#10 Football Falls On The Road At Top Ranked James Madison

Saturday, April 17

Harrisonburg, VA

2:00 PM

University of Richmond

3-1 , 3-0

James Madison

5-0 , 2-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Richmond

James Madison

Photo by: Keith Lucas/ Sideline Media

#10 Football Falls On The Road At Top Ranked James Madison

04/17/2021 | Football

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HARRISONBURG, Va. – The 10^th ranked University of Richmond football team suffered its only loss of the 2021 spring regular season Saturday afternoon, dropping a 23-6 contest to No. 1 James Madison at Bridgeforth Stadium.

The Spiders finish the regular season with a 3-1 record on the year and await word on a possible NCAA FCS Playoff at-large selection. The 2021 spring NCAA FCS Playoff selection show will air Sunday morning at 11:30 a.m. on ESPNU. The Spiders are in search of their 12^th playoff appearance and first since 2016.

James Madison finished the regular season 5-0 on the year, claiming the CAA South Division title while Delaware posted a 5-0 record in the North Division. The Blue Hens were awarded the CAA Overall Championship and the leagues automatic qualifier in a vote by league athletic directors Saturday evening.

The Spiders' defense held James Madison, the conference's top rushing attack, to 149 yards on 43 carries and over half of those came in the fourth quarter. Senior linebacker Tyler Dressler (Covington, Va.) led the way with a game-high 13 tackles, including one sack. Sophomore linebacker Tristan Wheeler (Bethlehem, Pa.) added 11 tackles while redshirt junior defensive lineman Kobie Turner (Clifton, Va.) added nine tackles and two sacks.

Offensively, the Spiders were limited to a season-low 200 total yards of offense. Redshirt senior quarterback Joe Mancuso (Blairsville, Ga.) finished the game just 9-of-24 passing for 125 yards while throwing his first interception of the year. Mancuso was limited to just 19 yards rushing as well against the JMU defense. Graduate tight end John Fitzgerald (Baltimore, Md.) led the way with four receptions for 42 yards while redshirt sophomore Justin Jasper (Richmond, Va.) had a career-best 55-yard reception.

James Madison jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter, putting the Spiders behind early. Richmond scored its first points of the game after a 10-play, 82-yard drive that finished with a Jake Larson (Baltimore, Md.) 22-yard field goal. The Dukes added a field goal of their own on the final play of the first half for a 13-3 lead at the break.

Larson posted his second field goal of the game with a 43-yard field goal in the third quarter, trimming the deficit to 13-6. The Dukes answered with a field goal of their own to extend the lead to 10. Richmond had another drive late in the third quarter, posting an 11-play, 42-yard drive that stalled before Larson's 50-yard attempt sailed just wide keeping it a two score game.

--UR--