James Madison hosted South Dakota State Saturday afternoon at Bridgeforth Stadium in the FCS Semifinals, and the Dukes quickly established dominance, running away in the second half with a 51-16 win after forcing 10 turnovers in the game to advance to the FCS Championship against North Dakota State.
[divider]COMPARE: JMU vs. SDSU | Bryan Schor vs. Taryn Christion[divider]
Here's how the game played out (Highlights courtesy of @NCAA_FCS):
[divider]
SDSU opened the game with a solid drive, aided by this highlight-reel catch by Jake Wieneke on a tipped pass from Taryn Christion.
Jake Wieneke is starting off right where he left off…making awesome catches!
JMU 0, SDSU 0 – 1Q
#FCSPlayoffs on ESPNU pic.twitter.com/GlZV5O4NCW— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 16, 2017
The drive stopped, however, as the JMU defense forced a fumble:
The Dukes’ defensive unit is making plays early. A forced fumble halts SDSU’s drive and gives JMU the ball
JMU 0, SDSU 0 – 1Q
#FCSPlayoffs on ESPNU pic.twitter.com/DFvPoxCLGf— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 16, 2017
SDSU forced a JMU punt, but the Dukes defense showed up yet again, forcing another fumble and setting up great field position.
FUMBLE!!!
A second first quarter fumble sets JMU up deep in the red zoneJMU 0, SDSU 0 – 1Q
#FCSPlayoffs on ESPNU pic.twitter.com/4haTnKoW6c— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 16, 2017
JMU took advantage as Bryn Schor found Riley Stapleton for the game's first score to make it a 7-0 game.
The Dukes strike first!
JMU 7, SDSU 0 – 1Q
#FCSPlayoffs on ESPNU pic.twitter.com/ccTzIZ6JI0— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 16, 2017
James Madison again forced a takeaway as Jimmy Moreland picked off a Christion pass, but the Dukes were unable to turn it into points. One drive later yet another South Dakota State turnover — their 4th in four possessions — gave the Dukes the ball yet again.
The defense comes up big AGAIN! James Madison comes up with its 4th takeaway in the opening quarter
JMU 7, SDSU 0 – 1Q
#FCSPlayoffs on ESPNU pic.twitter.com/maJwms5BLy— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 16, 2017
This time, SDSU took it right back, forcing a fumble of their own. But, Jimmy Moreland picked off Christion on the next play, giving JMU its fifth takeaway in as many SDSU possessions.
The Jacks get their first takeaway, BUT give it right back to the Dukes as Jimmy Moreland gets his second INT of the game
JMU 7, SDSU 0 – 1Q
#FCSPlayoffs on ESPNU pic.twitter.com/StouvFcvKB— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 16, 2017
SDSU held again, and then put points on the board as Christion found Wieneke for seven points and a tied game.
Jake Wieneke, no stranger to the end zone, ties it up
JMU 7, SDSU 7 – 2Q
#FCSPlayoffs on ESPNU pic.twitter.com/LXPjHc523Q— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 16, 2017
JMU answered right back with a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive again capped by a Schor-Stapleton connection, this one from 15 yards out.
Riley Stapleton =
JMU 14, SDSU 7 – 2Q
#FCSPlayoffs on ESPNU pic.twitter.com/BLRqEZNL4u— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 16, 2017
After SDSU drove and converted a field goal with about a minute left in the half, JMU got a nice kick return from Marcus Marshall and quickly drove down the field and capitalized as Bryan Schor snuck it in from a yard out to put the Dukes up 21-10 at the half.
Forget the two minute drill, JMU does it in 40 seconds!
JMU 21, SDSU 10 – 2Q
#FCSPlayoffs on ESPNU pic.twitter.com/Csx7yOON4D— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 16, 2017
JMU came out of the half and struck quickly, scoring in two plays on this 65-yard dash from Marshall to take a 28-10 lead.
Marcus Marshall turns on the
JMU 28, SDSU 10 – 3Q
#FCSPlayoffs on ESPNU pic.twitter.com/oC2IqRHng9— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 16, 2017
Marshall struck again after the Dukes defense earned a stop, rushing for a career-long 87-yard TD to put JMU up 35-10.
Are you serious?!
Marcus Marshall follows up a 65 yd touchdown run with a 87 yd scamper to the end zone
JMU 35, SDSU 10 – 3Q
#FCSPlayoffs on ESPNU pic.twitter.com/YuWhOIpoHt— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 16, 2017
JMU's defense continued its strong play, forcing a punt thanks to this sack from Andrew Ankrah:
Andrew Ankrah lays the
JMU 35, SDSU 10 – 3Q
#FCSPlayoffs on ESPNU pic.twitter.com/VUfHeLZlQx— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 16, 2017
The Dukes took over and marched down the field yet again, getting into position on this hard-fought run from Trai Sharp before Taylor Woods hammered it home.
He. Just. Won’t. Go. Down.
JMU 35, SDSU 10 – 3Q
#FCSPlayoffs on ESPNU pic.twitter.com/r9VATgDIpT— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 16, 2017
Pedal to the metal! Woods punches it in and the Dukes are rolling
JMU 42, SDSU 10 – 3Q
#FCSPlayoffs on ESPNU pic.twitter.com/NKaSbn19d4— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 16, 2017
Another SDSU turnover — a JMU fumble recovery — led to an Ethan Ratke field goal, and the Dukes added 6 more on a pick-six moments later to make it 51-10.
Takeaway for the JMU defense goes back for
JMU 51, SDSU 10 – 3Q
#FCSPlayoffs on ESPNU pic.twitter.com/k7NwZnWkJh— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 17, 2017
Jordan Brown joined the INT party, picking up one on the next drive.
8 turnovers now…
JMU 51, SDSU 10 – 3Q
#FCSPlayoffs on ESPNU pic.twitter.com/tk56GRtqdT— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 17, 2017
SDSU got an interception of their own after JMU put in backup QB Cole Johnson, then capped it with a Dallas Goedert TD. The 2-point conversion failed, and JMU led 41-16.
Dallas Goedert is good
JMU 51, SDSU 16 – 4Q
#FCSPlayoffs on ESPNU pic.twitter.com/urgtKv2mqs— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 17, 2017
Two turnovers later JMU picked up its 10th takeaway of the game on this Jimmy Moreland interception:
Jimmy Moreland has 3 interceptions tonight and his team has TEN TAKEAWAYS
JMU 51, SDSU 16 – 4Q
#FCSPlayoffs on ESPNU pic.twitter.com/jAph3UtZxO— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) December 17, 2017
That did it as JMU advanced on a 51-16 win.
