Conway, SC: Prior to today, seven Sun Belt Conference schools would have told you that James Madison is probably the best team in the league. After Saturday, Coastal Carolina would make that an even eight.
The Dukes tuned up for next week’s league title game by humbling the Chanticleers 59-10 on “Senior Day” at Brooks Stadium in Conway. The announced crowd of 15,137 witnessed the Sun Belt leaders in both scoring offense and scoring defense dominate CCU on both sides of the football, amassing 525 yards of total offense while holding the Chanticleers to minus-five yards rushing. It’s the first time in program history that Coastal has been held to minus yards on the ground. It was also the fifth time this season that James Madison has held a Sun Belt opponent scoreless in the second half.
JMU will face Troy next Saturday in the Sun Belt Conference championship game, while CCU will await its bowl assignment next Sunday.
Game Recap Courtesy of CCU Media Relations: After falling behind 17–0 in the opening quarter, Coastal settled in and responded with its most composed stretch of the game. Kian Afrookhteh drilled a 34-yard field goal to put the Chants on the board, then quarterback Tad Hudson led a five-play, 60-yard march capped by a 12-yard touchdown strike to Bryson Graves, trimming the deficit to 20–10 with 2:59 left in the half.
Coastal’s defense delivered its own momentum-turning moment minutes earlier, when Myles Woods jumped a crossing route for an interception near midfield, energizing the home sidelines. The stop — one of the Dukes’ few mistakes in the first half — helped keep the Chanticleers within reach heading into halftime.
James Madison (11–1, 8–0 Sun Belt) ultimately leaned on its depth and tempo after the break. Quarterback Alonza Barnett III accounted for four total touchdowns, including a 39-yard strike to Braeden Wisloski and scoring throws to Lacota Dippre, Isaiah Alston, and Michael Scott. A 73-yard burst from Jobi Malary midway through the fourth quarter helped the Dukes pull away late.
Hudson finished 16-for-38 for 148 yards, spreading completions to eight different targets. Graves caught three passes for 21 yards and the second-quarter touchdown, while Karmello English and Dominic Knicely each provided timely gains to keep drives alive.
Defensively, the Chanticleers were at their best in stretches, with Dontae Lunan (8 tackles), Ja’Marion Wayne (7) and Woods (6) leading the way. The front generated four stops at or behind the line, highlighted by Jayden Bryant’s sack late in the second quarter to stall a Dukes drive.