Multiple Records Fall, JMU Moves to 10-0 with 44-6 Win Over UConn

Saturday, November 11

Harrisonburg, Va.

2 p.m.

James Madison University

10-0 , 6-0

UConn

1-9 , 0-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
UConn	0	3	3	0	6
James Madison	3	10	17	14	44

Game Notes

Multiple Records Fall, JMU Moves to 10-0 with 44-6 Win Over UConn

11/11/2023 8:19:00 PM | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery

HARRISONBURG, Va. – #21 James Madison had multiple single-game records fall, as a strong second half gave way for a dominant 44-6 victory against UConn on Saturday afternoon at Bridgeforth Stadium.

The Dukes moved to 10-0 on the year, while the Huskies dropped to 1-9 overall. The Dukes also improved to 5-1 against UConn in the team's first meeting in 24 years.

Reggie Brown accomplished a feat no JMU player had ever done in the team's 595 all-time games, eclipsing 200 receiving yards with a career- and program-record 202 receiving yards on nine catches and two touchdowns. Both scores came over 50 yards, including a career-long 80-yarder.

Jordan McCloud had a career day as well, throwing for a career-high and Bridgeforth Stadium-record 457 passing yards. He completed 33-of-37 pass attempts (89%) with four touchdowns, as his completions total was one shy of the JMU single-game record.

His other target Elijah Sarratt tied JMU's single-game record for catches, reeling in a career-best 13 receptions for 160 yards. It's the second time in three games both Brown and Sarratt went over the century mark in the same game.

In the kicking game, Camden Wise tied his career high with three field goals to rise into eighth place at JMU in career field goals (25) and into a tie for seventh in single-season history (14).

Defensively, Aiden Fisher led all players with nine tackles with one for a loss, while Francis Meehan and D'Angelo Ponds each had eight stops. Jamree Kromah had a pair of TFLs and a sack, while Immanuel Bush added 1.5 tackles for loss.

JMU led 13-3 at halftime before exploding for 31 second-half points to turn in its second-highest margin of victory against an FBS opponent. JMU out-gained UConn by a 503-319 margin and had a plus-two turnover margin (one interception, one fumble recovery).

For UConn, Ta'Quan Roberson threw for 207 yards with an interception. Cam Edwards had a game-high 43 rushing yards, while Noe Ruelas provided the team's only points with a pair of field goals.

HOW IT HAPPENED

JMU opened the scoring with 10 seconds left in the first quarter on a 34-yard field goal by Camden Wise, his 12th of the season, giving JMU a 3-0 lead.
After snuffing out a fake punt by UConn, JMU threatened in the red zone but held to three on a 29-yard Wise field goal.
After a stop, JMU needed just one play to go 80 yards, as McCloud connected deep over the middle to Brown, who took it to the house for a 13-0 lead.
Late in the half, Noe Ruelas got UConn on the board with a 41-yard field goal to make it a 13-3 game at the break.
JMU extended the lead to 16-3 early in the second on a 28-yarder from Wise, which occurred after a UConn fumble, in which Meehan forced and Chris Chukwuneke recovered on the second play of the third quarter.
UConn drove the length of the field and answered with Ruelas' second field goal from 31 yards out to trim JMU's lead to 16-6 with 7:42 left in the third.
On the ensuing drive, a crazy one-handed catch by Sarratt set up a 21-yard touchdown pass from McCloud to Horton.
The Dukes went up 30-6 on their next possession, as McCloud found a wide-open Brown down the far sideline for a 55-yard touchdown, giving them a 30-6 lead late in third.
In the fourth, McCloud capped off his day with a five-yard passing score to Phoenix Sproles, and Brent Austin put the exclamation point on the win with his 81-yard pick-six late in the game.

GAME NOTES

McCloud's 453 yards of total offense were the fifth most by a JMU player in single-game history.
The 80-yard touchdown pass for McCloud and Brown was both a career-long pass and career-long catch for each Duke.
Sarratt became just the second JMU player to record 13 catches, as he matched the program record, set twice by Earnest Payton – at UMass on Oct. 10, 1998 and at Rhode Island on Oct. 31, 1998.
With his 202 receiving yards Saturday, Brown moved into ninth place in JMU single-season history with 903 receiving yards.
McCloud now has 26 passing touchdowns, matching Bryan Schor (2017) for fifth in JMU single-season history. His 26 touchdown tosses are also tied for 10th all-time on JMU's career list.
McCloud has thrown for 2,800 passing yards in 2023, which is seventh-most on JMU's season list.
Austin's pick-six in the fourth quarter was his first career interception and JMU's second interception for a touchdown this season.

UP NEXT
JMU returns to Sun Belt Conference play on Saturday, Nov. 18 when it hosts App State. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. at Bridgeforth Stadium, and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.

ESPN also announced that JMU will host College GameDay for the third time next Saturday ahead of the Dukes and Mountaineers.