NORFOLK, Va. – James Madison jumped out to a 30-7 first half lead on Old Dominion Football and held off the Monarchs, 46-20, on Saturday night at S.B. Ballard Stadium.
Old Dominion (1-3) trailed 30-7 after a Corey Scott touchdown grab with 11:42 remaining in the second quarter but a Maurki James one-yard plunge and a Nathanial Eichner 49-yard field goal at the end of the first half drew the Monarchs to 30-17 at the break.
The Monarchs then got a three and out on JMU’s (4-0) opening possession of the third quarter, but a penalty gave the Dukes the ball and they took advantage as Morgan Suarez would hit a 38-yard field goal to push JMU’s lead to 33-17.
The teams began trading punts before Suarez delivered another field goal, this one from 27-yards, to give JMU a 36-17 advantage.
The Monarchs inched closer after a 42-yard reception by TJ Johnson put the ball at the JMU 17 to end the third quarter, but ODU was held to a 35-yard field goal from Eichner to cut the lead to 36-20.
Suarez added a fourth field goal, this one from 26 yards out, and JMU capped the scoring with a one-yard touchdown run from Seth Cromwell for the 46-20 final.
“They beat us in every phase, we were undisciplined and we lacked detail, which didn't allow us to play with enough consistency in order to win a game like that,” ODU Head Coach Ricky Rahne said.
JMU forced a three and out on ODU’s opening possession and proceeded to drive 53 yards in seven plays, as Camden Coleman hit Cole Keller for a three-yard touchdown pass to put the Dukes on top, 7-0.
The Dukes forced another ODU punt and drove 76 yards in seven plays on its second possession, as Camden hit Michael Scott for a 20-yard touchdown pass to increase the lead to 14-0.
Old Dominion cut the lead to 14-7 as Ryan Huff hit Leon Haughton Jr. for a 23-yard touchdown strike, the first of Huff’s career. The Monarchs drove 75 yards in four plays, as Huff completed the first three passes of his career, hitting Kendall Harris for a gain of 13 and TJ Johnson down the right side for 36 yards.
Michael Scott returned the ensuing kickoff 72 yards to set up JMU at the ODU 18, but ODU forced a 28-yard Suarez field goal that pushed the JMU lead to 17-7.
Their next possession, the Dukes drove 60 yards in six plays capped by a 13-yard touchdown pass from Coleman to Jeremiah Harrison, but the PAT failed.
JMU forced an ODU fumble on its next possession and Coleman hit Corey Scott for an 18-yard touchdown reception make the score 30-7.
Brandon Crutchfield intercepted a Coleman pass on James Madison’s next possession to set up ODU at the Dukes’ 33. Huff found JJ Harrell at the three and two plays later Maurki James pounded it in from the one to make the score 30-14.
ODU forced a JMU punt to give themselves a chance before halftime and Huff hit TJ Johnson for 14 yards to convert a third down and set up a 49-yard Eichner field goal to make the halftime score, 30-17.
Ryan Huff made his first career start at quarterback, completing 20-of-39 passes for 261 yards, one touchdown and an interception. Johnson caught five passes for 105 yards. Mario Easterly had 11 tackles and a pass breakup, while Lucas Struck had a career high 11 tackles and a tackle for loss.
Notes – Ryan Huff made his first career start at quarterback … Leon Haughton Jr. caught a career high four passes for 49 yards … TJ Johnson had his first career 100-yard game, catching a career high five passes for 105 yards … Ryan Huff’s 261 passing yards are the most by an ODU quarterback making their first career start … Zialis Blackmon caught a career high two passes … Maurki James’ touchdown run was the first by an ODU running back this season.