2019 JMUSB Game Preview #2: St. Francis at JMU

The Basics

Matchup: St. Francis (PA) Red Flashes (1-0) at #2 JMU Dukes (0-1)

Kickoff: 6:00 PM Saturday, September 6th

Location: Zane Showker Field at Bridgeforth Stadium, Rocktown

Weather: Sunny, high of 79 and dropping to a crisp 54 overnight. Perfect.

Beer!

So a couple of major stadium changes in store for this weekend. First, make sure and arrive early if you care about watching the competitive portion of this game. JMU is breaking in the new metal detectors and clear bag policy so lines are sure to have you missing kickoff if you’re not at the gate early. And second, JMU will be selling beer in the stadium and not just in the club level. As we’ve said before, we have mixed feelings on this, but it appears you need to first get a wristband and then wait on what are sure to be extremely long lines at the extremely limited beer stations. There are only four points of sale (not the usual concession lines) so if you’d care to check this out, we’d recommend getting in even earlier and taking care of this pregame. Our guess is a halftime run is sure to have you missing part of the 3rd quarter on the first run.

How the Red Flashes Can Win

Turnovers and shorten the game. The Red Flashes allowed only an eye-popping 11 yards rushing last week to Lehigh. The Dukes are a whole other animal, but St. Francis would be best served continuing to do that and hoping they get a classic “bad Nooch” game in the passing game that leads to turnovers. But they also have to find a way to hang onto the football by finding some kind of a running game against the Dukes’ monstrous front seven. They simply can’t afford for this game to have lots of possessions and give JMU the chance to get in rhythm. Oddly, WVU did well last week to limit the Dukes chances in the second half and the Red Flashes need to hope to do the same.

How JMU Can Win

Get pissed. Seriously, the Dukes should be downright pissed off at the way they flat-out gave away an opportunity for a rare program-enhancing win last week in West Virginia. And they need to take it out on a decent NEC team in their home opener. Thankfully, an opening night crowd and hopefully an amped-up student section for a great-weather game won’t see them drop off the natural intensity that comes with a big-time atmosphere like last week. In truth, JMU needs to pound and pound and pound this team until they wear them down and then pound them again. It would realllllly help, and make everyone feel better, if they could not turn the ball over or get DiNucci killed.

JMU also needs to stay alert on special teams as StFU is keyed by their Safety/Punt Returner who had a key play in their win last week. Dukes need to show right now that they can limit big plays in this area.

JMUSB Beer of the Week

First home game of the year, perfect weather, and a day-to-night game in the Valley. Seems like it’s time for a perfect transitional beer, and we really like Pilsner’d from Brothers Craft Brewing right in the ‘Burg. It’s a crisp, easy-drinking (just 4.6%) German-style pils that is perfect for a long afternoon tailgate and a late postgame beverage on the tailgate.

Official JMUSB Prediction

The Dukes dominate the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, taking out all the frustrations from their missed opportunity last week on a team that deserves better but simply cannot handle the JMU front four.

JMU 45, St. Francis 6