Monday morning the Colonial Athletic Association held its weekly teleconference. James Madison coach Mike Houston and cornerback Taylor Reynolds took questions from reporters on this week’s FCS Semifinal playoff game between the Dukes and North Dakota State. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., on Friday at the FargoDome in Fargo, N.D.

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- JMU is 4-1 on the road this season. The Dukes won all four of their road conference games, but lost to North Carolina in Chapel Hill during the non-conference slate. Houston said he talked to his team Sunday about its road success. He said winning at Maine, at New Hampshire, at Richmond and at Villanova, “gives us good preparation for what will be a very tough road game” at NDSU.

- Houston said, “there’s no doubt” North Dakota State is the most physical team JMU will have played all season.

- Houston said when JMU was working to establish its culture of toughness during the spring, he made a statement about North Dakota State being the five-time national champion. He said in order to beat the Bison, JMU would have to combat the physical toughness of NDSU. Houston said him and his staff, “in essence, have built this team to go in and win this game.”

- Houston said NDSU’s defense plays with a great motor, is gap-sound and runs to the football well. He said the unit plays well together and has great ability.

- On the other side of the ball, North Dakota State had a 20-play drive that nearly took the entire third quarter in its quarterfinal win over South Dakota State. Houston said JMU’s defense has to be able to get the Bison offense off schedule. The first-year Dukes coach added that if NDSU is able to keep the chains and clock moving throughout the game, then JMU would have a long day.

- Reynolds said going into the season JMU had two goals – to win the CAA and be national champions. Reynolds said him and his teammates knew JMU would have to through North Dakota State at some point to become national champions.

- The Madison defense shut down Sam Houston State’s air raid offense in the quarterfinals, but face a different style against North Dakota State’s power-run game. Reynolds said even though the opposing offenses aren’t similar at all, the JMU defense doesn’t have to make too many changes because of its versatility. Reynolds said JMU could match up with a spread offense or a power offense if it had to.

- The most important task for JMU’s defense is matching the physicality of NDSU’s offense, Reynolds added.