Harrisonburg, VA – In what was anticipated to be a competitive showdown between two 4-1 teams, the James Madison Dukes dismantled the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers 39-7 on a chilly night at Bridgeforth Stadium. Coastal Carolina struggled from the outset, failing to establish any offensive rhythm, while the Dukes imposed their will on both sides of the ball.
The night started off with some promise for Coastal Carolina, as the game remained competitive in the first quarter. After James Madison took an early lead on their second possession, Coastal responded with a well-executed drive of their own. Ethan Vasko, coming off a 367-yard passing game against Old Dominion, connected with Jameson Tucker on a beautiful 40-yard touchdown pass, tying the game at 7-7. Unfortunately for the Chanticleers, that would be the high point of their night.
Vasko, who struggled with accuracy and decision-making, had a rough outing. He finished the game completing just 5 of 18 passes for 84 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. Coastal’s wide receivers didn’t help much, with several critical drops throughout the game that killed any momentum the offense tried to build. It was a far cry from Vasko's previous performance, as Coastal never found their rhythm.
The running game didn’t fare any better, with the Chanticleers mustering only 72 rushing yards on the night, a far cry from the 162 yards they accumulated against Old Dominion. James Madison’s defensive front completely stifled the Coastal rushing attack, and the Dukes were able to pin their ears back and pressure Vasko into mistakes.
Defensively, Coastal Carolina had no answers for James Madison’s multi-dimensional offense. Quarterback Alonza Barnett III picked apart the Chanticleers, finishing 16-of-28 for 199 yards and three touchdown passes. He also added a rushing touchdown, showcasing his versatility as a dual-threat quarterback. The Chanticleers’ defense, which had shown signs of improvement in recent weeks, had no response to Barnett’s efficiency and James Madison's balanced attack.
Running back George Pettaway was a constant headache for Coastal as well, contributing both in the rushing game and as a receiving threat. The Dukes mixed in a variety of offensive looks, and Coastal simply couldn’t adjust.
The game began to slip away for Coastal in the second quarter, with James Madison jumping out to a 29-7 lead by halftime. Things went from bad to worse for Coastal when Vasko was replaced by backup quarterback Noah Kim in the second half. Kim, unfortunately, didn't fare much better, and back-to-back bad snaps only underscored how out of sync the Chanticleers were on this night.
James Madison, coming off a tough loss to Louisiana Monroe, looked every bit the team on a mission. They controlled the tempo and dictated the flow of the game. By the final whistle, the Dukes had secured a 39-7 victory, dropping Coastal Carolina to 4-2 on the season. The Chanticleers, who appeared to be a contender in the Sun Belt East, now have significant questions to answer moving forward.
For Coastal Carolina, this game just never felt right. From the drops to the miscues on offense, it simply wasn’t their night. They'll have to regroup quickly if they want to get back on track, especially after such a stark contrast to their previous win over Old Dominion.
Meanwhile, James Madison improved to 5-1, proving that their loss last week was just a stumble. With Barnett at the helm and a defense that stifled Coastal’s every attempt, the Dukes are once again emerging as a team to watch in the Sun Belt Conference.
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