West Virginia 42, JMU 12
Well, as expected, No. 9 West Virginia took care of business today against James Madison, knocking the Dukes off 42-12 with another impressive performance by Geno Smith and his offense.
Notable:
* Some significant records broken today. Smith became the program's all-time passing leader with his 411-yard performance. He now has a career total of 8,191 passing yards which surpasses Marc Bulger who held the previous record of 8,153.
* Stedman Bailey had 13 receptions and three touchdowns - his first double-digit reception performance which also happens to set a program record.
* The defense looked good too. Consider: interception by Tyler Anderson, four sacks, one big time goal-line stand. Held JMU to 300 total yards.
* One shabby 24 yard punt certainly did not put the special in special teams.
* They weren't perfect on offense either though. Consider: a pair of notable shortcomings. Came up inches short on 4th-and-2 to start the second half then gave up a safety when Shawne Alston was tackled in the end zone following the goal line stand by the defense.
* But....lots of players got in on the action. Holgorsen said they used 62 players against Marshall and went well beyond that number against JMU.
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Here's some video if you didn't catch it:
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And here is our quickie gamer, filed at the gun:
By Jenn Menendez/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
LANDOVER, Md. – Geno Smith became the program’s all-time passing leader Saturday as he carried No. 9 West Virginia to a 42-12 win over I-AA James Madison at FedEx Field.
Smith threw for 411 yards to reach a career total of 8,191 passing yards which surpasses Marc Bulger who held the previous record of 8,153.
Smith completed 34-of-39 passes, threw five touchdowns, and did it all with incredible accuracy.
The Mountaineer defense was also not too shabby. The defense picked up an interception by Tyler Anderson, registered four sacks, and came up with a goal line stand.
West Virginia scored three first quarter touchdowns, a 2-yard rush by Shawne Alston and a pair of receiving touchdowns by Stedman Bailey of nine and three yards.
Smith found Dante Campbell for a four yard touchdown pass and the Mountaineers took a 28-3 lead into halftime.
The second half revealed a few shortcomings: the offense came up inches short on 4th-and-2 to start the half then gave up a safety when Shawne Alston was tackled in the end zone following the goal line stand by the defense.
Bailey and Smith connected again though, scoring on a 30-yard pass to take a 35-5 lead.
Then Smith struck again, finding Tavon Austin for a 7-yarder to open the fourth quarter.
James Madison kicked a second quarter field goal, scored on a safety in the third quarter, and scored a touchdown and point after with 49 seconds left in the game.