JMU starts strong in blowout of ODU, continues one-sided series

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NORFOLK — James Madison continues to rule the Sun Belt Conference. Its chief rival didn’t do anything to change that Saturday.

Camden Coleman passed for 243 yards and four touchdowns, and defending league champion JMU used a strong start in a dominant 46-20 Sun Belt Conference victory over the Monarchs at S.B. Ballard Stadium.

ODU (1-3) lost for the fifth straight time in the rivalry, which has become one-sided since the schools joined the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Monarchs backup quarterback Ryan Huff, a redshirt freshman who had thrown two career passes before Saturday, was filling in for starter Quinn Henicle, who sat out with an undisclosed injury.

Henicle won a tight three-man race for the job with Huff and Washington State transfer Jaxon Potter.

Huff completed 20 of 39 passes for 261 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

JMU set an FBS program record with nine sacks, tormenting Huff all night. The Monarchs didn’t help themselves by committing 13 penalties for 96 yards and going 4 for 16 on third down.

The Monarchs caught a break with 20 seconds to go in the third quarter, when Huff threw an interception over the middle but had it nullified by a roughing penalty.

But they settled for Nathanial Eichner’s 35-yard field goal, which pulled them to within 36-20 early in the fourth.

Early in the second half, just when momentum appeared to be shifting, the Monarchs forced JMU to punt after a three-and-out to open the half. But ODU was flagged for having two players on the field while wearing the same number during the punt, giving the Dukes a first down that they soon cashed in for a field goal.

The Dukes scored touchdowns on four of their first five possessions to take quick command. The other resulted in a field goal.

And then things slowed. After gaining 241 yards on its first five drives, JMU was held to 10 on its next five.

The Dukes didn’t find the end zone again until the 2:55 mark in the fourth quarter.

David Hall, david.hall@pilotonline.com.

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