Dukes roll over Lock Haven

Rascati, LeZotte combine for four touchdowns in 62-7 win

Amy Paterson / photo editor Red-shirt senior tight end Tom Ridley turns upfield during the first half of JMU's 62-7 victory over Lock Haven University Saturday night. Ridley finished with four catches for 67 yards.

For the second year in a row, JMU started its football season with a lopsided home victory.

Red-shirt sophomore running back Maurice Fenner had an 83-yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter and the Dukes never looked back, rolling over Lock Haven University 62-7 Saturday night at Bridgeforth Stadium.

The Dukes had opened last season with a 48-6 win over the Liberty University Flames.

Red-shirt sophomore running back Alvin Banks contributed 108 yards rushing and scored two touchdowns. Red-shirt sophomore Justin Rascati and red-shirt senior Matt LeZotte split time at quarterback, combining to throw four touchdown passes for the Dukes.

"I thought we played OK," coach Mickey Matthews said. "I thought our play was spotty and we still have a lot [of work] to do."

In the much ballyhooed quarterback controversy, Rascati earned the opening night start before giving way to LeZotte on the third offensive possession. The two alternated for the rest of the game. Rascati finished 10 of 18 for 136 yards and three touchdowns, while LeZotte was 8-13 for 121 yards and one touchdown pass.

Matthews made it clear after the game that the starting quarterback job still was open.

"I thought they both played fine," Matthews said. "We’re going to watch the tape and evaluate both of them."

LeZotte and Rascati agreed with Matthews.

"It didn’t make a difference who started tonight," LeZotte said. "Justin did a good job. He did what was asked of him and I thought I played well, too."

Rascati said, "we knew we were going to get equal reps. I think overall we’re both on the right track."

Defensively, the Dukes were paced by red-shirt freshman safety Tony LeZotte, who finished with six tackles. Red-shirt senior linebacker Trey Townsend had an interception and red-shirt freshman linebacker Mike Brown had two tackles and a sack.

"The defense did some good things tonight," Matthews said. "I think Tony LeZotte is a great player. I think you’ll see that every Saturday. "

JMU opened the scoring on its first possession as Rascati capped a nine-play, 64-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run.

"I thought I did some good things tonight," Rascati said. "I’m just going to go out there and work hard."

The Dukes scored on their next four possessions, highlighted by Fenner’s 83-yard touchdown run, to take a commanding 31-7 lead into halftime.

JMU opened the second half in the same fashion that it finished the first.

LeZotte engineered an 11-play, 56-yard drive and hit red-shirt junior wide receiver Nic Tolley for an 8-yard touchdown pass. On the following possession, Banks scored from 3 yards out to give the Dukes a 45-7 lead.

"I thought A.B. played pretty well," Matthews said. "He did a lot of good things tonight. I thought he played the best at running back."

A pair of Rascati touchdown passes to red-shirt sophomore fullback Will Patrick and red-shirt sophomore wide receiver D.D. Boxley made it 59-7. Sophomore place kicker David Rabil’s second field goal of the night rounded out the scoring.

"We went out and executed tonight," LeZotte said. "I thought we did what we wanted to do. The bottom line is execution and making plays."

The Dukes have a bye next week and will head to Philadelphia, Pa., to take on Villanova University Sept. 18 with kickoff set for 1 p.m.