HARRISONBURG, Va., Nov. 3, 2009 - The James Madison football team plays at home for the first time in three weeks Saturday (Nov. 7) when it meets Colonial Athletic Association opponent Maine in a 3 p.m. game at Bridgeforth Stadium/Zane Showker Field.

The teams' meeting will their first in Harrisonburg in four seasons.  JMU defeated the Black Bears 24-10 last season in Orono, Maine, but the teams have not played on the Dukes' field since 2005 because of the CAA's rotating scheduling format.  JMU won the 2005 meeting 38-2 and has won the last three series games.

The teams enter play Saturday today after impressive wins last weekend over nationally ranked opponents.  JMU won 20-8 at 16th-ranked Delaware, and Maine won 19-9 at home over then-No. 19 Massachusetts.

JMU is 3-5 overall and 1-4 in the CAA, and Maine is 4-4 overall and 3-2 in CAA play.

The game will feature players who won three of the CAA's weekly awards for their efforts last weekend.  JMU redshirt freshman quarterback Justin Thorpe (Richmond, Va.) was named the league's offensive player of the week, JMU redshirt freshman linebacker Chase Williams (Gaithersburg, Md./Northwest) the conference rookie of the week, and Maine linebacker Donte Dennis the CAA defensive player of the week.

CAA Awards

Thorpe received the CAA offensive player of the week award after compiling career highs of 262 passing yards and 304 yards of total offense at Delaware.  He completed 11 of 15 passes overall and threw for 229 yards during the second half.

Thorpe during the third quarter gave JMU a 7-3 lead with a 12-yard scoring run and a 13-6 edge on a seven-yard touchdown pass to senior tight end Charlie Newman (Harrisonburg, Va./Turner Ashby).  He had completions of 53, 51, 31, 28 and 27 yards during the game.

Williams took part in a career- and game-high 11 tackles.  He was credited with 10 solo tackles and was involved in 1.5 of the Dukes' eight quarterback sacks for the game.  JMU's defense limited Delaware to 224 yards of total offense and nine net rushing yards and held the Blue Hens without an offensive touchdown for the second-straight season.

Maine's Dennis took part in 11 tackles and had a tackle for loss, broke up two passes, recovered a fumble and had two of his team's four interceptions against Massachusetts.

The Series

The teams first met in 1995 and played every season through 2004.  The then-Atlantic 10 Conference's rotating scheduling format didn't have them playing in 2006 or 2007, but they met again in 2008.  The teams tentatively aren't scheduled against each other again during the 2010 season.

JMU won the first three meetings and the most-recent three and has an 8-4 series lead - 4-1 at home and 4-3 on the road.

JMU won 24-10 last season at Maine and in 2005 in the last meeting in Harrisonburg.  During their 2004 national championship season the Dukes rallied during the closing minutes for a 24-20 win at Maine and may not have qualified for post-season play without the victory.

JMU first played in then-Yankee Conference in 1993 but wasn't scheduled to meet Maine until 1995.

Six of the series games have been decided by seven or fewer points.

Last Season

Rodney Landers ran for 156 yards and a touchdown and threw for 108 yards, and Griff Yancey scored twice as JMU pulled away from Maine in the final quarter for a 24-10 win.

Landers ran 27 times, scored on a 30-yard run in the third quarter to give JMU a 10-3 lead and completed seven of 13 passes.

Yancey carried 10 times and scored on runs of 12 and 30 yards after Maine pulled into a 10-10 tie early during the final period.

The victory was JMU Coach Mickey Matthews' 68th in 10 JMU seasons and made him the program's all-time winningest coach.

JMU went in front to stay on the series after Maine pulled into the 10-10 tie but not before the Black Bears apparently had gotten possession with their second successful on-sides kick of the game.  However, Maine was called for illegally touching the ball on the play (interfering with JMU's opportunity to field the kick), giving JMU a first down at the Maine 35 following a 15-yard penalty.

The Dukes scored in three plays.  Landers ran for 11 and 12 yards to open the drive, and Yancey covered the final 12 yards with 12:21 to play.

JMU held Maine without a first down on the next series and put together an 11-play, 85-yard scoring drive that used 6:27 off the clock to seal the victory.  Yancey covered the final 30 yards, scoring with 3:39 to play.

Scouting Maine

The Black Bears won their first two games of the season and lost four of five before posting a 19-9 home win over league foe Massachusetts last week.

Maine averages 20.5 points and 331.4 yards of total offense (119.8 rushing, 211.6 passing) per game and allows averages of 22.9 points and 375.5 yards (163.0 rushing, 212.5 passing).

Sophomore quarterback Warren Smith has thrown for 1,517 yards and 11 touchdowns in eight games and is completing 61.5 percent of his passes (134-218) with 10 interceptions.

Six Bears have reached double figures in receptions for the year, including senior wide receiver Landis Williams with 44 catches in seven games.  Williams has five scoring catches, and junior wide receiver Tyrell Jones has five touchdowns catches among his 28 receptions.

Sophomore tailback Derek Sessions is the top rusher with 459 yards and three touchdowns.

Sophomore linebacker Donte Dennis is among the CAA leaders in tackles with 81, including 36 solo and nine for loss.  Senior defensive end Jordan Stevens has 6.5 quarterback sacks among his 44 tackles.

The Bears have 16 interceptions.

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