What was billed as a potential low-scoring affair quickly became a beatdown after JMU tallied 53 first-half points in a game that was over before halftime.
North Carolina (3-1) was routed by JMU (3-0) 70-50 on Saturday afternoon in Kenan Stadium after conceding the most points to an opponent during any half in program history. Despite a 475-yard, three-touchdown passing effort by graduate quarterback Jacolby Criswell and running back Omarion Hampton’s 139-yard, three-touchdown day, two interceptions and a trio of fumbles handicapped UNC’s offense as the Dukes ran away.
It began with Dukes quarterback Alonza Barnett III, who broke free for a 38-yard QB keeper on the opening play. This set up JMU placekicker Noe Ruelas for a 50-yard field goal.
On Criswell’s inaugural down at starting QB, the graduate transfer found wide receiver Chris Hamilton on a 42-yard deep ball. The big play set UNC up in the red zone after one play, but Hamilton later fumbled the ball away around the 8-yard line.
From that point forward, the Dukes had no trouble scoring against UNC’s secondary, making big play after big play.
“Our defense, who played great all spring, all presson, and played outstanding for the first three games looked awful today,” head coach Mack Brown said. “We had missed tackles, we had communication problems, we had guys wide-open for a touchdown.”
JMU blocked UNC’s punt and returned it for a special teams touchdown. North Carolina then answered with its first touchdown of the day — a direct snap to Hampton before handing it off to Criswell who rolled out and found tight end John Copenhaver for the score.
Two possessions later, Hampton tallied a 28-yard touchdown rush — the 25th of his career — and gave UNC its only lead on the afternoon. Yet that lead lasted only 32 seconds before the Dukes scored a 69-yard touchdown two snaps later.
JMU then recovered an onside kick and scored a second touchdown to go up 25-14.
