(STATS) – The focus is especially high at James Madison as the No. 9 Dukes prepare for Saturday’s game against Rhode Island.
The 2016 FCS champions and national runners-up last year don’t want two losses in the last four games to snowball with another defeat and put them into needing a must-win at No. 20 Towson on Nov. 17 just to get into the playoffs.
“I want to see them play the way we expect to play. We need to play the way this program is built,” third-year coach Mike Houston said Monday on the CAA Football coaches teleconference.
James Madison (6-3, 4-2), which has won three straight CAA titles, is tied for fourth, although only one game back in the crowded standings. The Dukes , after slipping past Stony Brook 13-10 two weeks ago, were knocked around at New Hampshire 35-24 this past Saturday, finishing minus-six in turnover margin, with leading rusher Marcus Marshall sidelined and starting quarterback Ben DiNucci pulled during the game for backup Cole Johnson.
“Our team has a lot of pride in the way we play,” said Houston, who declined to name his intended starter for the Rhode Island game. “Obviously, they’re very bothered about the performance on Saturday. We expected our group to be very motivated to get back on the field and play better this Saturday.”
Rhode Island is a dangerous seventh-place team in the CAA. The Rams (5-4, 3-3) remain alive for the playoffs, but would need wins over James Madison and New Hampshire.
The CAA has never had more than five qualifiers, nor has any other conference.
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