James Madison is set to face the Appalachian State Mountaineers tonight, Thursday, October 22, at Kidd Brewer Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, with the game airing on ESPNU. James Madison enters the contest as a road favorite, with analysts predicting its powerful rushing attack will be the decisive factor, despite App State's historical home advantage.
The Dukes' rushing offense is anticipated to overpower App State. George Pettaway, who has averaged an eye-popping 9.02 yards per carry over his last four games, and Nick Herman form a formidable duo. Their combined strength is expected to wear down App State's defense, limiting the opportunities for the Mountaineers to force the turnovers upon which they thrive. James Madison prefers to run the ball when leading, and their offense maintains a quick tempo even with an advantage, ranking ninth in situation-adjusted pace and among the top 30 in pace of play when leading in the second half. This relentless ground game is projected to lead to a barrage of second-half points as App State's front seven eventually runs out of gas.
The Dukes' reliance on the run game also strategically sets up their play-action passing attack. Quarterback Camden Coleman thrives in this scheme, completing 65.3% of his passes off run action, including a 5.1% big-time throw rate, according to PFF. This comprehensive offensive approach gives James Madison a clear path to victory, allowing them to control the clock and wear down the Mountaineers while building and maintaining a lead.
Conversely, App State faces challenges in its own offensive backfield. Lead back Jaquari Lewis has recorded just 48 breakaway yards this season, indicating an inability to consistently move the ball on the ground. This could place additional pressure on the quarterback position, especially with Malachi Singleton currently dealing with an ankle issue. Despite these potential setbacks, App State is expected to top the 20-point mark regardless of who starts at quarterback. Both options have shown the ability to extend drives with their legs, a capability that could exploit James Madison's past struggles to contain scrambling quarterbacks.
Historically, James Madison has found winning at Kidd Brewer Stadium challenging, having secured victories in only three of 11 previous visits. However, analysts are confident the Dukes will remain unbeaten in style this evening. The weather for the game is expected to be chilly, with temperatures in the low 50s at kickoff, but with little wind and no chance of rain.
