Dukes drop hammer on Hens
JMU breaks big plays in offensive explosion against Delaware
By Brian Hansen, sports editor
Posted on November 6, 2006

There were fireworks on Saturday night, and not just the ones set off before the game to honor the senior football players in their last regular-season home game. 

The JMU offense exploded against the University of Delaware for 44 points and 542 yards of total offense.

“We’re taking advantage of what the defense gives us,” senior quarterback Justin Rascati said. “When teams stack the box like that, because we have such a good running game, our passing game can take advantage of that.”

Last week, Rascati was taken off the Payton Award watch list for the best offense player in the country. The University of Louisville transfer responded with another typical performance. Rascati had 300 yards of offense during the game, running for 79 yards and throwing for 211 yards and three touchdowns.

“Justin Rascati is the best offensive football player in the country,” JMU coach Mickey Matthews said. “For a quarterback to win these postseason awards, you have to play in a run-and-shoot offense and put up big numbers. Because we don’t throw it as much, he doesn’t get as much recognition.”

Rascati was at his best on plays where it mattered most, routinely picking up big third downs to continue JMU scoring drive. In the first half he ran for four first downs and threw for one on third down.

“The quarterback is a difference-maker,” Delaware coach K.C. Keeler said. “We had him covered pretty well and he made big plays. He makes great decisions.”

Rascati wasn’t the only one having a big day on offense. Junior running back Eugene Holloman bounced back from a tough outing against the University of Richmond to run for 171 yards and two touchdowns on just 15 carries. The Highlands Community College transfer scored on runs of 50 yards and 80 yards.

“I’m just happy I got in the end zone,” Holloman said. “Last week was frustrating because the offensive line made some holes and I missed them. I just wanted to run harder for them.”

On his second touchdown run of the game, Holloman took a handoff up the middle and went 80 yards without being touched by a Delaware defender.

“[The credit] goes to the offensive line,” 5-11, 170 pound back said. “All I have to do is run.”

The Dukes’ offense also scored four more times on drives of less than five plays raising their season total season to 19.

“I’ve had to tell [offensive coordinator Jeff Durden] to calm down a bit, we’re scoring too fast,” Matthews said. “We’re putting the defense in a jam because they’re playing so much.”

In the third quarter last night JMU ran six plays. Those six plays went for 128 yards, two touchdowns and four first downs.

“They’re a very good offense,” Keeler said. “Talent-wise, they are probably just as good as last year, but this team plays with a confidence they didn’t have last year.”

Last year the Dukes‘ struggles were in close games, losing four times by a total of 16 points. This season JMU has overcome those struggles by not getting into close games. All nine of their games this season have been decided by double-digits, including the eight wins in which the Dukes’ average margin of victory is 20.8 points.

“I think we’re a good offense,” Rascati said. “We can score many different ways. We can pound you for 17 plays or hit one play for 80 yards.”

The JMU offense will travel to Villanova next weekend to take on the Wildcats.