Football set for Umass

Parents’ Weekend will bring not only parents to the JMU campus this year but also the University of Massachusetts (2-3)(0-2). The Minutemen will take on the Dukes (3-1)(2-0), ranked No. 19 in The Sports Network Poll and No. 24 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll, in a 1:30 p.m. kick at Bridgeforth Stadium — but coach Mickey Matthews isn’t putting much favor in JMU’s superior ranking.

"I-AA rankings are really difficult," Matthews said. "I think a lot of it is reputation. It’s very difficult to get in and very difficult to get out."

The Dukes will be without one of their 100-yard rushers from a week before. Redshirt sophomore running back Alvin Banks suffered a broken left leg, on a non-weight-bearing bone in either the West Virginia University game or last weekend’s contest against Hofstra University, and will be out 3-5 games.

"It’s going to hurt us not having one of our top tailbacks for the game," Matthews said.

Last weekend against Hofstra, Banks carried the ball 19 times for 118 yards, averaging 6.2 a touch in the Dukes’ 31-21 win over the visiting Pride.

Taking most of the carries in Banks’ stead against UMass will be redshirt sophomore Maurice Fenner, who led JMU against Hofstra, compiling 148 yards on 24 carries. Fenner also scored three touchdowns.

"He’s played fine," Matthews said of Fenner. "Maurice is still learning, and he’s been very much a team player, but he still hasn’t played a full season yet."

Fenner also is recovering from a shoulder injury that kept him out of action against WVU two weeks ago.

"We’ll still rotate backs but we’ll see how much we have to and figure out playing time Friday," Matthews said. "It’s yet to be determined.

Behind Fenner on the depth chart are redshirt junior Raymond Hines and redshirt freshman Antoinne Bolton. Hines and Bolton have seen limited action this season. Hines has carried the ball 15 times for 60 yards and Bolton has 10 touches and 42 yards. Both are averaging about four yards a carry.

"Antoinne hasn’t played a lot," Matthews said. "And everytime Raymond has played he has played well, and we have no reason to think he won’t continue that Saturday."

Handing the ball off to Fenner and company once again will be redshirt quarterback sophomore Justin Rascati, who has started all four games for the Dukes this season in favor of redshirt senior Matt LeZotte.

Last week, the 6-foot-2-inch, 220-lb. transfer from the University of Louisville was 19 of 22 for 188 yards and one touchdown.

For the season, Rascati is 42 of 63 for 445 and five touchdowns. He only has thrown one interception while completing 66.7 percent of his passes.

"We’re totally confident with playing either QB," Matthews said. "We can win with Matt LeZotte, but Justin brings a little more to the table in overall ability. It’s still a very close competition and we’ll continue to evaluate the quarterback position as we do with any position."

Rascati will be throwing against UMass free safety Shannon James, who had two interceptions for the Minuteman in last week’s 29-7 loss to Boston College and now has five for the season. James’ performance last Saturday also earned him A-10 Defensive Player of the Week Honors.

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