JMU Rolls Past Weber State, 30-14, To Reach FCS National Title Game For Third Time In Four Years
Rob Washburn
Box Score
HARRISONBURG, Va. (December 21, 2019) – For the third time in four years, the James Madison Dukes are headed to Frisco.
Behind big offensive performances from Ben DiNucci and Riley Stapleton and another dominant effort from its FCS-best defense, JMU defeated Weber State, 30-14, Saturday night in the semifinals of the FCS playoffs at Bridgeforth Stadium.
The Dukes (14-1) will face seven-time champion North Dakota State (15-0) in the FCS National Championship game at 12 p.m. on Saturday, January 11. The game will be televised nationally on ABC.
DiNucci completed 19-of-26 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns and added a team-best 62 yards and a score on the ground. Stapleton sets season-highs with nine receptions for 162 yards and 2 TD’s. The Dukes finished the game with 467 yards of total offense and controlled the ball for 38:56.
JMU’s defense, which ranks No. 1 in FCS in fewest yards allowed and No. 3 in points allowed, held Weber State (11-4) to just 256 total yards. Cornerback Rashad Robinson had five tackles and two pass breakups to lead the unit.
JMU got off to a fast start, scoring points on its first three possessions. After taking a 3-0 lead on Ethan Ratke’s 32-yard field goal, the Dukes drove 79 yards in 11 plays and extended their advantage to 10-0 on an 18-yard TD pass from DiNucci to Stapleton with 2:07 left in the first quarter.
Following a third straight 3-and-out by its top-ranked defense, JMU put together a 65-yard drive capped by a 1-yard scoring run from DiNucci that made it 17-0 with 12:19 remaining in the first half.
Weber State was able to get on the board on a 2-yard TD pass with 1:23 to go until halftime, but JMU quickly regained the momentum. A 60-yard kickoff return by Brandon Polk gave the Dukes good starting field position and they were able to cash in when DiNucci lofted a 34-yard Hail Mary pass to Stapleton on the final play of the half to give JMU a 24-7 advantage going into the locker room.
The Dukes increased their lead to 27-7 on the opening drive of the second half as Ratke booted a 37-yard field goal. He added a 27-yard field goal with 4:39 remaining in the game. Ratke’s 25 field goals for the year set a new CAA single-season record.
JMU captured the national championship in 2004 and 2016, but fell to NDSU in the 2017 title game.