Playoff hopes still alive

Landers stays behind the scenes for unknown reason

By Matthew McGovern, assistant sports editor
Posted on November 12, 2007

Williamsburg, Va. — Rodney Landers set a JMU single-game quarterback record by rushing for 171 yards and James Madison stopped a two-game slide Saturday with a 55-34 victory at William & Mary.

Madison’s junior quarterback notched his fourth game with over 100 rushing yards as the Dukes (7-3 overall, 5-2 in the conference) played their fourth and final CAA road game. The Tribe (4-6, 2-5) struck first Saturday with a touchdown on the game’s third play, but couldn’t keep up with the Dukes’ top-ranked CAA rushing offense.

“You’ve got a good offensive line, you’ve got speed in the backfield and you’ve got a quarterback who makes good decisions,” William & Mary coach Jimmye Laycock said. “We’ve struggled our last few weeks defensively and we struggled tonight.”

JMU redshirt freshman tailback Griff Yancey used his late-game fumble at Delaware as motivation for his third 100-plus yard rushing performance. Yancey and Landers accounted for five rushing touchdowns as Madison ran for 371 yards.

“This was a redemption game for me,” Yancey said. “I had a good game last week, but the fumble — I felt like I lost the game for my team.”

Yancey’s three rushing touchdowns led the team, as he ran for 132 yards. Landers had two rushing touchdowns and broke his single-

game record of 166 rushing yards set on Oct. 13 at Rhode Island. Landers also completed nine of 15 passes for 89 yards and one touchdown, a 6-yard completion to sophomore receiver Rockeed McCarter.

“The only difference between this week and last week is we didn’t turn the ball over four times,” JMU coach Mickey Matthews said. “We’re running the option very well, and I think Rodney’s gettin’ better. He’s had two [good] back-to-back games.”

Yancey described Landers as a “great leader” on his record-setting day. Despite his strong performance, Landers was conspicuously absent from the post-game press conference for the third straight week. Matthews declined to specify when Landers will be available to the media.

“My decision,” Matthews said, offering no further insight.

William & Mary junior quarterback Jake Phillips completed 14 of 24 pass attempts for 219 yards and three touchdowns. Phillips completed a 52-yard touchdown pass to junior receiver Elliot Mack 1:12 into the game, but Madison tallied four unanswered touchdowns after Mack’s score. William & Mary’s last four touchdowns were scored after JMU stretched its lead to 21 points in the second quarter.

Madison punted only once while scoring a season-high point total and converted all nine of its red zone scoring opportunities.

The Dukes blocked two punts and also had a 66-yard kickoff return in a dominating special teams performance. Sophomore cornerback Scotty McGee came back from a groin injury and returned three kickoffs for 109 yards, including his 66-yard return on the first kickoff of the second half. Landers fielded at least one punt in a second straight game, with JMU’s punt returners suffering from injuries.

“I had four guys that were punt returners, and they’re all hurt. We ran out of options about two weeks ago,” Matthews said. “When [Rodney] was younger, as a back-up quarterback he did it, and he’s such a great athlete he catches the ball very easily. It’s not something I like to do, but I’m kind of out of options back there because of all the injuries.”

L.C. Baker traveled for the game but didn’t play, a week after not traveling to Delaware.

Madison needs to win against Towson on Saturday to earn NCAA playoff consideration. The Tigers (3-7, 1-6) are the last-place team in the CAA South Division, and lost to JMU 38-3 last year at Towson.