In one of several meetings between undefeated teams in the last couple of weekends, James Madison University’s men’s team upended Virginia Military Institute in a wild and exciting game, 41-35.

 

The victory puts JMU all alone in first place in the Cardinals Conference with a 5-0 record (6-0 including non-college-eligible Heat Elite). VMI drops to 3-1, even with Old Dominion, which mean Mary Washington this weekend 53-18.

 

The JMU v VMI game was all over the place. JMU ran out to a 29-13 halftime lead, and then perhaps eased up a little, thinking they had it won. VMI went to their pick-and-go game and scored two tries and a penalty to make the score 29-28 midway through the second half.

 

Madison responded with an unconverted try, but VMI responded with a converted try to take the lead 35-34 with eight minutes to go.

 

Then JMU buckled down and worked their way into VMI territory, where flyhalf Chris Kunkel ran in to score the winning try 41-35.

 

“They played a really good, physical game,” said JMU Head Coach Mark Lambourne. “We didn’t execute very well and I think we took our foot off the gas in the second half. We were a bit lucky to win, really.”

 

This was exactly the type of tough game JMU needs, added Lambourne, whose team was hurt by injuries. Key performances included John-Eric Bell, who is normally a lock but was needed at prop and stepped up admirably, and Erik Carlson. Carlson, the captain of the team, is normally a scrumhalf but had to slot in at center this weekend.

 

With one game left in the schedule, JMU has clinched 1st in the Cardinals Conference. Next week, VMI hosts Old Dominion to see who takes 2nd.