HARRISONBURG – Since James Madison’s 18-game winning streak began more than a year ago, coach Mike Houston said his players haven’t let the success effect them.
“The kids are doing a good job of not getting too far ahead of themselves,” Houston said Monday during the Colonial Athletic Association coaches teleconference. “They’re really staying focused on the things we’re preaching, and each game for us is the biggest game of the year.”
JMU’s win Saturday set a CAA record for consecutive wins and the streak is the longest-active one in all of Division I.
The last 12 victories have all come by double digits.
“Our kids do a good job of keeping that focus with tunnel vision each week and really staying dialed in on playing our best each Saturday,” Houston said. “It’s just a culmination of everything they’re doing throughout the week.”
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- Junior running back Trai Sharp exited Saturday’s game late in the third quarter after being shaken up following a run for no gain. Houston said Sharp, “will be fine.” Sharp never returned to the field, but did some jogging and cutting on the sideline before the game ended.
- The Dukes’ defense ranks near the top of most major statistical categories nationally – scoring defense (2nd, 11 points per game), passing defense (2nd, 123.2 yards per game), total defense (2nd, 221.7 yards per game) and rushing defense (18th, 98.5 yards per game). Houston said the unit has used a cohesive effort to find its success. The second-year coach said, “A big part of us being able to defend on the backend, is us putting pressure on the quarterback. And a lot of being able to pressure the quarterback, comes from us covering on the backend.”
- Senior linebacker Kyre Hawkins was named CAA Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season. Hawkins had 10 tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks and two pass breakups in the Dukes’ win over Villanova.
- Houston said, “Kyre [Hawkins] is one of our top players.”
- JMU’s next game is Saturday at William & Mary. Houston said like JMU’s first three opponents in league, “They’re not giving up a whole lot of points.” Houston said he expects the game to play similar to how the last few have for JMU.
- William & Mary coach Jimmye Laycock said the Tribe will likely stick with true freshman quarterback Shon Mitchell this week against JMU. Mitchell got his first career start this past Saturday at Delaware. He was 18-of-36 for 101 yards and two interceptions.
- At Oscar Smith High School, Mitchell was a four-year starter and finished his prep career as the VHSL’s all-time leader for passing yards (11,380), touchdowns (123) and completions (747).
- Laycock said whether he was playing a freshman or senior at quarterback against JMU, it would be difficult to prepare the signal-caller for JMU’s defense. Laycock said JMU applies pressure on the quarterback without having to bring the blitz.
- The longtime Tribe coach also said, “I really like [JMU quarterback Bryan] Schor.” Laycock said he feels everything JMU does offensively is built around Schor and that even sometimes when the defense thinks they have Schor surrounded, somehow the senior quarterback comes up with a big play.
