JMU football (3-0) controlled Saturday’s game against San Diego State, winning, 26-13. Here are three takeaways from the Dukes’ latest win.

Defense picks up the slack

Wagner aside, as the Seahawks aren’t on a similar competitive level to the Dukes. But in their two FBS games, JMU is averaging 23 points per game and has 10 total second-half points. Yet the Dukes are 2-0 in those games.

The defense has stood tall all season, allowing just 29 points in three games despite giving up some yardage. San Diego State had over 400 yards, but turnovers and turnovers on downs kept the Aztecs from hitting 20 on the scoreboard.

Behind decent defense and reliable (and at times explosive) special teams, the Dukes are 3-0. Offensively, they’ve sputtered late in two games against FBS opposition following fast starts and early leads.

If Cam Aiken’s offense can string together four solid quarters against teams better than Wagner, this JMU squad will be hard to beat.

Coleman gets the job done

Camden Coleman made a few questionable throws Saturday, but he finished the game with 246 passing yards and no turnovers.

He did exactly what he needed to do and then some to lead his team to a meaningful nonconference win. Coleman is now 15-1 as a starting quarterback dating back to his time at Richmond. He’s a winner.

His fourth down pass to Corey Scott after a bad snap showed an impressive amount of poise. Even with the ball on the turf and pressuring coming into his face, he had enough awareness to try the throw downfield, knowing it was fourth down. The completion extended a touchdown drive, and put JMU up 26-7 instead of giving SDSU a short field down just 12. The sequence changed the game.

Coleman was the backup out of fall camp, but he’s showing why it wasn’t an obvious decision to pick JC Evans as QB1. Both guys are really good.

There’s Braeden Wisloski!

After two quiet performances, the senior receiver exploded for five catches for 90 yards and one rush for five yards. His 54-yard snag on the opening drive set up a touchdown, and he made several other nice plays after the catch.

Coming into the season, he was expected to be a top contributor, but he only had three catches for 26 yards in the team’s opening two wins.

Saturday showed a glimpse of why JMU fans entered the fall expecting big things from No. 10. He gives Coleman yet another weapon alongside the emerging Cole Keller at tight end and wide receiver Corey Scott. Those three look like they deserve to be the three featured pass-catchers in the offense, with Smoke Collins, Noah Grevious, Jeremiah Harrison, Michael Scott, and KD Mosley acting as the additional supporting cast.

JMU has the pieces to be a dangerous passing offense.

Photo courtesy of JMU Athletics Communications