HARRISONBURG, Va. (JMU Athletics) – Running backs George Pettaway and Wayne Knight combined for 188 of James Madison’s 313 rushing yards, as the Dukes opened the season with a 45-10 rout of Weber State on Saturday evening at Bridgeforth Stadium.
The Dukes (1-0) won their season opener for the sixth consecutive season while also improving to 4-0 all-time against the Wildcats (0-1).
JMU out-gained Weber by a 458-148 margin, as the visitors didn’t cross 100 total yards until early in the fourth quarter.
Pettaway rushed for 99 yards on 10 carries, while Knight had a career-high 89 yards on seven attempts, highlighted by his career-long 59-yard touchdown run.
Three quarterbacks recorded touchdowns, including two apiece from Alonza Barnett III and Matthew Sluka. Barnett, making his return from a season-ending injury last November, threw for 130 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 30 more and a score. Sluka had 45 total yards, finding the end zone both on the ground and through the air. JC Evans also scored once on his lone rush to cap off the scoring.
Eight Dukes caught a pass, led by freshman receiver Michael Scott, who made four receptions for 38 yards. Isaiah Alston caught three passes for 31 yards and a touchdown, while Landon Ellis caught the team’s other score after making a pair of grabs.
JMU’s defense forced three turnovers, all on interceptions by safeties, while the special teams unit blocked a punt, resulting in a touchdown a few plays later. Linebacker Trent Hendrick led the way with seven and a tackle for loss, while Mychal McMullin made a career-high five tackles with a TFL. Safeties Tyler Brown and Kye Holmes each made four stops with their first career interceptions. Brown also broke up a pair of passes, while Jacob Thomas recorded his fourth-career interception.
For Weber, Jackson Gilkey was 10-for-24 for 84 passing yards with a touchdown and three interceptions. Zach Hrbacek ran for a team-high 39 yards on 12 carries. Noah Kjar caught Weber’s lone touchdown on a 14-yard reception.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• JMU opened the scoring with 28 straight points, with both Barnett and Sluka providing two touchdowns each.
• Barnett made his return in style, taking his first drive 78 yards, capping it off with an 11-yard touchdown run, the ninth of his career.
• On his next drive, Barnett found Alston on a 20-yard touchdown pass to give JMU a 14-0 lead after one.
• Midway through the second, JMU drove down to the one, where Sluka walked in for his 40th career touchdown run.
• After a Chase Regan blocked punt, Sluka connected with Ellis on a 14-yard touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone.
• Weber scored after a takeaway late in the first half to make it 28-7 at the break.
• Teams traded field goals, making it 31-10 midway through the third.
• Knight electrified the crowd to start the fourth, rushing down the far sideline 59 yards to the house for the longest touchdown of his career.
• In the closing minutes, Evans closed the scoring with a five-yard touchdown for his second career rushing score.
GAME NOTES
• JMU out-rushed Weber by a 313 to 64, as the Dukes averaged 7.1 per carry.
• On third down, JMU converted 7-of-13 (54%) while the Wildcats to 3-of-14 (21%).
• JMU had 49 return yards over its three interceptions.
• JMU held possession for 32:27, as opposed to WSU’s 27:33.
• JMU was 6-for-6 in the red zone, with five being touchdowns. Weber was also 1-for-1 in the red zone.
• Weber held an advantage in tackles for loss, leading 8-5.
• This is the second straight game that JMU has had multiple quarterbacks score a touchdown in the same game. Billy Atkins threw for one, while Evans had one rushing and one passing touchdown in the Boca Raton Bowl.
UP NEXT
JMU has a short week, as it travels to ACC-foe Louisville for a nationally-televised matchup on Friday, Sept. 5. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. from L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium and will be televised on ESPN2.
— JMU Athletics —
