{"id":11250,"date":"2019-11-11T07:07:45","date_gmt":"2019-11-11T12:07:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jmusportsblog.com\/?p=11250"},"modified":"2019-11-11T07:07:46","modified_gmt":"2019-11-11T12:07:46","slug":"three-thoughts-on-jmu-54-unh-16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jmusportsblog.com\/?p=11250","title":{"rendered":"Three Thoughts On JMU 54 – UNH 16"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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JMU found itself at #2 in the initial FCS Playoff rankings when they were released last week. The Dukes opponent for this past Saturday, the New Hampshire Wildcats, landed in tenth. This provided the Dukes with an opportunity to make a statement. Make a statement they did. Despite letting the Wildcats jump out to an early lead, JMU pretty much blew their doors off. If it was a fight, it would have been stopped. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Dukes put up 537 yards of total offense and limited New Hampshire to under 250. Despite letting the Wildcats get out to an early lead, JMU stormed back, scoring 41 unanswered points. We were fairly confident JMU would win comfortably, but we didn’t see this coming. And we loved it. Here are three quick thoughts on the win that got JMU to 9-1 and clinched at least a share of the CAA title. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best Quarter of the Year<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

JMU’s second quarter was a thing of beauty. The first quarter was decidedly not. The Defense was caught sleeping a few times in the opening period, and let New Hampshire take advantage of a few big plays to score twice and keep the game knotted at 10. Then the second quarter happened. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

JMU opened Q2 with an 8 play 80 yard drive capped off by a Percy TD. The Dukes followed it up with an 8 play 63 yard drive and a Dylan Stapleton touchdown. Then they took advantage of a short field and Nooch ran one in. Meanwhile, the defense seemingly caught fire after Dimitri Holloway was ejected for targeting. The Dukes D force UNH to punt after a 7 yard “drive.” JMU grabbed an interception on UNH’s second possession of the quarter. It was the most complete quarter JMU has played all year. Shut down D and an offense that frankly made one of the CAA’s top defenses look flat out incompetent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nooch Exercised Some Demons<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We all remember last season’s game at New Hampshire. The wheels kind of came off for Nooch in that one. He had a couple of turnovers and was benched for Cole Johnson in the Dukes’ loss. This year’s contest was much better. In it, all Nooch did was throw for 293 yards and two touchdowns, run another one in, and show that he has complete command of this offense. The only reason fans aren’t talking more about Nooch’s performance is probably because it’s what everyone has come to expect from the senior. We know certain fans will never forgive Nooch for what happened in the playoffs. And many will completely discount anything that happens until the playoffs this year. That’s their prerogative. But based on his body of work this season, Nooch is mounting quite a case to be the CAA’s Offensive Player of the Year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The CAA is Drunk<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But JMU just keeps winning. The league makes no sense after JMU. None whatsoever. Every time we think a team is starting to separate itself from the pack, an upset happens. Or maybe they’re not upsets. We have no idea. We thought Richmond was dead earlier this season. Now the Spiders come to Bridgeforth tied for second in the league. Nova impressed the hell out of us in week 7. Since then, all Nova did was lose 2 straight before beating…Richmond. Stony Brook took the Dukes to OT, but then lost 3 out of 4. However, they did manage to beat…New Hampshire. Towson was picked by everyone to compete with JMU for the league title, but has looked nothing like a contender. They have rallied to win two straight and can still make the playoffs if they win out. The league is a mess. Teams are beating each other up every week. The one constant is the Dukes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

JMU gets everyone else’s “A game” and thus far, has managed to run the gauntlet unscathed. Outsiders can look at the records and conclude that save JMU, the CAA has nothing but mediocre teams. They’re wrong. There are plenty of good football teams. It’s a talented league and it’s hard to win ball games week in and week out. Yet JMU keeps going just that. <\/p>\n