Dukes host Rams this weekend
URI comes to JMU for first time since 2003
By Whitney Proffitt, contributing writer
Posted on October 5, 2006

The JMU football team kicks off the first of seven consecutive Atlantic 10 Conference games by hosting the University of Rhode Island Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Bridgeforth Stadium.

The Dukes enter the game with an overall record of 3-1 and are 1-0 in the A-10. URI is 2-2 overall and 0-1 in conference.

Madison last faced URI in 2003 at home when Maurice Fenner ran for three touchdowns, with two in the final five minutes. Alvin Banks ran for one touchdown and helped JMU rally to a 39-27 victory.

URI can look forward to the possibility of some ghosts from 2003 coming back to haunt them this weekend. Saturday, the Dukes will look to both Fenner and Banks (now seniors), along with new addition junior Eugene Holloman.

“I call [Banks and Holloman] 1A and 1B,” JMU coach Mickey Matthews said. “Eugene brings a lot to the table and Alvin is playing very well.”

Banks led the team last weekend, running for three touchdowns and 110 yards on 20 carries against Virginia Military Institute.

“I really look up to Alvin,” Holloman said. “I’m like his understudy. If Alvin starts, I’ll be on the sidelines cheering him on.”

Holloman returns to the field after sitting out the VMI game with a sprained ankle he suffered versus Northeastern game.

“Eugene has impressed a lot of people,” Banks said. “He’s done a lot, that’s why he’s 1A or 1B right now.”

For the first time this season, all four tailbacks, including junior Antoinne Bolton, who ran for 84 yards and a touchdown on just seven carries, are healthy and ready to play, giving depth to the Madison offense.

“It adds another threat,” Banks said.

The Rams will bring with them some threats of their own.

URI ranks sixth in the nation in team rushing, averaging 241 rushing yards per game.

Just this week, senior defensive back Raquan Pride was named the A-10 Defensive Player of the Week after he snagged two interceptions that helped URI defeat Brown University last weekend.

Sophomores quarterback Derek Cassidy and fullback Joe Casey, who was the 2005 A-10 Offensive Rookie of the Year, provide the majority of the URI offense.

“If you look at their stats and their rushing yardage,” Matthews said, “Their quarterback and their fullback have carried the ball 124 times in four games. Basically, it’s a quarterback/fullback game when you play them.”

Matthews has a different offensive strategy for the Dukes.

“We made a vow this year that we’re going to be 50/50 run and pass,” Matthews said. “All great offensive football teams are that way because it’s very hard to stop both of them, so we’re going to continue to do that.”

The Rams will be facing more than just the 13th-ranked team in the country when they come to Bridgeforth.

“Our place is a very hostile situation to come into,” Matthews said. “It gets much louder than it used to because of the building — the noise cannot escape. We’ve got the reputation with the student body behind the opposing bench that it’s a very strong home field advantage.” 

JMU has faced off against URI a mere seven times — fewer times than it has any of the other conference opponents. The Dukes have a 4-3 overall record against the Rams and a 3-1 record at Bridgeforth.

“This is the biggest game of the year because it’s the only game we’re playing this week; only a fool looks ahead or looks behind,” Matthews said.