Completed Event: Football at Georgia State on October 4, 2025 , Win , 14, to, 7
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Final
James Madison
14
at Georgia State
7
James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
Keys to the Game: JMU at UAlbany
10/2/2014 9:45:00 AM | Football
In search of their second win on the road this season, the Dukes head to Albany to take on the No. 23 Great Danes on Saturday, October 4 at 6 p.m. While Coach Withers and staff work hard to secure a win for JMU Nation, here's a look at a few keys to victory for the Dukes this weekend.
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Find more insight on JMU's keys to victory by tuning in to the Everett Withers TV show every Thursday evening at 7 p.m. on the Valley's Fox station in the Shenandoah Valley. Coach Withers also holds a weekly radio program on WSVA 550 AM and MadiZONE HD SportsNet presented by the JMU Alumni Association on Wednesdays at 6:05 p.m. JMU's offensive and defensive coordinators hold a similar program on Thursday evenings on WSVA and MadiZONE at 6:05 p.m.
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On the Road Again
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The Dukes will be tested yet again this Saturday when they take on Albany after a close home loss to Delaware last weekend. The miles have racked up quickly for the Dukes this season as this marks the fourth road contest among the first six games of the season. It will be the furthest opponent to date for James Madison and the first flight of the season, about three hours longer than their travel times to Lehigh and Villanova in September. This will certainly challenge the Dukes' ability to stay focused in a hostile environment. Madison is 1-2 on the road while UAlbany is 2-0 at home.
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Undefeated
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The Great Danes have had great success so far this season going 4-0 and winning by an average of 18 points per game. That may be a product of scheduling, however, as none of their opponents have winning records and are a combined 4-12 on the season. "I think [Albany] has gone through that first four weeks of the schedule and it's helped them grow as a football team to go through the type of schedule that they've had early," said coach Withers during his weekly radio show. On the flip side, JMU opponents are 12-10 with three of the five teams over the .500 mark.
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Experience and Leadership
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Every team needs a leader and Albany has found its leader in quarterback Will Fiacci, who now has 27 starts under his belt. He has passed for 650 yards and eight touchdowns in four games. Head Coach Everett Withers is looking to his quarterback, Vad Lee, to emerge as a leader after only five games under center for the Dukes in a different offense than the one he commanded at Georgia Tech. "Leaders are people that are very comfortable in their own skin," said Withers. "They don't care what other people think about them and they're just going to go out and work really hard at what they do, if they make a mistake they own up to it and come back and they try to do it even better the next time and they're able to get people to follow them because of those traits… Vad Lee is becoming one of those guys for us."
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Up-Tempo vs Slow and Steady
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Coach Withers and staff have been preaching up-tempo offense all year and the Dukes have done their best to translate it to the field. While the total offensive numbers for JMU and Albany, which rank fourth and fifth in the CAA in average yards per game, are similar, that doesn't necessarily equate to similarities in offensive emphasis. The Dukes average 490 yards on 81 plays per game, including a school record 99 plays run against Delaware last weekend, whereas the Great Danes only average 375 yards on 67 plays per game. "Coach Gattuso has done a really good job with that offense. He's a defensive guy but they do a nice job. They have a great running game… and they're very efficient in their pass game," Withers noted of the opportunistic UAlbany attack.
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Turnover Battle
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Winning the turnover battle is easier said than done but it's a must in Albany. The Great Danes rank first in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) with a +12 turnover margin after four interceptions and 10 forced fumbles in their first four games this season. The Dukes have a respectable +2 turnover margin this season and will look to improve that in Albany.
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Find more insight on JMU's keys to victory by tuning in to the Everett Withers TV show every Thursday evening at 7 p.m. on the Valley's Fox station in the Shenandoah Valley. Coach Withers also holds a weekly radio program on WSVA 550 AM and MadiZONE HD SportsNet presented by the JMU Alumni Association on Wednesdays at 6:05 p.m. JMU's offensive and defensive coordinators hold a similar program on Thursday evenings on WSVA and MadiZONE at 6:05 p.m.
Â
On the Road Again
Â
The Dukes will be tested yet again this Saturday when they take on Albany after a close home loss to Delaware last weekend. The miles have racked up quickly for the Dukes this season as this marks the fourth road contest among the first six games of the season. It will be the furthest opponent to date for James Madison and the first flight of the season, about three hours longer than their travel times to Lehigh and Villanova in September. This will certainly challenge the Dukes' ability to stay focused in a hostile environment. Madison is 1-2 on the road while UAlbany is 2-0 at home.
Â
Undefeated
Â
The Great Danes have had great success so far this season going 4-0 and winning by an average of 18 points per game. That may be a product of scheduling, however, as none of their opponents have winning records and are a combined 4-12 on the season. "I think [Albany] has gone through that first four weeks of the schedule and it's helped them grow as a football team to go through the type of schedule that they've had early," said coach Withers during his weekly radio show. On the flip side, JMU opponents are 12-10 with three of the five teams over the .500 mark.
Â
Experience and Leadership
Â
Every team needs a leader and Albany has found its leader in quarterback Will Fiacci, who now has 27 starts under his belt. He has passed for 650 yards and eight touchdowns in four games. Head Coach Everett Withers is looking to his quarterback, Vad Lee, to emerge as a leader after only five games under center for the Dukes in a different offense than the one he commanded at Georgia Tech. "Leaders are people that are very comfortable in their own skin," said Withers. "They don't care what other people think about them and they're just going to go out and work really hard at what they do, if they make a mistake they own up to it and come back and they try to do it even better the next time and they're able to get people to follow them because of those traits… Vad Lee is becoming one of those guys for us."
Â
Up-Tempo vs Slow and Steady
Â
Coach Withers and staff have been preaching up-tempo offense all year and the Dukes have done their best to translate it to the field. While the total offensive numbers for JMU and Albany, which rank fourth and fifth in the CAA in average yards per game, are similar, that doesn't necessarily equate to similarities in offensive emphasis. The Dukes average 490 yards on 81 plays per game, including a school record 99 plays run against Delaware last weekend, whereas the Great Danes only average 375 yards on 67 plays per game. "Coach Gattuso has done a really good job with that offense. He's a defensive guy but they do a nice job. They have a great running game… and they're very efficient in their pass game," Withers noted of the opportunistic UAlbany attack.
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Turnover Battle
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Winning the turnover battle is easier said than done but it's a must in Albany. The Great Danes rank first in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) with a +12 turnover margin after four interceptions and 10 forced fumbles in their first four games this season. The Dukes have a respectable +2 turnover margin this season and will look to improve that in Albany.
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