CHICAGO – James Madison was once again ranked third in the latest Stats Perform FCS Top 25, following another convincing win in week two.
The Dukes improved to 2-0 on the year and 1-0 in league play after opening their Colonial Athletic Association slate with a 55-7 victory against Maine this past Saturday. They received five first-place votes to maintain its #3 slot.
JMU produced touchdowns in all three phases to register its largest win ever against Maine. Cole Johnson threw for 374 yards and four touchdowns, with Antwane Wells Jr., the reigning CAA Player of the Week, making eight grabs for 179 yards and a pair of scores.
The Dukes out-gained Maine 512-194 and produced 11 tackles for loss and four sacks while limiting the Black Bears to 4-of-16 on third down.
JMU also had a pick-six by Francis Meehan off a tipped pass by Sam Kidd, and the duo of Desmond Green and Mateo Jackson blocked a punt, with Green returning it for a touchdown in his first career outing.
Ethan Ratke, who was named CAA Special Teams Player of the Week, set one national record and matched another on Saturday. He broke the FCS all-time record for scoring by a kicker, as he now stands at 417 career points. His second of two field goals also tied the FCS record for career field goals, at 75.
Through two weeks, JMU ranks second nationally in scoring offense (61.5 per game) and sixth in scoring defense (8.5 per game). It also leads the country in tackles for loss (11.0 per game), is second against the run (9.0 per game) and in total offense (599.5 per game), third in total defense (195.0 per game) and fourth in passing offense (360.5 per game).
Sam Houston (2-0) stayed atop the poll with 33 first-place votes, followed by #2 South Dakota State (2-0), which gained nine first-place votes. After #3 JMU were #4 Montana (2-0) and #5 North Dakota State (2-0).
JMU was one of five CAA schools to be ranked this week by Stats Perform. Delaware (2-0) was ranked sixth, Villanova (2-0) was 12th, Richmond (2-0) moved up to #21 and New Hampshire (2-0) entered at #23.
The Dukes were also #2 in the newest AFCA FCS Coaches’ Top 25 poll, gaining one first-place vote from the 28 voters.
JMU is back in action this Saturday, Sept. 18 when it travels to Ogden, Utah for a top-10 matchup at #9 Weber State. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET (6 p.m. MT) at Stewart Stadium and will be streamed on ESPN+.
