James Madison picks apart Stony Brook for FCS playoff win
Sharp reaches for James Madison TD
Bryan Schor finds Trai Sharp in the flat who reaches the ball over the goal line for a 5-yard touchdown.
(STATS) -- James Madison's goal is to repeat as the FCS national champion, but the Dukes began their playoff run by asserting dominance in CAA Football on Saturday.
The CAA champ didn't face second-place Stony Brook in the regular season, and that seemed fortunate for the visiting Seawolves when James Madison rolled to a 26-7 victory at before a Bridgeforth Stadium playoff-record 16,449 in the second round of the playoffs.
Senior Bryan Schor passed for 255 yards and two touchdowns and five different James Madison defensive backs had interceptions as the Dukes (12-0) earned their Division I-leading 24th straight win. Coach Mike Houston's team will host Weber State or No. 8 seed Southern Utah in a national quarterfinal next weekend.
James Madison is 5-0 all-time against conference opponents in the playoffs. In the regular season, the Dukes won their third straight CAA title, and second consecutive outright crown, with an 8-0 conference mark, one game ahead of Stony Brook (10-3).
"The game was closer than the scoreboard in terms of how things went of the field, but we didn't perform up to our capabilities," Stony Brook coach Chuck Priore said.
Schor's short touchdown passes to running back Trai Sharpe and wide receiver Terrance Alls (10 receptions, 94 yards) helped James Madison to a 19-0 halftime lead.
No opponent has scored more than 14 points against a Dukes team that's more defensive-oriented than last season's national championship squad. They allowed only 94 yards in the first half, and Raven Greene, Jordan Brown, Jimmy Moreland, Rashad Robinson and Curtis Oliver all had interceptions against Stony Brook's Joe Carbone.
Game Information
2024 Coastal Athletic Association Standings
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond | 7-0 | 9-2 |
| Delaware | 6-1 | 9-1 |
| Rhode Island | 6-1 | 9-2 |
| Villanova | 5-2 | 8-3 |
| New Hampshire | 5-2 | 7-4 |
| Stony Brook | 5-2 | 8-3 |
| Towson | 4-3 | 6-5 |
| Elon | 4-3 | 5-6 |
| William & Mary | 4-3 | 7-4 |
| Monmouth | 3-4 | 5-6 |
| Maine | 3-4 | 5-6 |
| Hampton | 2-5 | 5-6 |
| Campbell | 1-6 | 3-8 |
| UAlbany | 1-6 | 3-8 |
| Bryant | 0-7 | 2-9 |
| North Carolina A&T | 0-7 | 1-10 |
2024 Sun Belt Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Marshall | 5-1 | 7-3 |
| Georgia Southern | 4-2 | 6-4 |
| James Madison | 4-2 | 8-2 |
| Old Dominion | 3-3 | 4-6 |
| Coastal Carolina | 2-4 | 5-5 |
| App State | 2-4 | 4-5 |
| Georgia State | 0-6 | 2-8 |
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 5-1 | 8-2 |
| Texas State | 4-2 | 6-4 |
| Arkansas State | 4-2 | 6-4 |
| South Alabama | 4-2 | 5-5 |
| UL Monroe | 3-3 | 5-5 |
| Troy | 2-4 | 3-7 |
| Southern Miss | 0-6 | 1-9 |
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