 "Photo: Josh Shannon")
Delaware’s postseason hopes took a huge hit Saturday with a loss to James Madison, 20-8. The Hens were not able to stop the Duke’s strong defensive line and their long passing game in the second half. The loss dropped the Hens back to No. 23 in The Sports Network poll.
“I’m really disappointed in how we played,” head coach K.C. Keeler said at the postgame press conference. “We did not look crisp at all. We looked rusty and we lost our poise, that’s uncharacteristic for us.”
Quarterback Pat Devlin was sacked eight times and finished with only 19 completions out of 42 attempts.
“I thought their defensive line was the key to the game,” Keeler said. “Pat was under pressure all game long.”
Delaware took a 3-0 lead into halftime, after a first half that saw both teams repeatedly trade three-and-outs. The Hens had the first chance to score but chose to try a fake field goal in the first quarter, which was unsuccessful.
The common themes for the Hens throughout the game were receivers repeatedly dropping passes and Devlin constantly under pressure.
James Madison took the lead, with 12:54 remaining in the third quarter, on a 12-yard run by freshman quarterback Justin Thorpe to end the team’s 12-quarter scoreless streak.
Thorpe did not complete a pass until midway through the second quarter, but caught fire on the first drive of the third with a 27-yard completion to Mike Caussin and key 31-yard completion on third and long to Scott Noble.
“That drive was huge,” Keeler said. “I thought that was the turning point of the game.”
Thorpe did not throw the ball often but finished with 11 completions for 262 yards on only 15 attempts. He found Rockeed McCarter, who finished with 125 yards receiving on only three receptions, for his longest pass of the day, a 53-yarder that was immediately followed with a seven-yard touchdown pass to Charlie Newman.
“He played well, but it wasn’t what he did, it was what we didn’t do well,” senior defensive back Anthony Walters said. “It was a lack of focus on my part on all counts. It’s inexcusable.”
Keeler recognized that his defense was not able to defend Thorpe’s deep throws despite having two weeks to prepare for it.
“For us to give up those deep balls is mind-boggling because we know that’s what they do,” he said.
Walters was able to keep the game close saving a sure touchdown in the third quarter, stripping McCarter a couple of yards before the end zone. The fumble was recovered and returned 43 yards by safety Charles Graves, but once again, the Hens could not do anything with the good field position as more dropped passes led to a turnover on downs.
James Madison tacked on another touchdown in the fourth quarter to make it a two-score game after a three-yard run by Jamal Sullivan. The Dukes ran the ball throughout most of the game and finished with 152 yards total in 49 rushing attempts.
Delaware was held to a season low of 224 total yards and zero touchdowns. The Hens were forced to settle for just two field goals by John Striefsky from 31 and 34 yards and a safety by JMU punter Matt Goff, who attempted to run the clock out with 42 seconds remaining.
Delaware was only able to gain a total of nine yards rushing on the day, as the Dukes’ front line, led by All-American candidate Arthur Moats, repeatedly frustrated the Hens offensive line. Moats led JMU with 2.5 sacks while Sam Daniels collected two and Chase Williams had 1.5.
“They were solid up front, I thought we could have been better,” senior offensive lineman and captain Corey Nicholson said. “They got the best of us today.”
Keeler attributed some of his team’s struggles on offense to rust from last week’s bye. He would not say whether or not his team needs to win the rest of their games in order to have a chance at a playoff berth, stating that he would rather the team just look at the remaining schedule and take it one game at a time.
“We went 0-1 this week and we’re just going to have to go 1-0 next week,” he said.
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