University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware
#14/11 James Madison (Be a Hero Day/Youth Cheer Day)
Upset Chance Slips Away as Hens Fall to No. 14 James Madison 24-21 in Final Seconds
11/14/2015 7:28:00 PM | Football
• Boxscore
NEWARK, Del. - A victory that the Blue Hens seemed to have safely tucked away turned into heartbreak Saturday afternoon as 14th-ranked James Madison scored the game-winning touchdown with just 17 seconds left to post a 24-21 Colonial Athletic Association win over the University of Delaware at Delaware Stadium.
Upset-minded Delaware led 21-17 in the final minutes but a five-yard kick off the side of the foot by Blue Hen All-American punter Eric Enderson gave the Dukes possession at their own 49-yard line 
with 1:05 left to play. Just five plays later quarterback Bryan Schor tossed a 12-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Ravenel in the right corner of the end zone for the winning points.
The Blue Hens (3-7, 2-5 CAA), who were looking to knock off the Dukes (8-2, 5-2 CAA) for the fourth straight time, had one last possession but could do nothing in two plays to end the game.
James Madison, which opened the season with seven straight wins, snapped a two-game losing streak and kept its strong postseason chances alive.
For Delaware, it was another tough setback for the nation's youngest team.
Dave BrockDelaware's defense kept one of the nation's top offensive teams on its heels all night long. The Dukes entered the game ranked No. 1 in the nation in scoring (47.9 points per game), rushing (309.0 yards per game), and total offense (592.9 yards per game) but the Hens held them to season-lows of 195 yards 
rushing, 388 total yards, and 24 points.
James Madison had previously not scored less than 38 points or gained less than 460 total yards in any game this season.
For the Blue Hens, running backs Thomas Jefferson and Kareem Williams (at right) rushed for 120 and 113 yards respectively and quarterback Joe Walker (top left) added 63 yards and scored two touchdowns but it wasn't enough as the Hens were hurt by three lost fumbles.
"We made too many mistakes and our margin for error doesn't allow for that," said Brock. "It's challenging for our players especially with how hard they have worked and how hard they have played. Our defense played as well as we've ever played in my three years."
James Madison's Schor hit on 18 of 32 passes for 193 yards and rushed for 65 more and a touchdown while Cardon Johnson ran for 98 yards, including a 48-yard touchdown.
Both teams scored on their first drives as the Hens went 77 yards on five plays and a 63-yard jaunt by Williams set up a seven-yard scoring dash by Walker just 2:44 into the game. JMU answered right back with a 74-yard drive highlighted by Johnson's 48-yard scoring run up the middle. The stayed tied 
at 7-7 going into halftime.
James Madison took the lead early in the third quarter as the Dukes took advantage of a fumble by Jefferson at Delaware's own three yard line. Schor then scored on the next play from three yards out for the 14-7 advantage with 11:07 left in the stanza.
But Delaware responded in a big way. The Hens moved swiftly on their next possession and tied things up when Walker scored his second touchdown of the day on a 14-yard scamper with 6:54 left in the third quarter.
Delaware then turned the tables by taking advantage of a JMU fumble to regain the lead. Johnson took a pitch from Schor but Delaware linebacker Anthony Jackson hit him hard behind the line of scrimmage to cause a fumble. Blue Hen safety Ryan Torzsa was right there to scoop it up and rambled 41 yards for the touchdown and a 21-14 lead.
Unfortunately the Hens would not reach the end zone again as JMU's Ryan Maglio converted a 22-yard field goal with 11:39 left to play to cut the lead to 21-17 and Schor hit Ravenel for the winning score.
"I thought we played a great game against one of the best teams in the country," said Torzsa. "Our guys think this is a big stepping stone for next season. We hope to get a win at Elon next week and get some momentum heading into the offseason. I just wish today was a different outcome."
HEN SCRATCHINGS
• Enderson, who entered the game as the CAA's leading punter at 42.1 yards per punt, had earlier punts of 54 and 48 yards
• Jefferson and Williams each also surpassed the 100-yard rushing mark in a 24-23 win over No. 24 William & Mary back in October
• Delaware's defense, led by Charles Bell's team-high 11 tackles, recorded three sacks and two other tackles for loss
• Delaware fell short for the second straight week in its bid to win the 300th game all-time at Delaware Stadium
• Delaware had won six of the last seven meetings vs. JMU at home
• In its three games this season vs. ranked teams, Delaware lost 28-21 to No. 6 Villanova, def. No. 24 William & Mary 24-23, and fell to JMU
• The Hens will close out the season next Saturday at Elon (N.C.) at 12 noon
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Scott Selheimer | selheime@udel.edu | Office: 302-831-8007 | Cell: 302-562-5129
