HARRISONBURG, Va. -- Todd Centeio threw for four touchdowns and ran for one score Saturday as James Madison romped past No. 23 Coastal Carolina 47-7 in what it viewed as its postseason game.
JMU (8-3, 6-2 Sun Belt) earned a technical share of the league’s East Division title with the same conference record as the Chanticleers, but the Dukes are not eligible for a title under terms of their transition to the Bowl Subdivision.
When the game ended, Queen's “We Are the Champions” blared through the stadium.
The Chanticleers (9-2, 6-2) were the first visitor in the AP Top 25 to ever play at Bridgeforth Stadium, but did so without starting quarterback Grayson McCall. Their only score came on their second drive on Jarrett Guest's 34-yard pass to Tyson Mobley.
James Madison trailed 7-6 before Todd Centeio hit a wide open Reggie Brown for a 34-yard TD on its second drive of the second quarter to put the Dukes ahead. He then hit Devin Ravenel in the back of the end zone from 26 yards on the next drive. On the play, Ravenel made a dazzling catch over the top of the defender in very tight coverage.
A 17-yard strike to Drew Painter just over two minutes into the third quarter and Latrele Palmer's 13-yard run made it 33-7 midway through the quarter, and an 8-yard pass to Ravenel with 16 seconds left in the quarter gave Centeio his fourth game with at least four touchdown passes this season. He added an 11-yard TD run in the fourth quarter.
THE TAKEAWAY
Coastal Carolina: The Chants, with McCall, were the only team in the Group of Five with one loss, but they are a different team without him. They gained 75 yards on their touchdown drive and only 109 the rest of the game.
James Madison: The Dukes clearly viewed this as their bowl game because of the rules that prevent them from either winning the title or playing in a bowl.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Coastal's stay in the AP Top 25, like James Madison's earlier, will last only one game. The Chants were ranked last week, when their game against Virginia was canceled.
UP NEXT
The Chanticleers will face either Troy or South Alabama for the league championship next Saturday.
The Dukes' season is over because of their FBS transition.
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