Nov 12 / Todd

2021 JMUSB Game Preview #10: JMU at William & Mary

Time to begin the burn-it-all-down tour. Less animosity towards the Tribe than just about any CAA team, but they’re first on this retribution circuit. Big game, worthy opponent, one more time with the Griffins.

The Basics

Matchup: #2 JMU Dukes (8-1, 5-1 CAA) at William & Mary Tribe (6-3, 4-2 CAA)

Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. EST. Saturday November 13, 2021, Zable Stadium, the lesser ‘burg

Weather: Sunny, high 64

Broadcast: YurView (we don’t know what this is) or you can Go with the Flo (but we understand cancelling immediately with a clear explanation as to why)

How the Tribe Can Win

Muck it up. This is usually more of a hoops plan for a team that needs to throw you off your rhythm and turn a game into a rockfight. But it applies well to the Tribe this year. They really can’t throw the ball consistently and rarely light up the scoreboard, but they can control the ball and have forced oodles of turnovers in the games they’ve played well. In their season-highlighting win over Villanova two weeks ago the Tribe had four picks and a monstrous edge in time of possession. The running game has been strong even without much threat in the passing game and regardless of who has been under center. That’s not usually a formula for success against this JMU defense.

How the Dukes Can Win

Defensively, force W&M to throw and offensively don’t waste possessions. On D, the Dukes need to stop the Tribe from grinding out first downs with the running game and controlling the clock. This isn’t hard to say, but has been harder to execute as Villanova found out. On the other side, Cole and co. need to take every opportunity presented. Limiting wasted plays and penalties is huge against a team that will want to control the clock. Coach Cignetti has been pretty clear that the Tribe’s defense is athletically a better match for JMU than most teams the Dukes see and it will be important to not simply try to fall back on a “count on athleticism” advantage to pull this off.

JMUSB Beer of the Week (BOTW)

Founders All-Day IPA. It’s time to start wearing out CAA foes in every sport. All day. every day. every game. This is the perfect replacement when you’re having way more than one but you’ve reached the point where you understand life is too short for wang-stirred beer (Lite).

Official JMUSB Prediction

JMU 48, W&M 10. Good night and good bye W&M.

3 Comments

leave a comment
  1. Wil Davis #1 Fan / Nov 12 2021

    Drop 100 on them.
    Don’t even dress O’Kelly. No punts.
    Onside kicks all day.
    Sweep the leg. No mercy for CAA opponents, forever, in any sport.

  2. Rob K / Nov 12 2021

    Definitely cautiously optimistic. For the past 2-3 years, the Dukes have played VERY well against teams who have strong running games but below average passing attack. The front four and our great LBs really limit the ability for teams to consistently control the ball with the run. Let’s do this!

  3. Joe / Nov 12 2021

    The Dukes need to shut down the run and make the Tribe pass the ball. Dukes win 33-14.

Leave a Comment

%d bloggers like this: