HARRISONBURG – In their four previous meetings, the game was decided by a touchdown or less. On Saturday when Colonial Athletic Association rivals James Madison and Delaware met again, the outcome wasn’t the same.
Paced by the league’s most prolific scoring and rushing offense, No. 7 JMU routed Delaware, 43-20 at Bridgeforth Stadium in Harrisonburg.
The Dukes ran for 398 yards, marking the third time this season the team has eclipsed 300 rushing yards in a single game.
“There’s one statistic out there that matters and that’s on the scoreboard,” Delaware coach Dave Brock said. “Give all the credit to James Madison. They whipped us.”
JMU junior quarterback Bryan Schor threw for 209 yards, rushed for 103 yards and registered four total touchdowns, including two in the second quarter when the Dukes were able to separate from the Blue Hens.
To break a 7-7 tie, Schor connected with Duke transfer Terrence Alls on a 17-yard scoring throw. On the play, Schor had to escape the pocket to his right before firing on the run to find Alls in the corner of the end zone.
The reception for Alls was his first touchdown catch since joining JMU. Alls led the Dukes with four receptions and 70 receiving yards.
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“The initial route was covered, but I looked into the backfield and saw Bryan scrambling,” Alls said. “I went to the other side of the end zone for more space and once the ball was in the air, I wanted to make sure I could come down with it.”
Schor also made the right read on two option plays inside the red zone. With 6:46 left before halftime, Schor made a pitch to running back Khalid Abdullah. The senior running back scored from eight yards out. On the offensive next series for JMU, Schor kept the ball on an option for a nine-yard touchdown run to put JMU ahead, 26-7.
“No one expected what happened out there today,” JMU coach Mike Houston said. “But it goes back to that I think we have a chance to be pretty good.
“We got some momentum. We got on a roll. We got a few stops on third down and all of a sudden you look up and we have a three-touchdown lead.”
In the second half, JMU put the game into cruise control behind its reliable rushing offense and solid defense.
Delaware held the opening possession of the second half, but JMU killed any hopes the Blue Hens might have had about getting back into the game. Delaware quarterback Joe Walker’s first throw of the second half was intercepted Madison cornerback Rashad Robinson.
Then late in the third quarter and into the fourth quarter, the offense compiled efficient long drives on consecutive opportunities.
JMU’s six-play, 98-yard drive was highlighted by Abdullah’s 53-yard run and Schor’s 18-yard rushing touchdown. The next series of seven plays for 91 yards was capped by Abdullah’s 41-yard touchdown run.
Abdullah followed up his 172-yard, two-touchdown performance at Maine last week with a team-high 159 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries against the Blue Hens.
Houston said his team could close a game easily when it has success on the ground.
“You’re able to drain four minutes of clock once you get the ball back,” Houston said. “If you can do that and score, you don’t really worry about protecting a lead late.”
The Dukes (4-1, 2-0) will host rival William & Mary next Saturday while Delaware (2-2, 0-1) returns home to host Maine.
