Dukes Take on UMass One Last Time (and need lots of help)

We’ll probably know by around 5 p.m. Saturday if the Dukes season is over or they “advance” into the playoffs, we’ll definitely know by 10:30 a.m. Sunday (FCS Playoff selection show is on ESPNU Sunday morning at 10).  But the most certain thing about this weekend is that it’s JMU’s last game against UMass as a conference foe.  The Minutemen are headed to the FBS next year via the MAC (can you say Wednesday nights in Kalamazoo?!) and have had a bit of a strange season as a result.

First Things First: UMass

Nothing else matters if the Dukes can’t beat the Minutemen.  And don’t let the 5-5 record fool you, UMass is tough.  With no postseason or CAA title to play for, it’s been an odd season, but there’s plenty of talent on the roster.  And one thing’s for sure, all-everything RB Jonathan Hernandez remains a handful.  Yes, that’s the same Hernandez who seems like he’s been in the CAA kes will need to show up on D.  Oh yeah, the game’s at 1:00 in New England, somebody should remind the D to wake the hell up as opposed to the sleepwalking first quarter they threw up in New Hampshire a couple of weeks ago.  They also have WR Julian Talley, who just passed Victor Cruz (yes, that Victor Cruz), on their receiving list, plus he gets back his starting QB Kellen Pagel from injury this week.  And of course All-American LB Tyler Holmes will be wrecking shop on D for the Minutemen as usual and the Dukes may have to, gasp, throw the ball a bit.

As for motivation, UMass is a bit of a mystery.  It’s senior day for a great group and they may see this as their bowl game with no postseason to look forward to, but they’ve been up and down this year, at times beating up on conference heavies and at times seemingly throwing in the towel agains the bottom-feeders recently.  It’s also their last game at McGuirk stadium as they’ll be playing down the road in Gillette Stadium next year.

What the Dukes Need to Do

We need echoes of the HC performance against the Ticks

Play with the intensity and focus necessary under the circumstances, yet not look to their coach for an example of how stressed to be.  The Dukes are in the position of needing a win plus help for many reasons but one of them is the lack of understanding on how big the moment is.  All the other games and all the lobbying for position and all the talk of playoff games at New BFS mean nothing without this win.  Show up!

JMUSB Beer of the Week

Session Fest.  Just like the UR game, we’re bring back another Session Lager from Full Sail in hopes those vibes return.  Full Sail is making a Session holiday beer called Fest this year and it’s a tasty red lager with great head (twss).

Soccer and Hoops interlude

Soccer is seeded 14th overall in the NCAA tourney and has a first round bye.  They host the winner of Friday’s Wake Forest/South Carolina game at home Sunday afternoon.  You know how bad the Skins game will be, so tune into MadiZone and catch a winning team!  Hoops will get their first big road test at LaSalle at 3 p.m. Saturday.  Let’s hope it’s just a celebration continued and not a turning of our attention for the long winter.

The Scenarios

Again, none of this matters if the Dukes don’t win.  But in the interest of adding further stress to your Saturday, here are the games you need to keep an eye on.

Northern Iowa @ Illinois St. (Noon ESPN3) – UNI is a solid favorite even on the road but JMU has to have this one go their way to keep Ill. St. out.

Furman @ Florida – Just need the Gators to make themselves bowl eligible to knock out Furman.

Wofford @ Chattanooga (2 p.m.) – Nearly an identical setup to our game with Wofford in the same spot as JMU and Chatty as a dangerous 5-5 team.  This is probably JMU’s best hope for a necessary upset. Go Mocs! (that’s Chatty).

Missouri St. @ Youngstown St. (1 p.m.) – YSU’s upset of North Dakota St. last week made JMU’s road a lot tougher, but an unlikely upset of the stupid Penguins by Mizz. St. would more than make up for it and knock out YSU.

Southern Illinois @ Indiana St. (2:05 p.m.) – Indiana St. a big favorite here too, but an upset would be great for JMU.

Liberty @ Stony Brook (3:30 p.m.) – Would be nice to have Liberty win this game, which would in turn give JMU their only win of the season over playoff team.  Resume’s thin already for the Dukes, but this would help a bit.

Dukes need UNI and Florida to do what they’re supposed to and one of the trio of YSU/Ind. St./Wofford to lose.  If those things happen, we’ll have high hopes for Sunday morning!

Keep the Faith! Go Dukes! 

Prediction

Dukes 35, UMass 13. Statement.