HARRISONBURG — Before the postseason began, Rashard Davis said he wanted to continue to impact games on special teams like he did throughout the regular season.
Davis was named the Colonial Athletic Association Special Teams Player of the Year — he had returned three punts for touchdowns entering the playoffs.
On Friday in the FCS Playoff quarterfinals against Sam Houston State, his 72-yard punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter gave the Dukes a 21-0 lead while taking away any life the Bearkats might have had.
“I felt like it gave us a lot of momentum,” Davis said. “A lot of people may overlook special teams, but it’s one of the biggest teams on the field.
“We look at special teams for a momentum booster and when we get them, we keep feeding off of them.”
Davis bobbled the punt before securing it, but once he did, the special teams star made a few attempted tacklers miss, then ran behind his blockers into the end zone.
“If anyone wants to know what it’s like to tackle him, go home and try to tackle your cat,” JMU running back Khalid Abdullah said of Davis’ return.
With four punt return touchdowns, Davis now holds the JMU single-season record.
Abdullah Continues Career Year For JMU
In the win over Sam Houston State, Abdullah put together his ninth 100-yard game of the season.
Abdullah carried 22 times for 141 yards and three touchdowns.
“We knew it was going to be a physical defense. We had planned and prepared for it all week,” Abdullah said. “But we figured it would be hard for them to tackle in sub-zero degree temperatures, so you go out there, try to run hard and hope that guys miss tackles. That was the game plan.”
Abdullah is now at 1,528 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns for the season. He ranks fourth nationally in rushing yards and is tied for first nationally in rushing touchdowns.
Five-Time FCS Champs Up Next
JMU will travel to Fargo to meet North Dakota State on Friday night in the semifinals of the FCS Playoffs.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the FargoDome. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
The fourth-seeded Dukes (12-1) advanced with a 65-7 win over Sam Houston State in the quarterfinals.
Top-seeded North Dakota State (12-1) beat rival South Dakota State 36-10.
The Dukes and Bison have only met once before — a 26-14 win for North Dakota State in the second round of the 2011 playoffs. The victory over Madison was North Dakota State’s first playoff win in its run of five consecutive national championships.
Last season, JMU defensive coordinator Bob Trott coached in the FargoDome during the semifinal when he held the same role at Richmond.
“At this stage I think it’s really important that teams have been to the playoffs,” Trott said. “Even though JMU hadn’t been very far before now, these kids have been in the playoffs.
“That’s why North Dakota State is so good. They’ve been there. They know how to handle it.”
Sam Houston State coach K.C. Keeler had led his team to the semifinals in each of the past two years. After bowing out to Dukes, he said JMU has the potential to win it all.
“If they play like they played today, they’re going to be pretty tough to beat,” Keeler said.
