JMU football just etched its name into the college football history books on Saturday, absolutely crushing Wagner with an unbelievable 87-3 victory. It was a statement game, folks, tying the record for the most points ever scored by an FBS team in a single game. You heard that right: 87 points. On the board. Against another team.
The Record-Breaking Beatdown
They didn’t just win, they absolutely dismantled Wagner, tying a record that was set just two years ago. South Alabama put up 87 points against Northwestern State in 2024, but JMU’s win? It came with an even *bigger* margin, a mind-blowing 84 points. This wasn’t a game, it was a pure exhibition of dominance. Under first-year head coach Billy Napier, who came over from Florida, the Dukes put up some wild numbers. We’re talking twelve touchdowns in total, off a massive 588 total offensive yards. And get this: that yardage was nearly evenly split between passing and rushing. They were dangerous from every angle.
Special Teams Sparks and Offensive Fireworks
Seriously, their special teams unit was on fire. Three of those twelve touchdowns came from punt returns! It started early with a blocked punt on Wagner’s *very first drive*. Michael Scott, what a game for him, finishing with 258 yards and two touchdowns from a combination of kick and punt returns. He was electrifying. On offense, sophomore running back Nick Herman exploded for 132 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just eight attempts. Not to be outdone, fifth-year senior running back George Pettaway chipped in with three touchdowns on the ground himself. They even rolled through three different quarterbacks, with senior Camden Coleman and junior Arrington Maiden each racking up over 100 passing yards. It felt like every drive was a scoring opportunity, with touchdowns on all but two possessions. One ended in a fumble in the second quarter, and another was a field goal in the third. Talk about relentless!
From Newcomers to Powerhouses
What makes this even crazier? JMU only joined the FBS four years ago. Four years! They’ve gone from being new kids on the block to straight-up record setters. They’ve made an immediate impact since joining the Sun Belt Conference, and last season they even clinched the conference title and made the expanded College Football Playoff. That kind of rapid success led to their then-head coach Bob Chesney heading off to UCLA. But the Dukes didn’t skip a beat, bringing in Billy Napier, and now look what they’re doing. This team isn’t just making noise, they’re shattering expectations.
So, yeah, JMU just put the entire league on notice. They’re not just a feel-good story; they’re a legitimate force in college football. This kind of performance early in the season shows exactly what Napier’s squad is capable of. Every other team in the Sun Belt is watching this film with wide eyes right now. If this is what they can do, you gotta wonder how far this Dukes team can truly go this year. Keep your eyes on them, because they’re absolutely cooking!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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