Posted on September 10, 2007
For the second straight week, JMU got off to a sluggish start on both sides of the ball. The Dukes fumbled on the opening possession Saturday and gave up a touchdown on their first defensive series, but junior quarterback Rodney Landers had no intentions of any repeat of last week.
Landers showed New Hampshire his whole arsenal, using his legs for 128 yards and two scores and his arm for 241 yards and another score. His explosive performance allowed Madison to bounce back from three different seven-point deficits and beat the Wildcats 41-24 in front of a crowd of 14,021 at Bridgeforth Stadium.
“I thought Landers did a great job of putting some balls on the money,” UNH coach Sean McDonnell said. “Early in the game I thought he was a little jittery and then all of the sudden he settled down.”
JMU started the game with what appeared to be a promising drive. After sophomore cornerback Scotty McGee returned the opening kickoff to the Dukes’ 26 yard-line, the offense moved the ball for seven plays and 22 yards. On first-and-10 from the JMU 48 yard-line, Landers rushed inside for two yards before UNH senior linebacker Husain Karim stripped the ball and the Wildcats recovered.
“I just didn’t lock the ball up,” Landers said. “And I’m just gonna have to go out to the practice field, watch the tape and hold it tight next time.”
New Hampshire and senior quarterback Ricky Santos, last year’s Walter Payton Award winner, capitalized on Madison’s turnover. Santos completed his first five pass attempts with the fifth coming on an 18-yard strike to junior wide receiver Mike Boyle. The touchdown was also his 100th career-passing touchdown.
“I think [Santos is] a great player,” JMU coach Mickey Matthews said. “He just is elusive, he’s hard to sack and he’s really accurate.”
Landers’ accuracy would prove more vital, though, as the game progressed. Santos completed 36 passes on 47 attempts for 353 yards, but threw two interceptions to Landers’ zero.
The Dukes got on the scoreboard with a 36-yard field goal attempt by junior kicker Dave Stannard to cut the lead to 7-3 with 4:20 remaining in the first quarter. New Hampshire answered with a field goal of its own, early in the second, and the teams traded touchdowns leaving the game tied at 17-17 at the half.
Senior running back Antoinne Bolton had a five-yard rushing touchdown, and Landers ran one in on his own with 20 seconds remaining in the half. Santos connected with senior receiver Keith LeVan on the Wildcats other touchdown of the half.
The second half was a different story as Madison took control of the game. Santos engineered another scoring drive to start the third quarter, keeping the ball for a 26-yard rushing touchdown, but that would be his team’s last points of the day.
Junior cornerback Evan McCollough would intercept Santos on UNH’s next offensive series. Four plays and 1:47 later, Landers rushed for his second touchdown, this one coming from six yards out.
New Hampshire punted on its following two possessions as the Dukes’ defense began to wear down its opponents.
“Basically what ended up happening is Ricky [Santos] was talking a little bit in the first and second quarter and I was talking back,” senior defensive tackle John Baranowsky recalled jokingly. “As the third and fourth quarter came he didn’t want to talk no more so I don’t know if his ribs were hurting or what it was. But eventually I think those things started getting to him.”
After Landers completed an 11-yard touchdown pass to senior running back Eugene Holloman, the Dukes scored again shortly after on an 18-yard Stannard field goal to take a 34-24 lead with 8:30 remaining in the game.
On the next drive, JMU junior cornerback Darrieus Ramsey picked-off Santos at the JMU 21-yard line. Ramsey’s second pick of the season locked things up as Madison scored its final touchdown on the ensuing possession.
Bolton pulled a disappearing act on as he escaped a flurry of would-be tacklers, on a 49-yard touchdown run. Bolton finished with 66 yards on five carries and Holloman racked up 110 yards on 26 carries.
Holloman played the game with a separated shoulder, emphasizing the importance of facing the No. 5 ranked Wildcats, and knowing he probably wouldn’t be playing in next week’s game against Virginia Military Institute.
“I was gonna go out here and give it my all. I knew I was gonna feel like this after the game, but as long as we got the win that’s all that counts,” Holloman said with a bandage draped around his shoulder. “If I can help get the win when I’m hurt or 100 percent I’m willing to do that.”
New Hampshire played the game without the presence of backup quarterback Hank Hendricks who has been suspended indefinitely after being charged with murder and assault and battery. The incident happened in San Diego this past summer when a professional surfer was murdered, allegedly by Hendricks and four other men.
“I think you really have to give a lot of credit to Sean [McDonnell] and his staff, that has to be a distraction,” Matthews said. “All of the sudden the kids walk in the locker room and the second team quarterback has been charged with murder. How many times does that happen?”
The Dukes will host VMI at home next Saturday at 6:00 p.m. New Hampshire will stay on the road and travel to Marshall for their second game of the season.
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