Autzen Stadium hosted the first (collegiate) playoff game in the stadium’s history tonight. The James Madison Dukes came in as heavy underdogs, but were determined to show that expectations are not reality. Oregon won the toss and took the ball with the opening kickoff. In only four plays a one handed catch by TE #9 […]
Autzen Stadium hosted the first (collegiate) playoff game in the stadium’s history tonight. The James Madison Dukes came in as heavy underdogs, but were determined to show that expectations are not reality. Oregon won the toss and took the ball with the opening kickoff. In only four plays a one handed catch by TE #9 Jamari Johnson had the Ducks on the board. Coach Lanning decided to press the advantage with trick play for a 2-pt conversion but the attempt failed. In only 1:38 off the clock it was 6-0.
The Dukes’ offense came out determined to keep the game close. Big runs from RB JMU #21 Knight and QB JMU #14 Barnett were key on a time consuming drive. Playing with nothing to lose JMU converted 4th and 2, followed by 4th and 1. Taking 15 plays and 8:03 on the clock it was the kind of drive every underdog aims for, except that it only ended in a field goal (quite an accomplishment given previous playoff games), making it 6-3.
Oregon used the speed of RB #23 Dierre Hill on the edge to get another huge gain before fellow freshman RB #0 Jordon Davison had a long run to get them into the red zone. A keep from QB #5 Dante Moore finished a drive that went 75 yards in 5 plays without ever throwing the ball past the line of scrimmage. For all of JMU’s high level execution this season, the difference in speed between these teams was clearly apparent. With the score 13-3, the Dukes had to have points to keep the game from getting out of reach.
Backed up on 3rd and nine JMU went to the well and got into the red zone with a double pass just before the end of the first quarter. The Autzen crowd did their job backing the Dukes up to 1st and goal from the 15. Oregon’s defense forced them backwards from there. The longer field goal was blocked by DT #50 Tionne Gray and the lead remained 13-3.
Returning from injury WR #1 Dakorien Moore made his first catch in over a month. Once again Hill showed off his speed on the edge, scoring from 56 yards out.
JMU’s offense had moved the ball, but without touchdowns their chances were dwindling at an astonishing rate. A three-and-out meant without a turnover or similar big play the game was going to get out of hand. An explosive run from Davison combined with a pair of catches from WR #11 Jeremiah McClellan, including a touchdown despite defensive holding, stretched the lead to 27-3 and the rout was on.
Having emptied their playbook early and with Oregon having time to adjust, JMU’s run game couldn’t find any traction but star WR JMU #13 Ellis made a great catch on 3rd and 15. Forced out of their element into straight drop back passing the Dukes couldn’t capitalize and punted it away. It was less than two minutes later that WR #4 Malik Benson streaked past man coverage for a 46 yard touchdown pass from Moore.
Oregon had five consecutive touchdown drives, scored by five different players, all on drives that took five plays or less in their first five possessions.
The Ducks had also played a very clean game, only being called for their first penalty (an unintentional face mask) on JMU’s next possession. The Dukes couldn’t take advantage and would have a chance to practice a 2-minute drill to put an exclamation point on a dominant half of football. Instead, JMU got a badly needed turnover with an interception off a tipped pass. The Dukes got into the red zone, but three straight incomplete passes meant all they got was another field goal to make it 34-6 going into half time.
The Dukes took the second half kickoff and appeared to go three and out, but succeeded on a risky fake punt deep in their own territory to extend the drive. The Duke’s read a corner blitz and threw right into it, and one missed tackle later JMU had their first touchdown of the night.
The Dukes risked a squib kick, trying to catch the Ducks off guard to maintain momentum but it was covered up by Oregon. Moore and Benson capped off another four play drive with a 45 yard touchdown pass to squash any hopes of a miraculous comeback by JMU.
JMU went three-and-out, and facing 4th and 8 decided not to try another fake, giving the ball back to Oregon’s starting offense. Oregon faced only their second 3rd down of the night, and a miscommunication between Dante Moore and Dakorien Moore let Oregon’s punt team onto the field for the first time. The defense began to mix in more players who are further down the depth chart with the starters on JMU’s ensuing drive, but it still resulted in a three-and-out. A blocked punt by OLB #9 Blake Purchase run back for a touchdown by RB #27 Jayden Limar made the score 48-13.
Another three-and-out gave the ball back to Moore (still in the game) and an Oregon offense that was not yet ready to let up. Moore proceeded to throw his second interception of the game when Jamari Johnson fell down at the goal line. An embarrassing unsportsmanlike conduct penalty following a long return put the Dukes in the red zone against mostly backups. JMU’s offense was backed up by several penalties, but an excellent throw to a receiver who had gotten isolated on a reserve linebacker resulted in a second touchdown for the Dukes.
Trying to end the game on a high note, Dante Moore and the starting receivers remained in the game with the starting offensive line, though reserve RB #22 Jay Harris and recently recovered from injury Limar featured more prominently. The result was only a punt and a field goal for the Ducks, while JMU managed two long drives for touchdowns against defensive reserves in the 4th quarter.
The game was well into garbage time, but it mattered to the Vegas crowd as JMU covered the spread late. It will also give the coaching staff quite a bit of teaching tape for the entire team going into preparations for the Orange Bowl.
The Ducks punched their ticket to the quarterfinals and will take on Texas Tech at 9AM on New Year’s Day in Miami, FL. The Red Raiders are a different beast to James Madison, particularly on the defensive front. Oregon has won a playoff game, but is this team truly a national title contenders. We’ll find out first thing in 2026.
Happy Holidays Duck fans. Here is to football season lasting well into January!
Category: General Sports
