FIELD NOTES: Dukes Happy To Have Alls, Edwards And Hereford

“I thought all three played well,” JMU coach Mike Houston said Monday during the CAA coaches teleconference. “But I think all three can probably play better because I think you saw with them a lot of the first game stuff.”

Wide receiver Terrence Alls, offensive guard Nick Edwards and linebacker Brandon Hereford all returned from a suspension that had sidelined them for the first four games of the year. They were suspended for violating team rules. None of the three had appeared in a game since JMU’s national quarterfinal win over Sam Houston State in December.

Alls had three catches for 25 yards and Edwards started at right guard. Hereford led the team with 11 tackles.

“Brandon over-scraped some things because he was playing so fast and getting things timed up to game speed,” Houston said. “I thought Terrence played well and just, with all of a sudden playing things at game speed, he realized he probably needed to be conditioned a little more.

“I thought Nick played well but I think there’s some things we can get corrected with Nick to play even better the next time out.”

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- Houston said his team’s 20-10 win over the Blue Hens reminded him of JMU’s wins down the stretch last season at Richmond and at Villanova. Houston said he felt like JMU “got Delaware’s best” over the weekend.

- Houston said he thought Delaware defensively played against JMU as well as any opponent has this season.

- JMU running back Trai Sharp was named CAA Offensive Player of the Week on Monday for his 185 rushing yards and touchdown in the game at Delaware. Houston said Sharp was seeing cuts well throughout the contest, which resulted in his good day rushing.

- JMU enters its BYE week at 5-0 (2-0 CAA). Houston said the week would be split up into some self-evaluation and early preparation for Villanova. Houston said there are elements both offensively and defensively he wants to address and correct with his team.