Football set to host VMI in homecoming game

FILE PHOTO Freshman wide reciever L.C. Baker and the Dukes play the Virginia Military Institute Keydets Saturday at 3 p.m.

After two straight road wins, the JMU football team returns to Harrisonburg to take on the Virginia Military Institute Keydets in a homecoming matchup Saturday at Bridgeforth Stadium.

Coach Mickey Matthews said the Dukes — ranked No. 9 in the latest ESPN/USA Today poll — will not overlook VMI, despite its record.

"VMI’s having a rough time this year," Matthews said. "But they’re going to play very hard against us. They have our attention."

The Keydets also are playing without the pressure of a playoff spot on the line.

"When you play a team like VMI, you have to realize that this is their chance to shine," Matthews said. "They’ll be in the national spotlight against a top-10 team. For them to come in and knock us off would make a lot of bad memories go away."

JMU heads into this non-conference matchup looking to get healthy on both sides of the ball. Matthews said a number of Dukes will be held out of the contest.

"Isai Bradshaw is out with bruised ribs," Matthews said. "And both kickers are out. Bruce Johnson is questionable, and so is Khary Sharpe."

The Dukes also will be without the services of redshirt sophomore tailback Alvin Banks and redshirt junior wide receiver Tahir Hinds, both of whom sustained injuries in early October. Matthews, however, said both players are making progress.

"We will try and get Alvin running this week," Matthews said. "He and Tahir are both out for this weekend. There is a possibility that they can come back for the last two home games."

Having Banks and Hinds out of the lineup, the JMU offense has been slowed but still has put up 28, 24 and 26 points in the last three games, respectively.

"Our offensive productivity has been hindered by the loss of Alvin and Tahir," Matthews said. "There are not many offenses that could continue to put up the numbers we do without their top back and top receiver."

On the other side of the ball, JMU’s defense is ranked No. 3 in the nation against the run, yielding 83.4 yards per game. As a result, teams have been throwing against JMU more often.

"People are having a hard time running the football on us," Matthews said. "UMass called almost 60 pass plays against us. Richmond was the same thing. Every week we have to concentrate on having a solid pass defense.

"The reason we are 6-1 right now is we’re not giving up the easy scores. We’re making teams earn their way to the end zone."

With three consecutive home games on the schedule, including Atlantic 10 matchups against the University of Delaware and the College of William & Mary, JMU and its vaunted defense has the luxury of playing for a playoff berth inside the friendly confines of Bridgeforth. The Dukes are 23-9 at home since Matthews took over in 1999.

"At this point, we just need to take care of business in our home stadium," Matthews said.

Kick off is set for 3 p.m.

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