James Madison University only needed two quarters of its game against North Carolina to make history, as the Dukes entered the second half of their Week 4 matchup against the Tar Heels up 53-21.
The 53 points tallied through two quarters were the most points JMU football has ever scored in a half, the most points UNC has ever allowed in a half and the most first-half points allowed by a power conference team against a Group of 5 opponent since 2012, according to TruMedia.
Both teams quickly traded scores in the third quarter, with the Tar Heels cutting the Dukes’ lead to 60-32.
The Dukes forced four first-half turnovers, including a blocked punt returned for a touchdown and a pick-six. Those plays provided massive swings in an offensive heavy opening half, with JMU out-gaining the Tar Heels 418 yards to 311.
JMU quarterback Alonza Barnett III, a redshirt sophomore, went in to halftime 14-for-21 with 288 yards and three passing touchdowns, plus another 64 rushing yards and two more touchdowns on the ground. Dukes running back George Pettaway, who transferred to JMU from North Carolina this offseason, had 10 first-half rushes for 65 yards.
How do you follow up a 69-yard touchdown?
With a surprise onside kick!
James Madison is off to a roaring start against UNC early đź‘€
🎥 @ESPN | H/T @MrMatthew_CFBpic.twitter.com/0rAYqTPIrs
— The Athletic CFB (@TheAthleticCFB) September 21, 2024
JMU, a member of the Sun Belt, is in its third season at the FBS level and its first as fully eligible for postseason play after the two-year transition period. The Dukes finished 11-2 and in first in the Sun Belt east division in 2023 but were ineligible for the conference championship game. JMU played in the Armed Forces Bowl due to a lack of bowl eligible teams.
The Dukes have started the season 2-0 under first-year head coach Bob Chesney, who was hired away from Holy Cross. Former coach Curt Cignetti took the Indiana job after five seasons, with 13 former JMU players following him via the transfer portal. Former quarterback Jordan McCloud, who was awarded Sun Belt Player of the Year in 2023, transferred to Texas State. The Dukes added 64 new scholarship players this season after the coaching change.
North Carolina entered the matchup 3-0 after victories over Minnesota, Charlotte and NC Central.
James Madison University is located in Harrisonburg, Va. The program has had a steady and deliberate climb to the Sun Belt and G5 over the past two decades, including a couple FCS national championships, but the financial gap between JMU and an ACC team like North Carolina is stark. UNC’s athletics revenue was $139.4 million for the last fiscal year, most of it — about $45 million — via ACC payouts. James Madison’s athletics budget was $68 million in fiscal year 2023, which is one of the highest among G5 schools, but less than half of what the Tar Heels brought in
Required reading
(Photo: Bob Donnan / Imagn Images)
