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Dukes Win, 42-12, But Miss PlayoffsEMORY — While most people would be impressed by a season-ending 42-12 win and an 8-2 record, members of the National Collegiate Athletic Association selection committee obviously weren’t.James Madison University was passed over for a berth in the Division III national playoffs despite the romp over Emory Henry Saturday.The Dukes, who set six single-game records, saw the performance go for naught when the NCAA selected Carnegie-Mellon (8-1-0) of Pittsburgh as the lone Southern Region representative in the playoffs.“In taking all factors into considerattion, it was thought that other teams had better credentials,” an NCAA spokesman said, ‘it’s hard to keep out a team that plays as tough a schedule as they do, but that was the decision of the committee.**“It is a major disappointment,” saidJMU head coach Challace McMillin. “I think we are one of the best teams in the country and we should be in the field.”This probably is the final year Madison will be eligible for the Division III playoffs. The Dukes, who have been nationally ranked several years in Division III, have announced plans to go to a full scholarship program on the NCAA Division I (highest) level.Saturday, the Dukes were still in the running for a playoff bid. Going on the premise they had to win big, JMU came out smoking against Emory A Henry. When the smoke cleared, the day belonged to JMU’s senior quarterback John Bowers.Bowers set four single-game and four single-season records. He also finished with seven career records of his own.Bowers completed 19 passes (a record) for 270 yards (a record) and two touchdowns (ties his previous best). He also picked up 32 yards rushing for a totaloffense of 302 yards (a record).A 21-point third-quarter blitz was the killing blow for the Dukes. They converted two Emory Henry turnovers in the quarter into touchdowns.On the first series of the second half, EH punter Tim Stone dropped the ball, and JMU defensive guard Clyde Hoy recovered in the end zone for the touchdown.Less than three minutes later, JMU defensive tackle Larry Smith recovered an Emory Henry fumble on the Wasps’ 24. Two plays later, Bowers hit Rich Hetherington for a 20-yard touchdown two plays.The Dukes led 28-0 before Emory Henry got its first score. That came when when quarterback Marty Browder hit Johnny Wilson on a 20-yard touchdown pass. JMU linebacker Dale Caparaso blocked the PAT kick.The Dukes drqve 71 yards for the final third-quarter touchdown. George Harris topped that drive with a two-yard touchdown burst off tackle.“We just broke the game open in the third quarter,” McMillin said. “We got some breaks, and we forced some plays... It was just a superb effort by our defense and offense both.”The Dukes got that effort most of the game, but any chance of a fast start fell victim to fumbles and penalties in the first quarter.The second quarter proved different. After Emory Henry missed a 34-yard field goal attempt, the Dukes drove 80 yards to score. Bowers mixed the pass and runs well during the 12-play drive. The big gainer was a 50-yard pass to Zack Clark.The touchdown came on a five-yard pass to tight end Ron Borders on fourth down.Joe Showker, a former scholastic All-America at Harrisonburg, hit the first of six straight PAT kicks for the game.Linebacker Bill Jarvis set up the Dukes second score when he recovered a Wasp fumble on the JMU 34-yard line.The drive, which came mainly on the ground, was helped by a Emory A Henry roughing the ■ kicker penalty. Butch Robinson scored on a four-yard touchdown run that was set up by a 14-yard pass to Lee Walters from Bowers.McMillin left most of the fourth quarter to the reserves, and the final score came with 5:47 left in the game. Bowers got the call and went in from two-yards out on the option. Bowers also had a 21-yard run in the drive.The Dukes amassed 515 yards in total offense — the second best mark of the season. Reserve tailback Dennis Hutson led the team with 74 yards rushing in 10 carries. Harris added 42 in seven carries with Bowers and Robinson each getting 32 yards.James Madison Emory 4 Henry26 First Downs 23245 Rushing Yards 63270 Passing Yards 24520-27-1 Passes 17-42-33-2 Fumbles-Lost 5-33-43.7 Punts-Average 5-33.412-119 Penalties-Yards 4-52James Madison 0 14 21 7 — 42Emory Henry 0 0 6 6 — 12JMU — Borders, 5, pass from Bowers; Showker kick.JMU — Robinson, 4, run; Showker kick.JMU — Hoy, fumble recovery in end zone; Showker kick.JMU — Hetherington, 20, pass from Bowers; Showker kick.EH — Wilson, 19, pass from Browder; kick blocked.JMU — Harris, 2, run; Showker kick.EH — James, 4, run; pass failed.JMU — Bowers, 2, run; Showker kick.
Newspaper Details
Daily News-Record
Harrisonburg, Virginia, US
Mon, Nov 13, 1978
Page 29
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
MD, USA 17 Jul 2024
Other Publications Near Harrisonburg, Virginia
Harrisonburg Republican
Harrisonburg Old Commonwealth
Harrisonburg Evening News
Harrisonburg Daily Independent
Daily News-Record
