2008 Woodie Awards
UD and JMU duke it out for first place
by Michael LoRe
Issue date: 11/2/07 Section: Sports
Keeler said James Madison's biggest defensive threat is senior free safety Tony LeZotte. Keeler sounded like a skipping record when asked why James Madison's defense is so good.
"Speed, speed, speed," he said. "[They] run a robber scheme because they have LeZotte."
Even though LeZotte, who had 16 tackles last week in the Dukes' loss to then-No. 15 Richmond, is a threat on the field, opposing teams force him to make plays, Keeler said.
"Everybody's sending people at him," Keeler said. "There's a price tag on your head when you're that good of a player."
Despite the Hens coming out of last weekend's game with a win, Keeler said there were disappointments, including the four penalties on the special teams unit and injuries. Junior defensive end Ronald Talley saw limited playing time last weekend because of a sore ankle but is expected to play Saturday. Junior free safety Aaron Hicks left the Navy game with a torn anterior cruciate ligament and is expected to be out for the remainder of the year.
"It really kills us depth-wise," Keeler said of Hicks' injury. "It makes us very thin back there."
Last Saturday, the Dukes were down 17-0 to Richmond, but their rally fell short, losing 17-16. James Madison head coach Mickey Matthews said he was disappointed with his team after the loss.
"We're coming off the worst game we played this year," Matthews said of the Dukes which have turned the ball over six times in the past two games. "We just didn't show up. We're a six-and-two team that's struggling."
When the Hens and Dukes met last year on Nov. 4 in Harrisonburg, Va., James Madison's rushing game hurt Delaware, as JMU compiled 331 yards on the ground en route to a 44-24 win. The Hens had problems rushing the ball, accumulating just 20 yards on 26 carries.
Delaware senior running back Omar Cuff rushed the ball 28 times for 141 yards and four touchdowns last weekend against Navy. This year, Cuff has 1,004 yards to go along with 28 total touchdowns - 24 of which coming on the ground.
Keeler said Saturday's sold-out game will be against the toughest team on the Hens' schedule and will be demanding on everyone.
"These are the games you live to play in," he said. "It's going to be a very emotional day. I think you're going to see two teams come out and go to war with each other."
"Speed, speed, speed," he said. "[They] run a robber scheme because they have LeZotte."
Even though LeZotte, who had 16 tackles last week in the Dukes' loss to then-No. 15 Richmond, is a threat on the field, opposing teams force him to make plays, Keeler said.
"Everybody's sending people at him," Keeler said. "There's a price tag on your head when you're that good of a player."
Despite the Hens coming out of last weekend's game with a win, Keeler said there were disappointments, including the four penalties on the special teams unit and injuries. Junior defensive end Ronald Talley saw limited playing time last weekend because of a sore ankle but is expected to play Saturday. Junior free safety Aaron Hicks left the Navy game with a torn anterior cruciate ligament and is expected to be out for the remainder of the year.
"It really kills us depth-wise," Keeler said of Hicks' injury. "It makes us very thin back there."
Last Saturday, the Dukes were down 17-0 to Richmond, but their rally fell short, losing 17-16. James Madison head coach Mickey Matthews said he was disappointed with his team after the loss.
"We're coming off the worst game we played this year," Matthews said of the Dukes which have turned the ball over six times in the past two games. "We just didn't show up. We're a six-and-two team that's struggling."
When the Hens and Dukes met last year on Nov. 4 in Harrisonburg, Va., James Madison's rushing game hurt Delaware, as JMU compiled 331 yards on the ground en route to a 44-24 win. The Hens had problems rushing the ball, accumulating just 20 yards on 26 carries.
Delaware senior running back Omar Cuff rushed the ball 28 times for 141 yards and four touchdowns last weekend against Navy. This year, Cuff has 1,004 yards to go along with 28 total touchdowns - 24 of which coming on the ground.
Keeler said Saturday's sold-out game will be against the toughest team on the Hens' schedule and will be demanding on everyone.
"These are the games you live to play in," he said. "It's going to be a very emotional day. I think you're going to see two teams come out and go to war with each other."
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