Playoff-bound Dukes tame Tigers

JMU earns share of A-10 title

Matthew Stoss / senior photographer Redshirt junior Raymond Hines shakes a tackle Saturday in JMU's 31-17 victory over the Towson University Tigers. Hines finishes with 142 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries.

In vanquishing Towson University 31-17 Saturday at Johnny Unitas Stadium, JMU claimed its first Atlantic 10 championship since 1999 — but so did the University of Delaware and the College of William & Mary.

"I told the guys to relish this moment because it’s very difficult to win a championship in major college football," JMU coach Mickey Matthews said.

The Dukes finish the regular season tied for first place with Delaware and William & Mary in the South Division of the A-10, as all schools have one conference loss. JMU’s came Nov. 13 to the Tribe, while the Tribe’s loss came Oct. 23 to the Blue Hens. The Blue Hens were downed by JMU Nov. 6 and, from here, the Dukes and company will turn their thoughts to the postseason.

"Every team is going to be good when you get in the playoffs," JMU redshirt free safety Tony LeZotte said.

Coming into Saturday’s match-up with Towson, the Dukes had been a part of two-straight games that came down to the final seconds. Towson made a bid to make it three in a row behind the 325 passing yards by freshman quarterback Andrew Goldbeck.

"We had a hell of an effort but came up short," Goldbeck said. "We moved the ball well but we couldn’t put it all together for the seniors."

Matthews faulted the plague of injuries that has swept through his defense.

"We have seven starters out on defense," Matthews said. "I was tempted to put some of them in the second half, but we made a determination during the week to not play them. We have to get those guys back."

The Tigers accumulated 444 yards on the Dukes’ wounded defense. On the ground, the Dukes’ allowed Towson’s first 100-yard rusher since October of last year as freshman Nick Williams — in his first start — dashed for 126 yards.

"They didn’t give up," JMU senior linebacker Trey Townsend said. "They stuck with what they were doing and everyone was playing hard."

Saturday was the second straight week that JMU has allowed a 300-yard passer. Against William & Mary, Lang Campbell lit up the JMU secondary for 323.

"We’ve played three good teams," LeZotte said. "I’m not concerned that we’ll be able to execute in the playoffs [Towson] did a good job, and they found something that worked and focused on our holes on defense."

In the continued absence of redshirt sophomore running backs Alvin Banks (who saw limited action with two carries for 3 yards) and Maurice Fenner (who didn’t make the trip north), the Dukes let redshirt junior tailback Raymond Hines loose once more. He didn’t disappoint, pacing his Towson counterpart with 142 yards on 32 carries after running for 198 the week before.

"Little Raymond, he just continues to play well," Matthews said.

JMU jumped out to an early 14-0 lead off of two redshirt junior fullback Chris Iorio touchdowns inside the 10 yardline before letting Towson get back in, pulling within a touchdown before the half at 17-10.

"They’re a lot better than we thought, and a lot better than their record," JMU redshirt sophomore quarterback Justin Rascati said. "But a win is a win, and every game in the A-10, you’ve got to come ready to play."

The Dukes would put up two unanswered scores after the intermission, both touchdown runs by Hines — the second being set up by a 49-yard pass down the middle from Rascati to redshirt sophomore wide receiver D.D. Boxley.

"Rascati played fine," Matthews said. "He makes some mistakes, but he’s getting better all the time."

Against the Tigers, his mistakes included an interception and two fumbles — one of which was lost. Overall, the transfer from the University of Louisville finished 13 of 19 for 174 yards, one touchdown and that one interception.

JMU closes out its regular season with a record of 9-2 overall and a 7-1 mark within the conference. Towson finishes its first year in the A-10 at 3-8 after jumping from the Patriot League. The Tigers were winless in conference play.