Miller Catches Key TD Filling In For Alls

HARRISONBURG — Before Friday’s national semifinal, John Miller had only one touchdown reception this year.

After the contest, he left Fargo, N.D., with one more — perhaps the most significant touchdown catch of James Madison’s 2016 season.

Miller saw more snaps at receiver after starter Terrence Alls was suspended, coach Mike Houston said. JMU linebacker Brandon Hereford was also suspended, Houston added.

“We have a very high standard of expectation for our players and their conduct, both on and off the field,” Houston said in a phone interview following the game. “Unfortunately, I had some guys that did not meet that standard. We’re going to do right, so they have been suspended indefinitely.”

Houston would not elaborate of the nature of the offenses.

Miller hauled in a pass from quarterback Bryan Schor with 6:59 left, giving the Dukes a 27-17 lead they would hold onto to beat five-time defending national champion North Dakota State.

Miller played a part in making up for the loss of Alls, as did junior Ishmael Hyman.

Hyman made a 34-yard catch in the second quarter, which helped set up the field goal that put JMU ahead 10-0.

Hyman had four catches all season before Friday.

Sophomore linebacker Dimitri Holloway, who began the season as the starter, stepped in for Hereford.

Holloway led the Dukes’ defense with 16 total tackles in the win over the Bison. The Heritage High product hadn’t tallied more than eight tackles in a game before Friday.

“Dimitri was the starter but with him out injured, Brandon had filled in and filled in really well,” Houston said. “But Dimitri came back tonight and just played a phenomenal game. It was a special effort.

“I’m so proud of him because he worked very hard to come back from the injury the way he did. To play like he did tonight, congrats to him.”

The Dukes also got a solid performance from their kicker Tyler Gray, who had been inconsistent throughout the season.

Gray entered Friday 12-of-18 on field goal tries and hadn’t made one longer than 33 yards.

Gray hit a 24-yarder in the second quarter and then made a 45-yard field goal with 11:46 to play that broke a 17-17 tie. Gray’s kick gave JMU a 20-17 lead.

“This is a program where there is so much improvement in so many people,” Houston said. “You look at Tyler to go from where he was in the spring to where he was now, it’s a commitment to doing things right, working and believing in each other.”