JMU football beat Marshall, 45-17, on Saturday to improve to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the Sun Belt. Here are three takeaways from the win:

Pettaway shapes into form

Through JMU’s first three games, George Pettaway had 181 rushing yards. In the past two, the running back has 316 on just 30 carries.

Entering the season as one of the Dukes’ primary offensive playmakers, Pettaway got off to a slow start. He’s been on fire in two Sun Belt games.

He ripped off a 73-yard touchdown run in Saturday’s win over Marshall and finished the game with over 200 yards on the ground. Pettaway looks stronger this year, which could help him hold up over the course of a long season. When healthy, he’s been a top-level Sun Belt back. He looks healthy again after an injury-riddled 2025, and he’s poised to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards for the first time in his college career.

The Dukes have been efficient in the passing game this fall. Add in Pettaway, and JMU might have the Sun Belt’s most dangerous offense.

JMU is one of just three FBS teams to rank in the top 10 nationally in scoring offense and defense. Indiana and Miami are the other two.

Coasting to the end

JMU led 38-14 at halftime, but a 7-3 edge in the second half had fans frustrated again. Why do the Dukes stop scoring after halftime?

In four games against FBS opponents, JMU has outscored teams 104-37 in the opening half. In the second half, the Dukes have outscored teams 33-26.

That’s a massive dip in offensive production, although game flow accounts for some of that. With a large lead, it’s natural to let up a little bit. It’s also OK to make conservative play calls and rotate in backups when leading by three scores.

But it’s also a point of emphasis for JMU. The Dukes have won big in recent weeks, but the blowouts could be bigger. The performances could be crisper. The finishes could be stronger.

The Dukes know it.

“I’m trying to crack the second-half code here a little bit, right?” coach Billy Napier said. “We can get them teed up and ready to go and start the right way. It’s just, can we sustain it?”

There’s room for improvement, even after opening Sun Belt plays with blowout wins.

A riveting stretch ahead

They might need stronger finishes the next three weeks.

JMU faces Georgia Southern, Georgia State, and App State the next three weeks. Georgia State and App State are a combined 7-2 with top-end SBC passing offenses, ranking third and first respectively among Sun Belt teams in passing efficiency. The Dukes have never won at Georgia Southern, which ranks second in the conference in passing yards per game.

Coming into the season, ODU and Marshall looked like huge tests. Those teams now look overrated.

But the next three? They seem to have a pulse, and two of the matchups come on the road.

If the Dukes want to repeat as conference champions, the next three weeks are perhaps the most important of the season.

Photo courtesy of JMU Athletics Communications