JMU VS. ARKANSAS STATE THREE NOTCH’D GAME PREVIEW

JMU heads on the road for just the second time this season as the Dukes head down to Jonesboro, Arkansas to take on the Red Wolves of Arkansas State. This game will be played on NFL Network and is the first ever nationally televised regular season game JMU has played in. 

This game kicks at 7 PM ET, 6 PM local, and is the latest kickoff for the Dukes so far this season. As Sun Belt play gets more intense and JMU’s schedule gets tougher by the week let’s get acquainted with this gameday. 

Weather for Saturday 

High of 70 with a low of 43. The sun sets at 6:36 PM local, and game kicks at 6 PM local, 7 PM ET. This will be the coldest game JMU has played in this season. 

How to Watch

The game will be available to watch on NFL Network with TV Coverage beginning at around 7:00 PM ET.

If you want to listen to the radio broadcast and are in Harrisonburg tune in to WSVA 550 AM or 92.1 FM. You can stream the radio broadcast online at WSVAOnline.com and on your phone with the The Varsity Network app.

Getting to know Arkansas State

Record: 2-3, 1-1 in Sun Belt, 2-0 at home, 0-3 on the road 

Key Wins: None 

Head Coach: Butch Jones. He has a 4-13 record in his second season at Arkansas State. His career record is 88-67. This is his 13th season as the head man, and he has had 9-win seasons at Cincinnati, Central Michigan and Tennessee. His most recent stop prior to the Red Wolves was at Alabama where he was the assistant to the HC. 

Team Leaders 

• QB James Blackman – R-Senior – Transfer from Florida State – 108-155 with 1,212 yards and 7 TDs to 1 INT 
• RB Johnnie Lang – R-Senior – 265 rush yds, 2 rushing TDs and averaged 4.5 yds/carry. He also is a threat catching the ball. He has 14 receptions for 154 yds and 2 TDs. OH! He also is a menace in the return game with 470 kickoff return yards this season and a house call. 
• TE Seydou Traore – Soph – 293 yards on 20 catches and 2 TDs
• LB Jordan Carmouche – R-Senior – 34 tkls, 5 TFLs, 1 sack 
• S Edie Smith – R-Junior – Only player to have an INT this season 

Other things to note: 

• The Arkansas State defense is the 2nd most improved defense from last season. Last season they allowed 563 yards/game and this year the Red Wolves allow just 361 yards/game. 
• Arkansas State is a bottom third team in the nation in overall team efficiency (JMU is in the top third). The Red Wolves are 100th in the nation in net points per drive at -0.88, meaning their defense allows more points per drive than the offense scores.
• The key to this game for Arkansas State will be their aerial attack as they have the deepest receiving corps JMU has faces all season.