Landers completes 13 of 17, connects with five different receivers
Posted on September 8, 2008
Another week and another team from Durham, N.C., produced a very different result for the Dukes.
After giving away a game to Duke last week, JMU scored early and often against North Carolina Central University on Saturday night, winning in a rout, 56-7.
The contest was over by the end of the first quarter, with the score 21-0 after 15 minutes of play. Quarterback Rodney Landers was taken out just four minutes into the second half, when the Dukes had built up a lead of 42-0.
After completing just four passes against Duke, Landers went 13 of 17 for 164 yards and a touchdown.
The senior connected with redshirt freshman Kerby Long three times for 32 yards, best among JMU receivers, while Landers also ran three times for 31 yards and a score.
“I think I was very effective today,” the second-year starter said. “I made some good reads and didn’t put the ball in danger. I think that was the most important thing.”
JMU’s quarterback didn’t turn the ball over once against NCCU, after throwing an interception and losing two fumbles against Duke.
Landers believes the win over NCCU gives the Dukes confidence heading into their toughest stretch of the season, with the University of Massachusetts and Appalachian State visiting Harrisonburg over the next two weeks.
U.Mass. and App. State were ranked fourth and second, respectively, in last week’s FCS Coaches Poll.
“It feels real good, just to get that first win under our belt,” Landers said. “We’re about to start our difficult homestand and I think we got off to a great start.”
Out of the gate, neither team looked sharp in the first two drives.
Three penalties were called on the first three plays of the game. Two fumbles were caused over the first six.
Coach Mickey Matthews said the sloppy start could be attributed to frustration carried over from last week’s loss.
“I thought we were a little frustrated from the Duke game, we had a little bit of a hangover,” he said.
Two of those penalties were 15-yard personal fouls called on JMU. Senior kicker Jason Pritchard was flagged for a late hit on the opening kickoff and a face mask put the Eagles in Madison territory two plays later.
“That had to be the first time in NCAA history that a kicker got an unnecessary roughness [penalty called on him],” Matthews said. “I saw Pritchard when he did that and I couldn’t believe it. He knocked the guy right on his can.
“I didn’t really know what to say to him. It wasn’t a pleasant conversation for he and I on the sideline.”
The Eagles’ threat, however, was ended on the very next play, when NCCU running back Tim Shankle fumbled and junior defensive end J.D. Skolnitsky recovered.
There was never a doubt from that point on.
A 10-yard Landers touchdown run capped the Dukes’ first drive.
Following a NCCU three-and-out, junior Scotty McGee scored what would prove to be the winning points of the game, just five minutes and 36 seconds into the first quarter.
Last week’s CAA special teams player of the week scored from 38 yards on his first punt return.
“My main focus was just catching the ball,” the Virginia Beach native said. “As soon as I caught the ball I just said ‘I’m gonna run. I’m gonna put my head down and pin my ears back and just run.’ So that’s exactly what I did.”
McGee was not given a chance to run on the next punt, however, as he was speared by NCCU gunner Tony McCord before he could catch the ball. It gave the Dukes an extra 15 yards, but didn’t mean much to McGee.
“I’m not too worried about that,” he said. “I guess they were just trying to put a little fear in me or something. Trying to keep me from catching the ball or something like that.”
NCCU coach Mose Risen said the play was an accident — that the Eagles meant nothing by it.
“It was just a mistake on our part,” Risen said. “I talked to McCord on the sideline and he said he just got there a little bit early and made the tackle. He was anxious.”
