James Madison continued its strong 2016 season with a 65-7 thumping of Sam Houston State in the quarterfinals of the FCS Playoffs Friday at Bridgeforth Stadium. The Dukes advance to the national semifinals next week where they will meet the winner of Saturday’s quarterfinal game between top-seeded North Dakota State and eighth-seeded South Dakota State.

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- With its win over Sam Houston State, JMU advances to the national semifinals for the first time since 2008.

- JMU’s 65-7 win is the second-largest margin of victory all-time in FCS playoff history. The largest was a 70-7 win for Montana over Troy in 1996.

- The 65 points scored were the most in JMU playoff history, re-setting the record the team set last week in its 55-22 second-round win over New Hampshire.

- Sam Houston State was held to season lows in points, total yards of offense and passing yards.

- The Dukes also held Sam Houston State quarterback Jeremiah Briscoe to a season low for completions, completion percentage, passing yards and touchdowns. It was the only game Briscoe went without a passing touchdown this year – since he didn’t throw a touchdown, Briscoe finishes the year one shy of Colt Brennan’s Division I single-season record for touchdown passes. Briscoe also threw two interceptions, which tied a season high.

- Sam Houston State coach K.C. Keeler said Briscoe didn’t practice all week after hurting his elbow in the Bearkats’ second-round win over Chattanooga. Keeler said he didn’t know if Briscoe would be able to play until Friday. The coach added he thought the timing between Briscoe and his receivers was off since they didn’t have the week to practice together.

- Keeler said he thought JMU’s defensive backs were very physical with Sam Houston State’s wide receivers. Keeler said he even talked with the officials about it, but the Bearkats weren’t getting the calls.

- JMU coach Mike Houston said his defense had, “as impressive of a performance as I’ve seen in a longtime.”

- Houston said since the day he got to Harrisonburg, him and his staff have tried to create a very physical football team. The first-year Dukes coach said JMU was the most physical team on the line of scrimmage with its offensive line, on the perimeter with its defensive backs and with the way linebackers filled gaps.

- Houston said his defensive backs should gain plenty of confidence from the way they played against the Bearkats. Houston said JMU corners were put in one-on-one situations throughout the game and often came out on top.

- Referring to his unit’s effort Friday, JMU defensive coordinator Bob Trott said “nobody expected that.”

- Trott said what made the effort from his defense, especially his defensive backs, so impressive was the number of plays they had to play. Sam Houston State ran 82 plays.

- Trott said JMU only had five cornerbacks – Taylor Reynolds, Jimmy Moreland, Curtis Oliver, Charles Tutt and Robert Carter Jr. – dressed for the game. Most of the game Reynolds, Moreland, Oliver and Tutt were on the field. Trott said because of what Sam Houston State did offensively, the coaching staff felt JMU would have to play man-free defense mostly. He said the corners held up throughout.

- Trott added that with his defensive backs in man coverage, the front six had to step up to make plays in the run game. He said the defensive line and linebackers were able to keep Sam Houston State’s run game in-check.

- Cornerback Curtis Oliver, who had one of the two interceptions of Briscoe, said JMU’s defensive backfield has grown to where it could have success like it had Friday. Oliver said there is more trust among defensive backs week after week.

- The game also turned on special teams when Rashard Davis had a punt return for a touchdown. It was his fourth punt return touchdown of the season, which set a school single-season record. Davis said his touchdown coupled with Bryce Maginley’s scoop and score touchdown on Adam Smith’s blocked punt on the next series, gave JMU all the momentum.

- JMU running back Khalid Abdullah said Davis’ impact on specials have been important throughout the year. Abdullah said, “If anyone wants to know what it’s like to tackle him, go home and try to tackle your cat.”

- Abdullah said JMU’s offense thought it could run the ball well against Sam Houston State. He said with Sam Houston State having to play in cold weather, he thought he’d able to have success after contact as the Bearkats tried to tackle him.

- Abdullah ran for 141 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries. It was his ninth 100-yard performance of the year.

- One guy paving the way was redshirt freshmen right tackle Tyree Chavious, who made the first start of his career in place of Mitchell Kirsch. Chavious said it was his job, “to step up to the plate.” Chavious said he felt like the pressure was on him to do well since he was stepping in for Kirsch, a three-time All-CAA choice.

- Sam Houston State had reached the semifinals in each of the past two years. Keeler said JMU compares well to the Jacksonville State team that SHSU lost to last year and the North Dakota State team that SHSU lost to two years ago. Keeler said of JMU: “If they play like they played today, they’re going to be tough to beat.”