Game day blog: Three keys for the JMU-Maine game

HARRISONBURG – James Madison comes into today’s football game having won four straight, including three straight over teams ranked in the Sports Network’s Division I-AA Top 25. The Maine Black Bears enter as one of the Colonial Athletic Association’s surprise teams, coming off a 31-17 upset of Delaware.

JMU, offensively, is establishing itself as a power running team. Defensively, the Dukes are delivering on the preseason expectations of a unit that returned nine starters.

Even a five-game suspension to its starting quarterback – Justin Thorpe – hasn’t derailed Madison’s return to the elite of I-AA football.

Can the Black Bears? Here are three keys to today’s game.

1) Can new starting quarterback Jace Edwards handle the pressure of a tight game?

“Maine always plays us really tough,” Edwards said this week. True. Four of the last six meetings between James Madison and Maine have been decided by eight points or less, including last year’s 14-10 Dukes’ victory in Orono.

To win a close game, steady quarterback play is a must. Edwards may have ice water running through his West Texas veins, but no one knows yet.

Edwards went 5-for-12 passing last week and scored a 10-yard touchdown run (on which he may or may not have fumbled before reaching the end zone). But all preseason – as Edwards was beating out Kansas State transfer Billy Cosh for the backup QB job – Matthews praised Edwards’ moxie.

That aspect of his game – even more than his arm or his running – could be tested today.

2) Can the Dukes avoid getting Pushaun-ed?

Delaware sure couldn’t. Pushan Brown, the Black Bears’ senior tailback run over and through the Blue Hens, piling up 193 yards and three touchdowns in an eye-opening win last weekend. Brown is second in the CAA in rushing and during practice this week, JMU’s assistant coaches spent time chanting his name at the team’s defensive players.

“He’s definitely a threat,” senior linebacker Vidal Nelson said. “He’s a great running back. He runs hard. He’s quick. He has every intangible that a good running back has. We have to tackle, wrap up. He’s got some power behind him.”

JMU leads the CAA in rushing defense, giving up 85.8 yards per game. Brown is averaging 120.5 rushing yards per game himself. And many of his yards come in bruisingly physical fashion.

“You can’t be shy of contact when you’re on the football field,” Brown said. “I was always taught, even though you’re a running back, hit people. Don’t wait for someone to hit you.”

While Maine quarterback Warren Smith has learned to protect the ball enough to make Maine’s passing attack effective, the Black Bears won’t be able to keep things close without a healthy dose of Pushaun.

3) Will JMU’s defense be able to carry over the success it had against Richmond?

A week ago, the Dukes’ defenders finally lived up to all their preseason hype. They harassed Richmond quarterback Aaron Corp, sacking him seven times and getting pressure all game while just rushing their four defensive linemen. Without the need to blitz, JMU was able to drop seven defenders into pass coverage.

But the Dukes also stifled any semblance of a running game Richmond tried to generate. If JMU handles Pushaun Brown and the Maine running game effectively in the first quarter, then batters Maine quarterback Warren Smith the way it did Corp, it might not matter what the Dukes’ offense does Saturday.