A Bigger Game

Football takes on W&M for automatic bid

No. 4 JMU looks to run its unbeaten streak to seven games Saturday when it hosts the No. 10-ranked College of William & Mary (7-2, 5-1) at Bridgeforth Stadium.

With a win, the Dukes will clinch the Atlantic 10’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs.

"We’re totally focused on winning the league," coach Mickey Matthews said. "We’re intent on beating William & Mary. This is a huge game."

The Dukes are coming off last weekend’s 20-13 victory over the University of Delaware Blue Hens.

Senior cornerback Cortez Thompson returned a fourth quarter punt 87 yards for the game-winning touchdown and JMU’s defense held the Blue Hens at bay after Delaware had first-and-goal at the JMU 3-yard line on the game’s final drive.

The Dukes will look to carry that defensive momentum into their matchup with the Tribe’s high-powered offense. William & Mary ranks No. 2 in the A-10 in scoring, averaging 33.4 points per game.
Tribe quarterback Lang Campbell enters Saturday’s contest with the highest passing efficiency in the conference, having thrown 15 touchdowns and one interception this season.

"He’s the best quarterback in our league," Matthews said. "He’s the reason they’re here."

Offensively, Matthews said the Dukes are looking to improve from their performance against the Blue Hens, where JMU turned the ball over three times and mustered 166 yards of total offense.

"We were disappointed with how we played on offense," Matthews said. "But we were not discouraged. I think all the injuries we’ve had came to ahead. A much better offense will show up against William & Mary."

The Dukes will continue to try and wear down the opposition with their offensive line. Matthews said a reason for JMU’s success has been its ability to take control in the second half.

"We’re outscoring teams in the second half," Matthews said. "Every game, if we didn’t win it in the fourth quarter, we took the game over with six or seven minutes left."

The Dukes have followed that pattern to a six-game winning streak that has all but assured them a playoff berth. However, Matthews said they are not satisfied.

"Maybe our goal in September was to make the playoffs," Matthews said. "But right now we want to be the Atlantic 10’s automatic, and we want to win 10 games in a year. We don’t feel like we’ve accomplished a lot right now."

Matthews said attitude is what has propelled the Dukes to the top of the A-10.

"It’s the most competitive group of youngsters I’ve ever been around," Matthews said. "That’s why we’re having a successful season."

As was the case against Delaware, Matthews said the JMU crowd might play a role in the outcome of Saturday’s game.

"I would anticipate a larger crowd against William & Mary," Matthews said. "When you realize what’s on the line, it doesn’t get any more important. The William & Mary game is bigger than the Delaware game."

The Dukes and the Tribe square off at 12:05 p.m.