Two turnovers, two missed field goals and giving up two touchdowns on fourth down passes proved to be too much for Georgia Southern to overcome as they fell to James Madison 27-24 Saturday night at Paulson Stadium.
“We’re going to look back at this tape and count about two plays in each phase in offense, defense and special teams that are going to cost you in a close football game against a really good football team,” Helton said. “It felt like a heavyweight match out there and JMU did a great job of playing clean football."
Trailing 27-17 with just over five minutes to play the Eagles put together a solid 14-play 82-yard drive which was capped off by a six-yard pass from quarterback Max Johnson to Andre Greene Jr. The Eagles then attempted an on sides kick which was unsuccessful, but the defense managed to force a three-and-out from the JMU offense and gave the Eagles the ball at their own 15-yard line with 1:47 to play.
Johnson quickly went to work completing three-straight passes with the third one being a 24-yard pass to Alex Taylor to the JMU 34-yard line. With 1:09 to play and no timeouts Johnson attempted a short pass to Taylor and then a longer one to the 12-yard line to River Helms which fell incomplete. Johnson then went for a potential game-winning touchdown but overthrew Taylor who was covered tight by JMU defender Jayon Harvey.
“We had multi-layer routes called, but I saw the flash that Max saw in the middle of the field,” Helton said. “I would take that shot too. That’s what great players do. Unfortunately, we just overthrew it a little bit but I don’t second guess him at all for where he went with the football.”
Having already missed a 51-yard field goal wide left by Tripp Bryant Helton still felt secure in being able to kick another 51-yarder. This time he called on Blake Ford who was on target but the kick ended up glancing off the crossbar and came up short.
“We had confidence in our kickers making that kick and we thought we were in field goal range so I don’t blame Max for taking a shot at all,” Helton said. “I’ve seen Blake Ford kick that ball a thousand times and make it.”
In a game that was delayed by 40 minutes due to weather issues, the weather really didn’t factor into the game, unless you account for not much of a home field advantage as Paulson Stadium was fairly empty. The home team had won the last four meetings between the two teams and JMU came in never having won in their previous six trips to Statesboro.
The Eagles took the opening drive and went on a five-play 75-yard drive capped by a 18-yard touchdown pass from Johnson to Taylor Bradshaw for a 7-0 lead.
JMU would later go for it on fourth and four from the Eagle 35 but the Georgia Southern defense held and the offense took over. On the next series Johnson was picked off for only the second time this season and JMU took over at the Eagle 38-yard line.
The defense held the Dukes to a field goal and the Eagles led 7-3 at the end of the first quarter. In the second the Eagles added a Tripp Bryant 28-yard field goal and JMU countered with another Morgan Suarez field goal for a 10-6 Eagle lead at the half.
In the second half JMU marched down field on a four-play 75-yard drive capped by a two-yard touchdown pass from Camden Coleman to Jeremiah Harrison to grab a 13-10 lead. The Eagles responded getting down to the JMU 22-yard line but after making a catch River Helms was hit and coughed up the ball which was recovered by Nakia Jackson at the seven-yard line.
The Dukes then went for it on fourth and one from their own 43-yard line. Quarterback J.C. Evans was brought into the game and known for his ability to run the ball instead he launched a pass down field to a wide-open Cole Keller for a 57-yard touchdown and a 20-10 lead.
In the fourth the Eagles were able to get within a field goal as Johnson hit Taeo Todd for a 25-yard touchdown. JMU answered as Evans once again connected on a fourth down pass, this time to K.D. Mosely from one-yard out for a 27-17 lead. The Eagles answered with a six-yard score from Johnson to Greene for the final points of the game.
Jonson finished the game going 26-38 for 343 yards and three touchdowns. Josh Dallas had 111 yards receiving on eight catches. The Eagles had 465 yards of offense to 438 for the Dukes who rushed for 235 and passed for 229.
Up next it’s a quick turnaround for the Eagles who play Thursday night at Old Dominion.
