One and Done for JMU Football

Dukes fumble game away in closing seconds

By Tim Chapman, sports editor
Posted on November 25, 2007

BOONE, N.C. — It could have been the four turnovers — two of which turned into Appalachian State touchdowns — that cost JMU football its first round playoff game Saturday.

It could have more specifically just been the turnover-on-downs on the failed fourth-down conversion on JMU’s own 32-yard line with two minutes, six seconds remaining with a five-point lead.

It could have been continuing to handoff to an inexperienced redshirt-freshman Jamal Sullivan with under thirty seconds in the game and losing a fumble instead of just settling for what would have been a 26-yard field goal attempt.

But then again it could have been the fact that Dave Stannard missed an extra-point in third quarter that stood out when the Dukes looked up at the final score seeing ASU ahead 28-27.

“It’s definitely frustrating,” senior safety Tony LeZotte said. “You never want to go out like that and we really thought we were gonna take it in and score, but what are you gonna do. I guess that’s the way the ball bounces.”

The ball literally didn’t bounce the way of the Dukes when Sullivan fumbled on Madison’s last possession.

Prior to the last possession ASU (10-2) took a one-point lead with 1:10 remaining in the fourth quarter on sophomore quarterback Armanti Edwards’ five-yard run that capped a five-play, 32-yard drive in little over a minute.

The two-time defending National Champions started the drive deep in JMU territory after Rodney Landers was stopped shy of the first down on fourth-down.

“I thought we’d make it,” JMU coach Mickey Matthews said. “If I had known we weren’t gonna make it I wouldn’t have gone for it. It was a very good defensive play by them.”

Although JMU (9-3) was four-of-four on fourth-down conversions at that point, ASU sophomore Anothony Williams anticipated the quarterback draw, stuffing Landers.

JMU’s dual-threat quarterback responded and led the Dukes down the field with a 35-yard completion to sophomore receiver Bosco Williams. Landers then rushed for nine yards on the next two plays setting up a third-and-one on the ASU 26-yard line with 42 second remaining.

Sullivan picked up the first down as he rumbled for 17 yards, carrying tacklers to the nine. Landers spiked the ball to stop the clock and then handed off on second-down to Sullivan who fumbled upon contact with ASU defensive tackle Gary Tharrington.

“It wasn’t [Sullivan’s] fault,” Matthews said. “We were gonna kick it on third-down, that was a bad coaching decision by me. I know better. I’ve been doin it 30 years. I shouldn’t have put him in that position.”

Redshirt freshman Griff Yancey went down midway through the third quarter with a leg injury giving Sullivan the opportunity to run the ball.

Yancey gave JMU an early 7-0 lead on a 10-yard touchdown reception from Landers just 4:48 into the game and scored the Dukes second touchdown on a five-yard run in the second quarter. He finished with 73 yards before the injury.

Edwards answered Yancey’s first touchdown with a four-yard touchdown run and ASU senior running back Kevin Richardson equaled the second with a one-yard touchdown run.

The Mountaineers put together their third scoring drive just before the half on another one-yard touchdown run. Edwards carried it in to cap a 27-yard drive after ASU’s Tony Robertson intercepted a Landers pass intended for sophomore Rockeed McCarter.

ASU failed on two of its extra-point attempts, but took a 19-14 lead into the half.

“We were really upset at the half,” Matthews said. “We thought we fairly dominated in the first half, but [there] was a 14-point swing.”

JMU got on the board first in the second half after senior linebacker Adam Ford set up a short field when he stripped ASU receiver T.J. Courman and recovered the ball on the Mountaineers 44-yard line.

On fourth-and-goal the Dukes lined up for a 24-yard field goal. Senior placeholder Joe Kluesner took the snap and tossed it over his shoulder to junior kicker Dave Stannard who ran the ball for a seven-yard score.

After his first career touchdown Stannard had to recompose for the extra-point but he missed as the ball sailed into the right upright. The Dukes held a 27-22 lead before Edwards eventually scored the game-winner.

“First thing I saw was Corey [Lynch] blockin the field goal at Michigan,” ASU linebacker Pierre Banks said. “I just saw my whole football career flash.”

For the JMU seniors, they saw their football careers taken away in a whirlwind of a fourth quarter.

“We had our chance to ice the game,” senior receiver L.C. Baker said. “Its real tough to go out like this, but I guess it has to end somewhere. I know we had this game and I’m gonna always feel that in my heart.”