THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, November 26, 1994 TAG: 9411260170
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CHARLIE DENN, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: HARRISONBURG LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
The conventional logic would indicate that James Madison football coach Rip Scherer is delighted to begin the Division I-AA playoffs at home today.
And that's true, as far as it goes. But Scherer also prefers to look at the long-range effect instead of the immediacy of any advantage playing in familiar surroundings might bring his team. The 9-2 Dukes host 8-3 Troy State in the first round of the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs this afternoon at 1 p.m. at JMU's Bridgeforth Stadium.
``We're pleased to be home,'' Scherer said. ``I'd rather play at home to get started. But we're trying not to make too big a deal out of it because sooner or later, you're going to have to play on the road.''
So much for conventional wisdom.
But home might be the best place for the Dukes to be. They are entering today's playoff game on the heels of a disappointing end to what was an otherwise spectacular season.
JMU had won seven straight games until last week. With the chance to set a school record for most victories in a season, the Dukes were uncharacteristically flat in a 9-6 home loss to Northeastern, a team that had won only one game all year.
Now the Dukes have a chance to atone for that disappointing setback. But Troy State is not Northeastern. The Trojans have been ranked highly all year and are in the playoffs for the second straight time since joining the I-AA ranks.
Last year Troy State got to the playoff semifinals before losing to Marshall.
``They have speed on defense and run an option offense very similar to ours,'' Scherer said. ``That could be helpful in preparing for them, because our defense practices against our offense every day. They know what the tendencies are.'' ILLUSTRATION: GAMEWATCH
TROY STATE vs. JAMES MADISON
Where: Bridgeforth Stadium (15,000) in Harrisonburg.
When: 1 p.m.
Records: JMU is 9-2 overall and ranked fifth nationally; Troy
State is 8-3.
Radio: None in area.
Outlook: The Dukes are in the I-AA playoffs for the third time in
history. To advance to the quarterfinals, they need concerted
efforts from tailback Kelvin Jeter (758 yards) and quarterback Mike
Cawley (2,035 yards passing, 589 rushing). The Trojans lost to
Alcorn State two weeks ago, but rallied to beat Samford 30-26 last
week and earn a playoff berth. Both defenses stress speed and
mobility, but the Dukes appear to have an edge in consistency.
They've yielded just 67 points the last five games and gave up more
than 21 just once this year.
by CNB