Game Preview #9: William & Mary at JMU (Homecoming baby!)
Another new mascot?
Zac already did a lot of the fun stuff for us this week and we traded previews with the W&M blog so we’ll stick to the keys today and really just get prepped for Homecoming! But the first thing that needs to be noted is that this game is HUGE. For both teams. With both teams coming in at 5-3 and with both teams still having Richmond on their schedules, the loser will be in a “have to win out situation” while the winner will be in great shape going forward.
The Basics
Match-up: unranked JMU Dukes (5-3, 2-2 CAA) vs # 17 William & Mary Tribe (5-3, 2-2 CAA)
Kick-off: 3:30 PM Saturday, November 1 at Bridgeforth Stadium, The ‘Burg.
Weather Forecast: Time for some football weather! High 52, Low 35, showers in the morning (maybe even with some “wintry mix” thrown in) giving way to cloudy skies but it’s looking like much less chance for rain (less than 30%) from mid-morning on for the tailgate. Get your tents ready, break out the warm clothes and fire up those new propane heaters.
Broadcast: It’s right there in beautiful high definition at Bridgeforth Stadium and that’s where you should be watching the Homecoming game, but this will be also be one of the Dukes’ first games on the CAA’s new package with ASN. This network is picked up regionally in huge portions of the country, including pretty much everywhere in Virginia. Check your listings as it may be in an unlikely place (for example on Cox in Nova it will likely be on News Channel 8). Otherwise Madizone should have it.
How William & Mary Can Win
Avoid turnovers and force JMU to throw deeper. So far, the only real difference between William & Mary’s 5-3 and JMU’s is that they lost to a strong UNH team while JMU lost to a weak Delaware squad. But the Tribe did get absolutely drilled by UNH, 32-3, so even that’s hard to call distinct. We’ve all seen that when JMU produces turnovers for points or even just more opportunities for its offense, they can score in a hurry, so the Griffins really have to avoid the big plays. And everyone who’s been paying attention knows 3rd and long is the one place JMU doesn’t like to be.
How JMU Can Win
Force turnovers and be better on special teams. We’ve reached a point where we have confidence that the offense will move the ball and find it’s way to a respectable amount of points. W&M’s defense has been touched by injuries a bit and maybe fallen victim to their own hype a bit. They’re simply not as good as they were alleged to be in the preseason and we think the Dukes will find pockets of success against them. We also know that JMU’s defense is at best inconsistent and at worst a big-play sieve. But the games JMU has been at their best, the defense has managed to produce big plays at the same level they give them up and they’ll need to do that again here.
Special teams is vital this week, and not just on the Field Goal front (that is what it is). W&M leads the nation in blocked punts and JMU simply cannot afford to give up that type of momentum producing play. Not putting kickoffs out of bounds and generally being sound with the football on what could be an iffy weather day are equally important.
JMUSB Beer of the Week
Because it’s Homecoming, we’re choosing two beers this week one a practical choice and one in the spirit of Old Guys Leave,. First, one thing that’s important to keep in mind is you need to choose a low ABV session beer to keep your wits about you during a good long tailgate and for catching up with old friends. And wouldn’t you know it, Harrisonburg’s own Three Brothers Brewing has a perfect session ale for this purpose in their Drift. A couple few cases oughtta do it as you might need a few extras for a postgame celebration tailgate or to offer to old friends.
But we’re also choosing an Old Guys Leave beer in the spirit of late 90’s JMU folks. To that end, might we suggest Green Man Brewing’s (Asheville, NC) Toad the Wet Hop Ale which honors everyone’s favorite band they pretend they don’t like’s 25th anniversary playing music we all tried, and mostly failed, to hook up to. I’m a bigger fan than most of wet-hopped ales, but this is a particularly good rendition from a brewery that’s earned our trust.
Tailgate Notes
We’re planning to be set up on Godwin Field #189. Just look for the big JMUSB Start Wearing Purple banner and stop by to say hi anytime! If the weather closes the fields to tailgating we’ll be down by the old baseball field. And we’re really looking forward to visiting our ‘shine buddies over near Hanson Field, though that location needs to remain secret.
Official JMUSB Prediction
This one’s gonna be tight, real tight. It seems every year, even the last few mediocre campaigns, the Dukes usually show up big time for one of their bigger home games. It was Richmond a few years back when they had “the hoodie” and Villanova for last year’s homecoming. And of course the game against then-top ranked W&M when JMU did not pass the whole game and DaeQuan just ran wildcat all day. We think this is that game this year! We were all set to go 35-34 Dukes, but we’re revising the total downward based on the weather and what we think will be some serious intensity from both defenses given the enormous import of this game to both teams. Dukes 28, Featherless Tribe/Pantless Griffins 27.
Just can never run this too many times!
