Hide Article Text (OCR)
Dukes Blank MaconTurnovers, Defense Spark 28-0 WinBy BOB MORGANNews-Record Sports WriterRandolph-Macon conveniently provided .lames Madison head coach Challacc McMillin with the answer to a question lhat plagued him all last week as .1 MU shut out the Yellow Jackets, 28-0, Saturday.McMillin worried all week prior to the Dukes' homecoming game about stopping the Yellow Jackets' varied offense and tailback Mike Woolfolk.Last year Woolfolk romped for 202 yards in leading Randolph-Macon to an 18-0 win over Madison that McMillin termed, embarrassing.'’But the worry was all for naught as the answer proved much easier than anyone expected, It was turnovers. The Dukes forced the Yellow Jackets into seven and four resulted in JMU touchdowns.'‘The defense was the key,” McMillin said following the game that kept the Dukes undefeated against Virginia schools, “There is no doubt about that. We forced turnovers and the defense got us good field position.‘‘Anytime you have a good game, a good season or a good program, you have a good defense,” he added. On Saturday there was no question who had the better defense as the Dukes ran their record to 5-3 and dropped the Yellow Jackets to 4-4.The Dukes limited the Yellow Jackets to just 172 yards in total offense — 136 below their season average, They recovered four fumbles, picked off three passes and dropped the Yellow Jackets for losses 12 times.Randolph-Macon coach Ted Keller was so concerned about the Dukes’ rush against punts that he kicked on third down three times and even one of those was blocked,“It was a matter of respecting Madison's rush on the punts that much, Keller said. He had reason to, the Dukes smothered the first two Randolph-Macon punts. Defensive end Ray Moore blocked both.'Madison failed to score off the first turnover when Joe Showker’s 26-yard field goal was wide to the right, The second ended in a coffin-corner punt that put the Yellow Jackets deep in their own territory. They stayed there most of the day,Following the missed field goal, the first quarter was a punting duel that ended in a standoff.Madison's next break came less than two minutes into the second quarter when Woolfolk dropped a pitch from Yellow Jacket quarterback John Buehler, Larry Rogers recovered for the Dukes on the R andolph-M aeon 20-yard line.It took quarterback .John Bowers six plays to take the Dukes in for the first score of the day, Bowers, after setting up the touchdown with an eight-yard pass to Ron Borders at the six, scored on an option keeper on the next play,Showker, who had one of his best days with kickoffs according to McMillin, again was off to the right on the PAT. Madison led 6-0.Randolph-Macon went five plays before its next turnover, a fumble by Buehler that defensive guard Woody Begeria recovered on the R-MC 39-yard line.Bowers look the Dukes into the end zone in eight plays on this drive with reserve tight end Lee Wallers getting the touchdown on a 13-yard pass. The two-point conversion pass to wide receiver Rich Hetheringlon was good for a 14-0 lead with 4:40 left.The Yellow Jackets, after gaining only their third first-down of the half when Madison was penalized 15 yards on a roughing the kicker call, turned the ball over on the next play when Bob Logan intercepted a Buelher pass at midfield. He returned it 13 yards.'It was a satisfying win'- McMillinMadison didn't score and neither team threatened the rest of the half.Woolfolk fumbled on Randolph-Maeon’s first play on the second half and defensive guard Fred Garst recovered. Madison drove to the Yellow Jacket 3-yard line, but returned the favor with an interception in the end zone. It was the Dukes’ only turnover of the game.Neither team’s offense could mount a drive, but the Dukes’ defense took care of the scoring. Safety Terry Hansrote tipped a Buehler pass and defensive back John Tuell intercepted and raced down the sideline for a 25-yard touchdown. With 7:18 left in the quarter, Showker’s PAT kick made it 21-0.Mark Baird recoverd his second fumble four minutes later on the Yellow Jacket six after a 45-yard Allen Leonard punt had put Randolph-Macon deep in their own territory.Madison scored in three plays with Bowers hitting Walters for the second time from four yards out for the score. Showker’s kick made it 28-0 with 1:50 left in the third quarter.Walter's two touchdown receptions in one game set a school record for the Dukes. “We were in a two tight end formation and it just happened that on both passes I was open dragging across the middle, Walters said.Randolph-Macon’s deepest penetration of the game came late in the contest when reserve quarterback Butch Butler drove the Yellow Jackets to the Madison 8-yard line. But the drive was halted when linebacker Mike Battle intercepted a pass and returned it to the Randolph-Macon 43-yard line.Battle's interception gave the Dukes a team record for most interceptions in a season at 16.“It was a satisfying win,” McMillin said. “We wanted to win for the obvious reasons.. . Last year (an 18-0 toss) we weren’t pleased. We didn't play like we were capable. This year we did.”McMillin admitted that the offense wasn’t overpowering in getting just 205 yards in total offense, but with seventurnovers you don't ha ve to be.“We got it in when we had to,” McMillin said.Shane Hast led the Dukes’ offense with 50 yards in 12 carries,Madison contained Woolfolk, holding him to 72 yards in 21 carries — 27 below his per-game average.The win was the final home game of the season for the Dukes who travel the next two weeks to Guilford, N.C. (Nov. 5) and Shippensburg, Pa. (Nov. 12).Randolph-Macon James Madison13 First Downs 1010? Rushing Yardage 15765 Passing Yardage 4813-5-3 Passes 12-5-14 Fumbles Lost 07-29.6 Punts-Average . 8-34.14-40 Penalties-Yards 8-91Randolph-Macon 0 0 0 0 —0James Madison 0 14 14 0 — 28JMU —Bowers, 6, run; kick failed.JMU — Walters. 13. pass from Bowers; Hetheringtonpass from Bowers.JMU—Tue|l, 25, interception return; Showker kick,JMU — Walters, 4, pass from Bowers; Showker kick,JMU s Lee Watters goes up for first TD-Record PhotoicatchMadison quarterback John Bowers dives over a Randolph-Macon defender during Saturdays homecoming
Newspaper Details
Daily News-Record
Harrisonburg, Virginia, US
Mon, Oct 31, 1977
Page 21
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
MD, USA 16 Jul 2024
Other Publications Near Harrisonburg, Virginia
Harrisonburg Republican
Harrisonburg Old Commonwealth
Harrisonburg Evening News
Harrisonburg Daily Independent
Daily News-Record
