The FCS poll 25th-ranked James Madison Dukes demolished the 14th-ranked Richmond Spiders 55-20 to win their sixth straight game at Robins Stadium on Senior Day.
The game could not have started better for James Madison. On their first third down of the game, quarterback Vad Lee (433 passing yards-school record) threw a 93-yard touchdown pass to DeAndre’ Smith giving his team a 7-0 lead with 10:29 to play in the first quarter and the Dukes (8-3, 5-2 CAA) never looked back. In a day of records, it was the longest pass play in school history.
Their next touchdown was courtesy of the defensive player of the game, Taylor Reynolds. He intercepted a pass and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown and a 14-0 JMU lead. He also had another pick-six in the game, and caused two fumbles on would-be touchdown runs by the Spiders, saving his team 14 points. His two interceptions for touchdowns are a school record.
Richmond ( 7-4, 4-3 CAA) responded with a four-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Michael Strauss to Brian Brown but they missed the extra point making the score 14-6 with 3:14 to play in the first quarter. Strauss threw for three touchdowns and 225 yards, but also had three interceptions.
The Dukes responded with a six-yard Lee touchdown run with 11:59 to go in the first half. It was his seventh rushing touchdown of the year.
The Spiders fought back with a 28-yard screen pass that went for a touchdown by Jacobi Green with 5:44 to play in the half.
With the score 21-13 the Dukes answered with a three-yard rushing touchdown by Jauan Latney making the score 28-13. Duke tacked on a 43-yard field goal increasing their advantage to 31-13, but the Spiders came right back, and aided by two JMU penalties ended the half with a nine-yard touchdown pass, cutting the JMU lead to 31-20 at the break.
The Dukes came back with a 35-yard field goal making the score 34-20. Reynolds than added his second interception for a touchdown, this one from 46 yards to increase the Duke lead to 41-20. His 101 return yards are a school record. Lee then concluded the third quarter scoring by throwing a touchdown pass, his second of the game with five minutes to play in the third quarter giving his team a commanding 48-20 advantage.
Duke Rashard Davis ended the scoring with a 10-yard rushing touchdown to give the Dukes a 55-20 lead with just over six minutes to go. The 55 points were the most ever scored against Richmond.
With 433 passing yards in this game, Lee became the first JMU quarterback to throw for 3,000 yards. Wide receiver DeAndre’ Smith led the Dukes with four receptions for 128 yards and one touchdown. The Dukes ended the game with 526 yards of offense. They were also an efficient 11-17 on third down conversions.
The defense also did their part, forcing five turnovers, three interceptions and two fumbles.
Richmond was led on the ground by Seth Fisher, who had 14 carries for 126 yards. Reggie Diggs paced the Spiders with five catches for 97 yards.
DUKE NEWS: JMU is now third in the Colonial Athletic Association with an 8-3 record. With a win over Elon they hope to improve their chances of getting an at-large bid to the FCS playoffs which begin on November 29th.
