JMU Wins Road Thriller at Rival ODU

Saturday, November 16

Norfolk, Va.

4 p.m.

James Madison University

8-2 , 4-2

Old Dominion

4-6 , 3-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

James Madison

Old Dominion

11/16/2024 10:00:00 PM | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery

NORFOLK, Va. – James Madison used a big second half from its defense, rushed for a season-high 233 yards and Alonza Barnett III produced three total touchdowns en route to a thrilling 35-32 victory at Old Dominion in Sun Belt Conference football action Saturday evening at S.B. Ballard Stadium.

The Dukes won their third straight to improve to 8-2 on the year and remained alive in the Sun Belt East Division picture with a 4-2 conference mark. The loss dropped the Monarchs to 4-6 on the season and 3-3 in league play.

JMU also improved to 3-2 all-time against ODU, having now won all three meetings at the FBS level and in the Sun Belt.

JMU found itself in a 24-21 hole at halftime after a big second quarter by the Old Dominion offense and special teams. JMU seized the lead back late in the third quarter on a 68-yard bomb from Barnett to Yamir Knight, who finished the game with his first career 100-yard game. He hauled in career bests of eight receptions for 121 yards in the win.

His older brother Wayne Knight, also had a career day, rushing for 70 yards on 13 carries (5.4 avg.) with a touchdown. The game marked the first time both Knights found the endzone in the same game since the 2021 Delaware state championship game during Wayne's senior season at Smyrna High School.

In the fourth and clinging to a 28-24 lead, JMU used a hard count on fourth-and-inches to draw ODU offside to extend the drive. After a 13-yard completion to Yamir Knight, Pettaway gained 21 yards on the next two rushes to move JMU into the redzone. On a third-and-goal from the eight, Barnett kept it, running in untouched for the game-sealing score.

ODU drove downfield and scored while converting a two-point conversion with 58 seconds remaining to make it 35-32, but the hosts onside kick was recovered by Logan Kyle to secure the Dukes' win.

George Pettaway rushed for 36 of his team-high 82 rushing yards in the fourth quarter, leading to JMU's game-winning scoring drive in his return to the 757. Barnett finished the game with 262 total yards, as he was 18-of-27 for 192 passing yards and a touchdown while rushing for 70 more yards and two scores. That included a career-long 50-yard touchdown scamper in the first half.

On the defensive side of the ball, JMU's defense came up big in the fourth quarter, as it had limited ODU to just 67 second-half yards before the final touchdown drive. In the fourth alone prior to the 75-yard drive, ODU had -9 total yards on six plays, allowing JMU to gain the 11-point advantage.

Khairi Manns was a force in the backfield, registering a career-high 2.5 sacks. JMU had five sacks as a team on its six tackles for loss, as Eric O'Neill finished with a season-high nine stops with 1.5 sacks. Immanuel Bush also had a sack and a career-high tying six total tackles. Jacob Thomas made nine stops with a pair of big pass breakups, while Chris Shearin tallied six tackles, one TFL and his first interception of the season.

ODU was led by Colton Joseph, who threw for 189 yards with an interception while rushing for 35 yards and career-high tying three rushing touchdowns. Aaron Young also rushed for a career-high 116 yards with a score.

JMU remains out on the road next Saturday, Nov. 23 when it travels to Boone, N.C., to face App State. Kickoff from Kidd Brewer Stadium is set for 2:30 p.m. on ESPN+.

GAME NOTES

JMU out-gained ODU by a 425-363 margin, which included a 233-174 clip in the run game. JMU also held a 233-142 lead in the second half to regain the lead.
JMU was 6/7 on third down while ODU was held to only 1/11, forcing ODU into eight punts on the day.
JMU dominated time of possession by a 37:52 to 22:08 margin.
The Dukes had one interception and didn't turn the ball over once to win the turnover battle 1-0, as they've now won it in all 10 games for a +19 turnover margin.
The Knight brothers both recorded their third career touchdowns in Saturday's win, with Wayne rushing in for his second career rushing touchdown and Yamir catching his third career receiving TD.
Chris Shearin now has five career interceptions after having the only takeaway of the day.
The teams converted all nine times in the red zone, with JMU going 4/4 and ODU 5/5.
The Dukes converted their fourth trick play for a two-point conversion this year, as Gabriel Hollingsworth took the snap from Jack Mowrey and ran past the goal line for two. It was Hollingsworth's first career points with the Dukes.
With the win, JMU now leads ODU, 4-3, in this year's TowneBank Royal Rivalry Challenge.