Dukes to face Black Bears

FILE PHOTO Sophomore linebacker Akeem Jordan had three tackles and an interception against the University of Massachusetts last week. Jordan and the Dukes travel to Maine Saturday.

The Dukes pack up their perfect 3-0 conference record and the Atlantic 10’s top defense for a trip north to take on the University of Maine Saturday. Whether they remember to bring their passing offense could determine this conference game’s outcome.

The Dukes enter this week with a 4-1 record, boasting the nation’s No. 17 ranking in the latest ESPN/USA Today poll. Senior defensive back Rodney McCarter was named A-10 Defensive Player of the Week and will lead the defense against No. 12 Maine (3-2).

JMU’s defense, which ranks first in the Atlantic 10 in rushing and scoring, will try to stand up against second team All-A-10 quarterback Ron Whitcomb and the Black Bears’ offense.

"They have one of the top wide receiving corps in the league," coach Mickey Matthews said.

The Bears’ wide receivers, including Christian Pereira — who ranks third in the A-10 in receptions — will not pose the only problem for the Dukes. Running back Marcus Williams has the A-10’s sixth most rushing yards and is a Walter Payton Award finalist — the award for the nation’s most outstanding I-AA player.

Maine kick returner Arel Gordon was the conference’s Special Teams Player of the Week for the week ending Oct. 9, after returning a kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown against the University of Richmond.

"That was how they won that game," Matthews said.

Maine earned another victory on the road this season against the Southeastern conference’s Mississippi State, 9-7.

While the Bears’ offense has talent, their JMU counterparts also rank at the top of the conference.

Two of the A-10’s top-five running backs are JMU redshirt sophomores Alvin Banks and Maurice Fenner. Banks is injured with a fractured tibia and will not play against Maine.

Fenner will look to shoulder the load along with redshirt junior Raymond Hines, who ran for a career-high 123 yards last week against the University of Massachusetts.

Much of the running game’s success is due to the offensive line’s production this season.

"For the first time since I have been here, we have a veteran offensive line," Matthews said. "They have been consistent and their consistency helps build team confidence."

"We know we can run," Matthews added. "But we need to become more balanced on offense to consistently win. We’ve got to work on the throwing game."

The Dukes’ struggling passing game, which ranks last in the A-10, will try to take advantage of a weaker Maine pass defense.

The Bears have allowed a conference-worst 317 passing yards per game.

Matthews feels that team morale is strong coming into this Saturday’s game.

"Winning close games like we have builds confidence," he said.

The Dukes will need that confidence traveling to the Bear’s den. JMU has lost its last three trips up to Maine, including a 20-13 defeat last season.

However, this is not last season.

"That was a competitive game last year," Matthews said. "But it’s been a long time since last year."