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Dukes Stop RaidersDefense Keys 14-0 Shutout WinBy GARY MICHAELNews-Record Sport* Writer James Madison University, getting what Coach Challace McMillin called “great defensive play,” defeated Shippensburg State, 14-0, here Saturday.Shippensburg, a Division II team in the strong Pennsylvania Conference, had scored 131 points in its four previous games but was bottled up by the JMU defense for most of the afternoon. The Red Raiders accumulated more than 300 yards in total offense, but the Dukes’ defense constantly came up with big plays, forcing three Shippensburg fumbles.“I think the defense played a great game — it was outstanding in ‘must’ situations,’’ McMillin said. “They were in a number of pressure situations but responded well.The shutout loss was the first in 41 games for Shippensburg.“We made too many mistakes, and our execution was poor” Raider coach Joe Mark said. But, of course, some of that can be attributed to their defense.Before the game, the Dukes were concerned particularly with Shippensburg quarterback Scott Knudson, who had thrown for more than 1,500 yards in the Raiders’ first seven games. But Knudson had what Mark called one of his worst games, completing only nine of 22 passes.After connecting on just three of 14 in the first half, Knudson hit on six of eight attempts in the second half before a bruised arm forced him out of action in the fourth quarter.The Dukes’ victory avenged a 59-% defeat JMU suffered at Shippensburg last season, and should keep Madison in contention for a Division III playoff bid.“It hopefully keeps us in the running for the playoffs,” McMillin said. “We beat a fine team football team.”Shippensburg came into the game with a four-game winning streak and a 6-2 record JMU, now 7-2, plays at Emory Henry Saturday and will have to defeat the Wasps to be considered for postseason play. Division III bids should be announced after Saturday's games, McMillin said.“Hopefully, we’ll know something about the playoffs this week, he said. “I think we certainly have a good chance.”Playing the way they did Saturday won’t hurt the Dukes’ chances.They ran for 208 yards—without regular tailback Butch Robinson — and kept the Shippensburg defense honest by passing for 108 yards.Mark pointed to the Dukes' balanced attack as the main difference between this season's and last season’s games.“They were quicker and threw the ball much better than they did last year,” Mark said of the Dukes' play Saturday. “They mixed their passes in well, and they made good first down plays. Their quarterback (John Bowers) had an excellent day.”Bowers completed 10 of 20 passes, but the Dukes couldn’t sustain a drive until early in the second quarter when they marched for their first touchdown.The drive started at the JMU 46 and took eight plays.A pass interference penalty gave the Dukes 12 yards to open the series, and fullback Todd Martin carried for five yards on the next two plays.A third down pass fell incomplete, but Bowers, on a quarterback draw, ran for 34 yards to the Raider 3 on fourth down. Three plays later, freshman James Fields scored from the 2.Joe Showker followed with the first of two PAT kicks giving him 26 for the year, a season record for the Dukes.JMU earlier failed to capitalize on an excellent scoring opportunity.After stopping the Dukes on the first series of the game, Shippensburg moved the ball from its 12 to the 28 before stalling. The Raiders lined up to punt on fourthdown, but instead of kicking, Shippensburg punter Greg Kosko passed to Bob Bodkin. Bodkin was all alone in the right flat, but dropped the ball, and the Dukes took over at the 28.In seven plays, JMU drove to the Shippensburg 1, but the Raiders stopped Rich Hetherington on a pitchout on third down and Mike Damiano on fourth down to stop the drive.JMU had another scoring opportunity late in the half, driving to the Shippensburg 17, but freshman Scott Norwood missed a 40-yard field goal with one second left in the half.The Dukes recovered a Shippensburg fumble on the opening series of the second half and quickly drove for their second touchdown. Fields carried five times for 28 yards to key the 10-play, 45-yard march. Bowers scored on a quarterback sneak from the 1 with 7:47 left in the third quarter.The Dukes threatened only once more in the game, in the final minute, but their defense made the 14-point margin stand.The Duke defenders stopped the Raiders at the JMU 33 on the series following Bowers’ touchdown and held at the 3 on the next Shippensburg possession.Knudson hit five passes for 55 yards on the second drive to give the Raiders a first down at the JMU 3. But the Dukes stopped Knudson for no gain on first down and Eric Neutzling for no gain on second down. They then threw Knudson for a three-yard loss on third down before a fourth down pass fell incomplete.Shippensburg intercepted two Bowers passes in JMU territory in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t put the ball into the end zone.The Raiders were stopped at the 9 after the first interception and at the 36 following the second.Dale Caparoso was in on 22 tackles to lead the JMU defense; Ray Moore was involved in 18, and Clyde Hoy 13,Shippensburg JMU16 First Downs 21148 Rushing Yardage 208166 Passing Yardage 11613-30-0 Passes 10-20-33 Fumbles Lost 25-38.9 Punts-Average 5-38.04*77 Penalties-Yards 7-64Shippensburg 0 0 0 0 —0James Madison 0 7 7 0 - 14James Madison — Fields, 2, run; Showker kick
Newspaper Details
Daily News-Record
Harrisonburg, Virginia, US
Mon, Nov 06, 1978
Page 29
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MD, USA 16 Jul 2024
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