin Pehanick added 13 tackles, including one and a half for a loss.
JMU continues its three-game homestand next weekend as it hosts Maine at Bridgeforth Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 8 at 3:30 p.m.
JMU: Thorpe, Williams suspended indefinitely
JMU Director of Athletics Jeff Bourne announced today the indefinite suspension from competition of Justin Thorpe and Chase Williams from the football team for a violation of JMU Athletics policy.
Thorpe, a redshirt junior and the starting quarterback for Coach Micky Matthews, has thrown for 409 yards and three touchdowns for the 3-1 Dukes, who upset then-#4 William and Mary 20-14 in Williamsburg on Saturday.
Thorpe is also the team’s second-leading rusher with 163 yards.
Williams, a redshirt-junior reserve linebacker, has appeared in two games and recorded three tackles.
Due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act there will be no further comment by JMU Athletics on the circumstances of these suspensions.
#10 JMU upsets #4 William and Mary
In front of a sold-out Zable Stadium crowd, #10 James Madison utilized a strong ground game, good defense overall and a key turnover conversion to come away with 20-14 at #4 William & Mary in the Colonial Athletic Association opener for both squads, Sept. 24. With the victory, the Dukes move to 3-1 on the year and 1-0 in league action, with the Tribe falling to 2-2 and 0-1 in conference play.
After a scoreless first period where both teams failed to convert fourth downs, including one deep in Tribe territory, the Dukes got on the scoreboard with the opening play of the second quarter. Redshirt-junior quarterbackJustin Thorpe (Richmond, Va./Varina) connected with redshirt-senior wide receiverKerby Long (Arlington, Va./Yorktown/Fork Union) for a 52-yard touchdown pass, which included Long hurtling a W&M defender at the Tribe 20 and breaking away from two others. Redshirt-sophomore kickerCameron Starke (Halifax, Va./Halifax County (West Virginia)) hit the point after and Madison had a 7-0 lead.
Madison again found the scoreboard on its next drive, moving the ball inside William & Mary’s 10. However, the drive stalled deep, forcing a field goal attempt from 26 yards out. Starke connected from the right hash on his fourth straight make, giving the Dukes a 10-0 lead with just under eight minutes remaining in the first half. The Dukes held through the remainder of the half and entered halftime with the 10-point advantage.
After being backed up to its own 1 on its second drive of the third quarter, William & Mary used three key pass plays to get on the board and complete a 99-yard drive. After a 34-yard completion from Michael Graham to Ryan Moody got them out of their own end zone, Graham connected two times with D.J. Mangas, including the final 38 yards for the touchdown. Drake Kuhn hit the point after and the margin was trimmed to three at 10-7 JMU with 3:52 to play in the third.
The Dukes’ defense made up for the previous drive the next time on the field, as redshirt-sophomoreStephon Robertson (Alexandria, Va./Edison) dislodged the ball from running back Keith McBridge and redshirt-freshman defensive tackleAnthony McDaniel (Upper Marlboro, Md./Dr. Henry A. Wise, Jr.) fell on it to give JMU the ball on the W&M 24. Thorpe made a key run by freezing a Tribe defender for a 15-yard pickup to the Tribe 11. From there, three plays later, the Dukes got in the end zone on a bootleg pitch to redshirt-sophomore running back Dae’Quan Scott (Staunton, Va./Robert E. Lee), who outran three Tribe defenders to the left corner. Starke hit the point after and the lead was back to 10 at 17-7 with just under 14 minutes left to play.
Another JMU drive chewed up yardage and time on the clock, as the Dukes went 60 yards in 12 plays and taking more than seven minutes off the clock. W&M’s defense held JMU out of the end zone bdut Starke added a 34-yarder and the margin grew to 20-7 JMU with 4:17 remaining in the game.
William & Mary would not give up though, getting on the board one last time with a late 12-play, 79-yard drive. Graham connected with tight end Alex Gottlieb in the flat and he scored from 10 yards out to cut it back to 20-17. The Tribe then went for the onside kick but redshirt-freshman wide receiver Daniel Brown (Windsor, Va./Isle of Wright) skied for the ball and came down with it safely. The Dukes got one first down to run out the clock and seal the win.
JMU outgained W&M 340-252, with 271 of the Dukes’ yards coming via the ground game while the defense limited William & Mary to just 37 yards on the ground in 34 carries.. Madison held a significant advantage in time of possession, holding on to the ball 35:16 as compared to the Tribe’s 24:44.
Scott posted his third-consecutive 100-yard rushing game, with 26 carries for 112 yards and one touchdown, while Thorpe had a career-high 81 yards on 14 carries. Latney also was effective, carrying it nine times for 66 yards, a 7.3 yards per carry average. Thorpe was also 3-for-4 for 69 yards and one touchdown through the air. Redshirt-senior defensive tackleLamar Middleton (Newark, N.J./Shabazz (Syracuse) had eight tackles and 2.0 sacks to lead the Dukes, while Robertson added six tackles, 1.0 tackles for loss, one forced fumble and two pass breakups in the victory.
Grimes led the Tribe rushing with 23 carries for 70 yards, while Graham went 14-for-26 for 215 yards and two scores. Mangas led the receivers with six catches for 102 yards and one score.
The Dukes return home for three straight games, starting with the Homecoming clash with Richmond on Sat., Oct. 1. Kickoff at Bridgeforth Stadium is set for 3:30 p.m., with the game to be televised on the CAA Television package on Comcast.
Late rally falls short for #5 Richmond
Senior WR Tre Gray had a career night with 16 catches for 194 yards, but No. 5 Richmond’s furious fourth-quarter comeback fell short in a 45-43 shootout loss to No. 11 New Hampshire Saturday at Robins Stadium.
The Spiders (3-1, 0-1) put three touchdowns on the board in a frantic fourth-quarter but were back-broken when UNH QB Kevin Decker hit R.J. Harris for a quick-strike 47-yard touchdown that put the Wildcats (2-1, 1-0) up 45-36 with 2:45 left.
Richmond, though had one more answer as senior QB Aaron Corp, who also posted career numbers, marched the Spiders downfield with a 12-play, 77-yard drive, capped by a Kendall Gaskins one-yard touchdown with 28 seconds remaining that pulled Richmond within 45-43.
An onside kick ensured and Richmond kicker Wil Kamin blasted a line-drive that ricocheted off a UNH player and into the arms of diving Tre Gray. But the ball changed hands in the scrum and the officials ruled it belonged to the Wildcats, sealing the thriller at sold-out Robins Stadium in the CAA Football opener for both teams.
Corp finished the game 35-of-50 passing for 351 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The senior was a spotless five-for-five on the Spiders’ opening drive, passing for 53 yards and putting Richmond up 7-0 with his one-yard toss to Stephen Barnette. Corp completed his first nine of the game.
Two possessions later, Corp moved the Spiders into field-goal range following a Darryl Hamilton interception and Kamin drilled a 36-yarder that made it 10-0.
Richmond dominated the stat sheet, out-gaining the Wildcats 475-368 in total offense, owning a 13-minute advantage in time of possession and scoring points on all seven of its Red Zone trips (five touchdowns).
But things unraveled quickly and the Spiders went from up 10 to down 15, thanks in part to a pair of Corp interceptions on tipped balls that were returned for touchdowns. Randi Vines rumbled 60 yards for a score that gave the visitors a 14-10 lead early in the second quarter. Ten minutes later, Matt Evans swiped the ball out of the air and his 31-yard interception return gave UNH a 28-13 advantage.
Gaskins, who finished with 81 yards rushing and a career-high three touchdowns, got the first of his three scores on some trickery as he took a pitch on a fake field goal try and scored from six yards out, breathing life back into the Spiders late in the first half and cutting the deficit to 28-20.
Decker threw for 239 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for 48 yards and two more scores, scampered in from 12-yards on the opening possession of the second half to give UNH its 15-point advantage back.
The teams traded field goals before the Spiders 20-point fourth-quarter uprising. Kamin matched his career-high of three field goals made (36, 45 and 37 yards) and set a career high with 13 points scored.
For Gray, his 194-yard effort stands as the seventh-best single-game performance in school history and is the most yards by a Richmond receiver since Rod Boothes had 197 versus James Madison in 1992. His 16 catches ties the second-highest single-game performance in school history (16 by Walker Gillette vs. Mississippi State in 1969), only trailing 20 grabs by Gillette vs. Ohio in the 1968 Tangerine Bowl.
Gray is averaging 126.0 yards receiving this season and is now just 17 catches and 252 yards shy of the respective UR career records.
The loss snapped a six-game home winning streak for the Spiders, who hit the road next Saturday for another key CAA Football tilt at James Madison. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. Bridgeforth Stadium.
UR holds off VMI
Senior WR Tre Gray’s 96-yard, two-touchdown effort helped No. 6 Richmond build a 34-0 lead in third quarter and hold off VMI, 34-19, Saturday night at sold-out Robins Stadium.
Gray, who is averaging 103.3 yards receiving this season, matched his career-high with two touchdown receptions, and moved to a tie for 10th on Richmond’s career list with 12 touchdowns to lead his Spiders (3-0) to their ninth-consecutive win over the Keydets (0-3).
Senior QB Aaron Corp was 12-for-18 passing with 220 yards and two touchdowns and the Spiders feasted on VMI’s first-half miscues to build a 27-0 lead at the half and extend the margin to 34-0 midway through the third quarter.
Richmond opened the scoring with a dazzling special teams play early in the contest when freshman Rodney Barnes busted through the line and swatted away Cameron Murray’s punt. Sophomore WR Ben Edwards scooped up the loose ball and returned it 34 yards for the score.
VMI’s ensuing possession ended when senior S Colin Pehanick forced a Chaz Jones fumble that was pounced on by Jacob Pierce. Junior K Wil Kamin booted a pair of 31-yard field goals and Gray reeled in a 37-yard TD pass from Corp as the Spiders cashed in 13 points off three VMI fumbles – two of which came on muffed punts.
Gray found paydirt again on a four-yard TD reception to cap a four-play, 77-yard drive before halftime that put Richmond up 27-0. Two big pass plays set up that score as Corp hit junior TE Kevin Finney for 11 yards on second-and-17 and then connected with redshirt freshman WR Stephen Barnette for a 69-yard strike on third-and-six.
Finney finished with four catches for 28 yards, while Barnette established a career-high with 89 yards on three grabs. All three of Barnette’s catches moved the chains – two came on third-and-long situations.
Pehanick finished with six tackles, forced a fumble and recovered another. Junior LB Darius McMillan was in on a team-leading 11 tackles, while senior DB Tremayne Graham had eight stops and broke up three passes.
But VMI didn’t go quietly. A 74-yard kickoff return by Tracy Hairston resulted in a 28-yard field goal with seven minutes left in the third quarter that snapped the shutout.
A 21-yard touchdown strike from Eric Kordenbrock to Hairston made it 34-10 with 11:17 left and things got dicey when Kordenbrock hooked up with Mario Thompson for a 70-yard TD pass less than three minutes later.
Richmond punted on the ensuing drive and a 47-yard return from Trent White, along with a Spider penalty gave VMI first-and-goal at the nine. But Richmond’s defense bowed up, stopping Jones on third-and-goal at the one and forcing an incompletion on fourth down with five minutes left.
Richmond took a safety on punt in their end zone, and then stopped VMI again with just over a minute remaining to put the victory on ice.
Kordenbrock finished 15-of-35 passing for 231 yards and two touchdowns, while Thompson finished as the game’s leading receiver with two catches for 114 yards. Hairston rolled up 212 all-purpose yards thanks to his 55 yards through the air and 157 more on five kickoff returns.
For Richmond, junior Kendall Gaskins rushed 14 times for 67 yards and his third touchdown in as many games this season. Senior Garrett Turner carried for a career-high 21 times for 79 yards.
The Spiders are 3-0 for the first time since opening the 2009 season 8-0 and open CAA Football play next Saturday versus New Hampshire at Robin Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. on Family Weekend.
#9 UR knocks off Wagner
Senior QB Aaron Corp threw for a career-high 236 yards and two touchdowns and No. 9 Richmond recovered from a balky first half to beat Wagner, 21-6, Saturday night at a sold-out Robins Stadium.
Corp put Richmond (2-0) on the board early, hitting sophomore WR Ben Edwards for a 56-yard touchdown pass on the game’s third play, but the Spiders leaned heavily on their defense after turnovers on the five-consecutive possessions after the touchdown.
Wagner managed just three points off its first-half takeaways, and Richmond took care of the ball in the second half, while rolling up 412 yards of total offense to secure its 13th-consecutive victory over non-conference FCS opponents in the regular season.
Junior LB Darius McMillan made 10 tackles, senior S Colin Pehanick had seven stops and an interception, while sophomore DE Kerry Wynn recorded two of Richmond’s three sacks as the Spiders limited Wagner (1-1) to just 189 yards of total offense (68 yards rushing).
Junior TE Kevin Finney hauled in a six-yard TD pass from Corp that capped a nine-play, 72-yard drive midway through the third quarter. A 32-yard hook-up from Corp to Stephen Barnette helped set-up the score that put Richmond up 14-3.
A 45-yard field goal from David Lopez cut the margin to 14-6 on Wagner’s next possession, but junior FB Kendall Gaskins, who finished with 98 yards on a career-high 24 carries, put the game on ice when he punched in a one-yard TD early in the fourth quarter.
Corp finished the night 16-of-25 passing for 236 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Senior RB Garrett Turner carried 15 times for 75 yards, while senior WR Tre Gray had six catches for 85 yards.
Richmond owned a seven-minute advantage in time of possessions and converted on seven of its 12 third-down attempts.
The Spiders remain home next Saturday to host long-time rival VMI at Robins Stadium. Kick off in the 87th all-time meeting with the Keydets is set for 6 p.m.
UNC rolls JMU
James Madison football spotted North Carolina an early 21-0 lead, and eventually fell to the hosts 42-10 in the season opener for both squads, Sept. 3. Madison falls to 0-2 all-time against the Tar Heels.
JMU began the game slowly, allowing UNC to score on three of its first four possessions. UNC sophomore quarterback Bryn Renner connected with senior wide receiver Dwight Jones for a 34-yard touchdown pass and senior Casey Barth followed with the extra point, giving UNC an early lead of 7-0 with less than four minutes gone. On the next possession, JMU was backed up deep and forced to punt, and Carolina’s Todd Harrelson returned the ball 19 yards to the JMU 22. Two plays later, true freshman running back Giovani Bernard ran 12 yards for the score. Barth recorded his second extra point of the game, giving the Tar Heels a 14-0 advantage with just under five minutes left to play in the opening period. Early in the second quarter, senior running back Ryan Houston rushed for the third touchdown of the game for UNC, this time a 1-yarder. Barth once again cleared the goal post, bringing Carolina’s lead to 21-0.
JMU tallied its first points of the 2011 season when redshirt-junior quarterback
Justin Thorpe (Richmond, Va./Varina) connected with redshirt-freshman wide reciever Daniel Brown (Windsor, Va./Isle of Wight) for a 41-yard touchdown pass. Sophomore kicker Cameron Starke (Halifax, Va./Halifax County (West Virginia)) completed the point-after attempt, making the score 21-7 late in the second quarter. However, Carolina responded immediately, cover 67 yards in just 1:26, with Bernard going the final 14 yards into the end zone with just over a minute remaining in the half and the extra point gave UNC a 28-7 halftime advantage.
The Dukes opened the second half with a 19-play drive over 10:06. Starke capped off the 55-yard drive, that included two successful fourth-down conversions, with a 31-yard field goal. The 19-play march for JMU is the longest scoring drive under Head Coach Mickey Matthews.
Carolina’s Renner pushed into the endzone for an early fourth quarter touchdown, scoring on a 1-yard sneak to push the lead to 35-10. The final touchdown for UNC came with under nine minutes to go in the fourth quarter on a 21-yard pass from Renner to Jones, providing the final 42-10 margin.
UNC outgained JMU in total yardage 461 to 211 and in rushing yards 184-59. The Dukes held a time of possession advantage of 31:04 to 28:56 and committed no turnovers in the game.
Redshirt-sophomore tailback Jordan Anderson (Chantilly, Va./Westfield) led JMU in rushing with 40 yards on 13 carries and Thorpe was 11-for-15 through the air for 152 yards and one touchdown. Redshirt-sophomore linebacker Stephon Robertson (Alexandria, Va./Edison) tallied eight tackles, including 0.5 tackles for loss, to lead the Dukes. Redshirt-freshman safety Dean Marlowe (Queens, NY/Holy Cross) had his first collegiate interception in the second quarter and added four tackles during the game to the effort.
UNC’s Renner set a new ACC record for pass completion percentage by completing 22 of his 23 pass attempts for 277 yards and two scores. The .957 percentage is now second in NCAA history for a passer with 20-29 attempts. Jones had nine receptions for 116 yards and two scores, while Bernard was the game’s leading rusher with nine carries for 64 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
JMU returns to Harrisonburg next Saturday for the home opener against Central Connecticut State at 6 p.m. The game will be the first in the newly-renovated Bridgeforth Stadium.
