{"id":11624,"date":"2021-04-16T11:33:40","date_gmt":"2021-04-16T15:33:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jmusportsblog.com\/?p=11624"},"modified":"2021-04-18T11:31:27","modified_gmt":"2021-04-18T15:31:27","slug":"jmusb-spring-game-5-official-preview-richmond-at-jmu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jmusportsblog.com\/?p=11624","title":{"rendered":"JMUSB Spring Game #5 Official Preview: Richmond at JMU"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Richmond at JMU. Doesn’t matter the season, doesn’t matter the year, doesn’t matter the stakes. It’s Spatter-Stomping Time. It’s Tick Week. It’s Richmond at JMU.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Basics<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Matchup: #10 Richmond Spiders (3-0, 3-0 CAA) at #1 JMU Dukes (4-0, 2-0 CAA)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kickoff: 2:00 p.m. EDT. Saturday April 17, 2021, Bridgeforth Stadium, Rocktown, VA<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weather: Cloudy, high 62.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Broadcast: NBCSports Washington Plus or Flo (last one!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boys in the Desert: JMU -12, O\/U 50<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Richmond Can Win<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Slow down JMU in the run game so they can apply pressure in obvious passing situations. If Richmond can get solid play from its run defense and superstrong LB’s including 2019 CAA DROY Tristan Wheeler, we all know the chance to beat JMU is to really turn the screws and force decisions from the QB – whether that’s Johnson or Maloney. On offense, Richmond QB Joe Mancuso is a veteran who leads a diverse attack with no exact focal point. He’s a capable runner and the way the Ticks spread the ball, JMU will need to stay on assignment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How JMU Can Win<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Play with the same level of gameplanning, execution, and ruthlessness they did at William & Mary last month. Only do it with a full roster this time. On offense, the Dukes line needs to play well this week and find a way to get blockers – even TEs and WRs – onto the second level to slow down the strength of the Spiders, their linebacking corps. If they can do that, it will set Cole up for more of the solid time and play we saw back then. If not, it could be a scramble drill all day. On defense, JMU just needs to play it’s dominant second halves for all 60 minutes. Pressuring the QB with just four has been a weakness “all year” for the Dukes and put simply, they need some guys to step up in that regard. MJ Hampton, Wayne Davis, and Que Reid have all been sent and bailed them out later in games but if they have designs on a postseason run, they need to generate at least some pressure from just the line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JMUSB Beer of the Week<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Union Craft Brewing’s Divine Pale Ale. A smooth drinking pale that has something refreshingly different up front. These guys from Baltimore do a solid job on almost everything and this is a great introduction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dukes Helping Others Week <\/strong>5<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a reminder, each week we’re choosing a charity to donate to in honor of that week’s football game. And we’re asking other Dukes fans to join us as we continue to build #DukesMafia. We’ve been overwhelmed by everyone’s generosity thus far and hope the momentum continues. For the last regular season game of the year, we’re doing something with an organization that has been incredibly inspiring to us over the last few years and has its base right here in the DMV, the World Central Kitchen. We set the base donation at 5 bucks, but feel free to give more if you can (big shoutout to the RedRooster and Mr. Brown here!). Text “ROOTIN” to 707070 or click here<\/a> to donate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Official JMUSB Prediction<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both teams are absolute playoff locks with a win, with or without the automatic bid that could conceivably still go to an undefeated Delaware. JMU stands a decent chance of making the field on ranking and reputation even with a loss while Richmond likely has a lot more on the line this weekend. Hypothetically, they have more to play for. But our guess is JMU, for the first time all year, can see the rewards on offer this spring, and will be ready to rock this weekend. A monster Percy performance and continued growth from Wells is our guess. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

JMU 31, RU 17<\/p>\n