HARRISONBURG — Mike Houston isn’t changing his approach.

Since taking the job last January, the first-year James Madison coach purposely made an effort to help the Dukes’ offense establish a run-first philosophy.

It has worked.

JMU takes the fourth-best rushing offense nationally, averaging 284.6 yards per game, into Saturday’s FCS championship contest at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, against Youngstown State.

The Penguins (12-3) give up only 128 rushing yards per game, but that mark doesn’t bother the Dukes (13-1).

Regardless of the opponent, JMU has found ways to run the ball effectively throughout the season.

“I think it’s a couple of different things,” Houston said. “First, our offensive line has played at a very high level all year. Then, obviously, we have very talented running backs, too. Khalid [Abdullah] and then without Cardon [Johnson], Trai [Sharp] has emerged. Taylor Woods has found a role and you’ll see John Miller back there every once in a while.”

In 14 games, JMU eclipsed 200 rushing yards 11 times and 300 rushing yards seven times.

Houston’s squad was never held below 100 rushing yards in a game, and against better run defenses than Youngstown State’s, Madison still managed to move the chains with its rushing attack.

Both Villanova and North Dakota State entered its games with JMU, yielding less than 100 rushing yards per game. To clinch the Colonial Athletic Association title, JMU grinded out 126 yards and two touchdowns with starting quarterback Bryan Schor sidelined with an injury for most of the game. In its semifinal win over North Dakota State, JMU ran for 201 yards with Abdullah pacing the way.

Abdullah ran for 180 yards against the Bison, giving him 10 100-yard performances this season.

The James Madison senior stayed healthy throughout the year and leads the country with 20 rushing touchdowns and is second nationally with 1,708 rushing yards.

“It’s been very difficult because we’ve played against a lot of formidable opponents, so the fact that I’ve been able to stay so consistent throughout is definitely surprising,” Abdullah said. “But it’s a testament to the faith I have in my teammates and the ability to go out there and do what the coaches ask us to do.”

Abdullah said Youngstown State provides the Dukes’ offensive line with another challenge.

The Penguins give up less than 4 yards per rush and linebacker Armand Dellovade, who should end up in one-on-one situations with Abdullah, has 98 tackles and 11.5 tackles for loss on the year.

“It’s a physical defense — a physical, physical defense,” Abdullah said. “I would compare them to North Dakota State. They’re going to be where they’re supposed to be, so there will be a lot of times when we’re one-on-one with defenders. We’re going to have to make plays.”

Abdullah said Houston’s run-first approach has aided the team in believing it could sustain success throughout the season.

“A lot of people think the run game is just getting off the ball and moving guys off the ball,” Abdullah said. “But you have to have the mentality to go out there and know that although teams are going to try to stop you from doing it, to go out there and do it.

“The fact that we go right at people gives us a better chance to win games.”

Houston said Schor’s threat of stretching the field in the passing game forces opposing coaches to plan on defending the whole field, which has opened up areas in the run game.

JMU averages 241.1 yards through the air per game and Schor has thrown 27 touchdown passes.

“When people load up to stop the run, that’s fine,” Houston said. “Then they’ll have to deal with Brandon Ravenel or Domo Taylor or John Miller or Ish Hyman out wide [receiver] because Bryan has proven himself to be a very capable and high-level quarterback.

“It’s the ability of our offense being able to do both — being balanced and being someone that you can’t just take one thing away from because you’ll be susceptible to the other phase.”

Youngstown State coach Bo Pelini said its Madison’s offensive line that deserves the credit for giving Abdullah room to run.

“We’ve seen some big fronts and not necessarily all of them were real good,” Pelini said. “But these guys, they are big and they play the right way and they are really fundamental. Starts with technique and fundamentals, and they have that.”