EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
Dukes' Comeback Falls Short As Bison Win Sixth Title In Seven Seasons
FRISCO, Texas – The final five minutes had all the makings of completing an improbable comeback on the biggest stage.
James Madison senior defensive tackle Simeyon Robinson blocked a field goal, freshman punter Harry O’Kelly executed a 24-yard fake and the Dukes, who had rallied within four points after trailing North Dakota State by double digits in the FCS national title game at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, had life inside Bison territory.
And even though in the plays after O’Kelly’s run JMU had been backed up into a fourth-and-16 from the NDSU 25, the gold-painted end zone, a second-straight championship and a perfect season were still in sight.
“The only thing to say to them on that last play is just go out there and be us,” JMU coach Mike Houston said. “Make a play. It’s fourth down in the National Championship Game.
“That’s for everything.”
JMU senior quarterback Bryan Schor, who led the Dukes to a title on the same field a year ago, took the snap. He scrambled left and then right as he’s done so many times in his career before usually pulling off a throw that’d make Brett Favre jealous.
But this time the signal-caller’s desperation heave landed uneventfully incomplete, giving the Bison a 17-13 win and their sixth national title in the last seven years.
“That was a great football game between two great teams, and more importantly, great programs,” NDSU coach Chris Klieman said. “There were some athletes on display out there, both sides of the ball.
“They made a great call on the fake punt to get them another possession, and we found a way to play red-zone defense, which is a staple for us.”
NDSU (14-1) built its lead in the first half – 30 minutes that couldn’t have gone worse for JMU (14-1).
On the Bison’s first possession, JMU forced NDSU’s offense 3-and-out but on the punt, Dukes sophomore linebacker Bryce Maginley drew a roughing-the-kicker penalty that enabled the drive to keep on going.
The Bison made Maginley and Madison pay. NDSU running back Bruce Anderson capped an 11-play drive with a 3-yard touchdown rush to give his team a 7-0 lead.
In the second quarter, Schor gave the ball right back to NDSU when he was intercepted by defensive tackle Nate Tanguay. On the previous NDSU possession, Robinson had strip-sacked Bison quarterback Easton Stick.
Stick – the game’s Most Outstanding Player – got back on the field and completed a 50-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Darrius Shepherd, extending his team’s advantage to 14-3.
Stick threw for 130 yards and the touchdown and rushed for 35 yards in his team’s win.
“They made the plays and we made too many mistakes,” Houston said.
The Dukes turned the ball over on their next possession too. Sophomore wide receiver Riley Stapleton fumbled after hauling in a 27-yard pass for Schor, that would have put the Dukes past midfield.
“I figured my knees touched the ground as soon as contact was made,” Stapleton said. “And I thought for sure the ball was ripped out after, as I was laying there.
“They reviewed it, whether they had a good angle or not, but the play happened. I shouldn’t have let the ball come out whether I was down or not, and it’s something I’ve got to live with.”
NDSU managed a field goal off of Stapleton’s fumble.
JMU didn’t begin to change its fortune until the final drive of the first half.
Schor marched the offense 69 yards in four plays, connecting with Stapleton for gains of 28 yards and 9 yards and senior wide receiver Terrence Alls for 17 yards.
The Dukes kicked a field goal to cut it to an 11-point deficit heading into the locker room.
“Mistakes we made were uncharacteristic,” JMU senior linebacker Kyre Hawkins said. “But we stuck together, stuck to our guns and we kept pushing because we’re a family and that’s what we do.”
Hawkins, who tallied a game-high 10 tackles, and the Dukes’ defense shutout the Bison in the second half, and running back Marcus Marshall’s third-quarter, one-yard touchdown run brought JMU within four points of NDSU.
The Dukes entered Saturday with 26 straight victories and hadn’t lost since Sept. 17, 2016 at FBS North Carolina. A win would’ve secured JMU as the only FCS champion in history to finish the season unbeaten against an all Division I schedule.
“This one of course really does cut deep,” JMU junior cornerback Rashad Robinson said. “But we had a very good season. Going undefeated in the CAA, a lot of people can’t do that, but I just wanted this one for our seniors.”