Air Force downs James Madison 31-14 in Armed Forces Bowl

Photo and story by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2023 All Rights Reserved

FORT WORTH, TEXAS (December 23, 2023) In a thrilling showdown at the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, Air Force Falcon football secured an impressive 31-21 win over No. 24 James Madison Dukes. The Falcons capped their 2023 season with a 9-4 record.

The game unfolded as a clash of titans, with Air Force facing the nation's top-ranked rush defense in James Madison, allowing only 62 yards per game. However, the Falcons defied the odds, churning out a remarkable 351 yards on the ground. Senior fullback Emmanuel Michel emerged as the star of the show, setting an Air Force bowl record with an astounding 203 rushing yards on 35 carries, earning him the well-deserved title of Armed Forces Bowl MVP.

Air Force's victory was propelled by a relentless running game and a tenacious defense that tallied four sacks and an interception. Senior linebacker Bo Richter led the defensive charge with three sacks and 4.5 tackles-for-loss, both standing as Air Force bowl records.

The Falcons took control of the game in the second quarter, seizing momentum after linebacker Jonathan Youngblood intercepted James Madison's quarterback Jordan McCloud. Air Force capitalized on the turnover, orchestrating an impressive 72-yard drive culminating in another one-yard touchdown run by Michel. The first half concluded with quarterback Zac Larrier connecting with receiver Jared Roznos for a 42-yard touchdown, establishing a commanding 21-7 lead for the Falcons.

Despite James Madison's efforts to rally in the third quarter, Air Force responded emphatically with a 75-yard touchdown drive, highlighted by Larrier's one-yard plunge, extending their lead to 28-14. The Falcons' dominance was further solidified as Matthew Dapore sealed the victory with a 26-yard field goal, bringing the score to 31-14 with 8:20 left in the game.

James Madison managed to score a late touchdown, but it was not enough to overcome Air Force's performance.

James Madison and North Dakota State face off for FCS national title in Frisco

Photo by
Darla S Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photogrjaphy
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved 

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

FRISCO, TEXAS (January 10, 2020) For the second time in three years, the No. 1 North Dakota State Bison and the No. 2 James Madison Dukes will take to the field inside Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas in the NCAA Division I Football Championship game. The Bison (15-0, 8-0 MVFC) go into the game with a 36-game winning streak and are looking for their eighth FCS crown.

The Dukes (14-1, 8-0 CAA) are making their fourth appearance in the national championship game, seeking their third title. They defeated Montana 31-21 in the 2004 championship in Chattanooga, Tennessee and won its second crown in 2016 with a 28-14 triumph against Youngstown State in Frisco.

James Madison head coach Curt Cignetti talked with the press on Friday, stating;

"This is a great football team, with a lot of guys that have played a lot of football, a lot of really good players, exceptional players at their position. Good personalities. Good leadership. There's a great culture at JMU with the tradition and the success of the past.

It's been talked about, they got off track maybe just a little bit last year with their focus. They realize that. I think I was lucky and fortunate really to be able to coach this team. But we had a plan and we knew what we wanted and improved the team without question.

But this team kind of got it after a while, kind of what I was looking for, which are those crisp, short practices, focused in, locked in, this play is over, tear off the rear view mirror, never too high, never too low.

Practice is kind of like a game, really fast (snapping fingers). You got to have six seconds a play. The play is going to have a history of its own. Focused in on the right things. Played consistently throughout the season. Practiced that way also. Handled business that way also.

We had no off-the-field problems at all with this team. These guys have played a lot of ball together. So here we are ready to go."

North Dakota State head coach Matt Entz also spoke with the press.

"I think the first thing we always talk about, we always address early in the season, is we treat every year as a different year. There is no carryover. I'm going to go back to a couple years ago. I had a young man by the name of MJ Stumpf, he had won a national championship as a backup. We asked him, MJ, you won a national championship. His comment was, Coach, I haven't won one yet. You only win them when you're a starter at NDSU.

That's part of the desire of every kid wants to live up to the expectations that our tradition has shown. We treat every year differently. This is the last game that the 2019 football team is ever going to play. We're going to look different next year. We look different than we did a year ago. Each team has their own nuances, characteristics.

This is a pretty good football team we have right now. I think that's part of the way we avoid complacency, is we continue to challenge them who they are, to be the best they can be in that moment right then."

Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. CST with the game being televised on ABC and ESPN3.

Sam Houston looks to return to NCAA FCS playoffs in 2018

SHSU may have to face James Madison and North Dakota State in possible 2018 playoff run.

The Sam Houston State Bearkats
hope to continue their winning ways in 2018.
Photo by Darla S Tamulitis,
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2018, All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved.

HOUSTON, TEXAS (August 6, 2018) With the 2018 Southland Conference football season kicking off in just over three weeks, the objective of every member school will to be win the conference title and advance to the NCAA Division 1 Championships playoffs

Sam Houston State is picked to win the Southland Conference in 2018. The Bearkats earned 10 first-place votes and 187 points to nab the top spot. If Sam Houston State does advance into the playoffs, there are two teams they will have to face, somewhere in the bracket, that have given them fits over the years. Those

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis,
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2018, All Rights Reserved

two teams are the James Madison Dukes and the North Dakota State Bison. These two teams battled for the national title in 2017, with the No. 2 Bison downing the No. 1 Dukes 17-13 in at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas on January 6, 2017.

The Bearkats have faced both the Bison and the Dukes in past playoff appearances; with the latest coming in 2017. In the semi-final game on December 15, North Dakota State gave Sam Houston their second defeat of the season, with a 55-13 effort, knocking them out of the playoffs. The Bearkats have made 11 appearances in the playoffs, including a 2016 run, where they advanced to the semi-finals; dropping a 65-7 decision to James Madison. The Dukes when on to win the national championship with a 28-14 win over No. 13 Youngtown State.

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis,
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2018, All Rights Reserved

Sam Houston is returning 14 starters from 2017, including seven on each side of the ball. Seven players were named to the preseason All-Southland team, including five on the first team. They kickoff their season on Saturday, September 8 against Prairie View A&M. James Madison is picked as the favorite in the Colonial Athletic Association, receiving 21 of 24 first-place votes. JMU had won a program and CAA-record 26 straight games between the 2016 and 2017 seasons, which ranks second all-time in FCS history.

North Dakota State returns 13 starters from their 2017 team that won the national title. The Bison have won six FCS championship in the last seven years and are a favorite to win in 2018. In fact, The North Dakota State in ranked No. 1 in final FCS Coaches poll (January 9, 2018), followed by James Madison and Sam Houston State. In the STATS FCS Top 25 ranking (August 6, 2018), SDSU is ranked first, JMU is second, with SHSU placing fourth.

The previous two years, James Madison and North Dakota State ended Sam Houston State's playoff run. If history is any indication of things to come, the Bearkats will likely face one of these two teams in the 2018 playoffs.

James Madison & North Dakota State face off in FCS National Championship

Photo by Darla Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2018, All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

FRISCO, TEXAS (January 5, 2018) In less than 24 hours, Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas will become the center of the college football world as No. 1 James Madison Dukes (14-0, 8-0 CAA) will  face off against No. 2 North Dakota State Bisons (13-1, 7-1 MUFC) in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Game. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. CT and will be nationally televised on ESPN2. It will also be streamed on ESPN3 and the ESPN app.  The game marks the third meeting between JMU and NDSU, will all three games coming in the FCS playoffs. North Dakota State won the initial meeting in the 2011 FCS Second Round, by the score of 26-14. James Madison took the second game in the 2016 FCS Semifinals; 27-17. Both of the games were played in Fargo, North Dakota. 

Photo by Darla Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2018, All Rights Reserved

Photo by Darla Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2018, All Rights Reserved

The Dukes are making their 14th FCS appearances and are looking to repeat as the NCAA Division I national champion. They won in 2016 in Frisco in addition to taking the title in 2004 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Bison won their 13th football national championship in 2015. They claimed three College Division national championships via polls in 1965, 1968, and 1969. The Bison also took five Division II titles, through the playoff format, in 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, and 1990. In addition, they were the first team in college football history to win five straight national championships with FCS titles in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015.