HARRISONBURG, Va. (JMU Athletics) – James Madison was plagued by turnovers in a 24-21, overtime loss to Troy on Thursday night at Bridgeforth Stadium.
It marked the Dukes’ second straight overtime loss and dropped the squad to 7-2 on the season, including 4-2 in Sun Belt Conference play. JMU finished with 408 yards of total offense but suffered five turnovers in the setback.
With the win, Troy improved to 4-4 on the year and 2-2 in league action.
After the Dukes got a fourth-down stop of defense to open the game, JMU marched 59 yards on nine plays to take the early lead. Quarterback Camden Coleman found wide receiver Corey Scott on a 2-yard touchdown to make it 7-0.
JMU doubled its lead later in the quarter on a 31-yard touchdown by wide receiver Braeden Wisloski from Coleman on its next possession. The Dukes led, 14-0.
However, Troy got on the scoreboard on the first play of the second quarter on a 1-yard touchdown run to cut the lead to 14-7.
JMU’s third offensive possession ended in its third touchdown. Quarterback JC Evans led a 12-play, 75-yard drive, which was capped by a 14-yard touchdown run by running back Seth Cromwell.
Cromwell saw season highs in attempts and yards on Thursday night, finishing with 23 carries for 135 yards and the score. It marked his first 100-yard rushing performance as a Duke.
JMU tallied 236 yards of total offense in the first half and went into the locker room with a 21-7 halftime lead.
In the third quarter, Troy scored 14 points off two JMU turnovers to tie the game at 21. First, Justin Powe recorded a 37-yard interception return for a touchdown on the second play of the half, before the Trojans got the ball back again and tied the game on Jaheim Merriweather’s 28-yard run at the 6:25 mark.
It stayed that way until the end of regulation after Troy missed a 49-yard field goal with 3:21 to go, while the Dukes were unable to haul in a Hail Mary pass as the clock hit zero.
In overtime, the Trojans got a stop on defense and Hayden Wolfe kicked a 27-yard game winner.
Coleman finished 14-of-25 with 175 yards and two touchdowns in the loss, while Wisloski caught four passes for 62 yards and the score.
Defensively, edge Amar Thomas had a pair of sacks to go along with his season-best six tackles. Linebacker Nakian Jackson, safety TJ McGill and defensive lineman Rasheed Lovelace shared the team lead with seven tackles.
Up next, the Dukes play in their third and final Thursday night contest at Southern Miss on Thursday, Nov. 5. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m., ET, and will air live on the JMU Radio Network.
— JMU Athletics —
