2016 James Madison Dukes football team

American college football season

2016 James Madison Dukes football

NCAA Division I champion
CAA champion

NCAA Division I Championship Game, W 28–14 vs. Youngstown State

Conference| Colonial Athletic Association
Ranking
STATS| No. 1
FCS Coaches| No. 1
Record| 14–1 (8–0 CAA)
Head coach|

* Mike Houston (1st season)

Offensive coordinator| Donnie Kirkpatrick (1st season)
Defensive coordinator| Bob Trott (1st season)
Home stadium| Bridgeforth Stadium

Seasons

<- 2015

2017 ->

2016 Colonial Athletic Association football standings

* v
* t
* e

| Conf |  |  | Overall

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|
|
|

Team |  | W |  | L |  |  |  |  | W |  | L |
No. 1 James Madison $^  |  | 8  | - | 0  |  |  |  |  | 14  | - | 1  |
No. 11 Villanova ^  |  | 6  | - | 2  |  |  |  |  | 9  | - | 4  |
No. 17 New Hampshire ^  |  | 6  | - | 2  |  |  |  |  | 8  | - | 5  |
No. 8 Richmond ^  |  | 5  | - | 3  |  |  |  |  | 10  | - | 4  |
Maine |  | 5  | - | 3  |  |  |  |  | 6  | - | 5  |
Albany |  | 4  | - | 4  |  |  |  |  | 7  | - | 4  |
Stony Brook |  | 4  | - | 4  |  |  |  |  | 5  | - | 6  |
William & Mary |  | 3  | - | 5  |  |  |  |  | 5  | - | 6  |
Towson |  | 3  | - | 5  |  |  |  |  | 4  | - | 7  |
Delaware |  | 2  | - | 6  |  |  |  |  | 4  | - | 7  |
Elon |  | 1  | - | 7  |  |  |  |  | 2  | - | 9  |
Rhode Island |  | 1  | - | 7  |  |  |  |  | 2  | - | 9  |

* $ - Conference champion
* ^ - FCS playoff participant

Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2016 James Madison Dukes football team represented James Madison University during the 2016 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by first year head coach Mike Houston and played their home games at Bridgeforth Stadium and Zane Showker Field. They were a member of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). They finished the season 14–1 overall with an 8–0 mark in CAA play to win the conference title. They received the automatic bid to the FCS playoffs, where they defeated New Hampshire, Sam Houston State, and five-time defending champions North Dakota State to advance to the National Championship Game, where they defeated Youngstown State. This was their first national championship since 2004.

## Schedule

[edit]

Date| Time| Opponent| Rank| Site| TV| Result| Attendance

|
|
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|
|

September 3| 6:00 pm| Morehead State*| No. 12|

* Bridgeforth Stadium
* Harrisonburg, VA

| MadiZone| W 80–7| 23,626
September 10| 4:00 pm| Central Connecticut*| No. 12|

* Bridgeforth Stadium
* Harrisonburg, VA

| MadiZone| W 56–21| 20,636
September 17| 3:30 pm| at North Carolina*| No. 11|

* Kenan Memorial Stadium
* Chapel Hill, NC

| ACCN/CSN| L 28–56| 56,000
September 24| 12:00 pm| at Maine| No. 11|

* Alfond Stadium
* Orono, ME

| ASN| W 31–20| 8,786
October 1| 1:30 pm| Delaware| No. 7|

* Bridgeforth Stadium
* Harrisonburg, VA (rivalry)

| MadiZone| W 43–20| 25,236
October 8| 3:30 pm| William & Mary| No. 7|

* Bridgeforth Stadium
* Harrisonburg, VA (rivalry)

| CSN| W 31–24| 20,354
October 15| 12:00 pm| at New Hampshire| No. 7|

* Wildcat Stadium
* Durham, NH

| ASN| W 42–39| 8,316
October 29| 3:30 pm| Rhode Island| No. 8|

* Bridgeforth Stadium
* Harrisonburg, VA

| MadiZone| W 84–7| 23,841
November 5| 3:30 pm| at No. 6 Richmond| No. 7|

* Robins Stadium
* Richmond, VA (rivalry)

| CSN| W 47–43| 8,700
November 12| 1:00 pm| at No. 9 Villanova| No. 6|

* Villanova Stadium
* Villanova, PA

| NNAA| W 20–7| 6,109
November 19| 1:30 pm| Elon| No. 6|

* Bridgeforth Stadium
* Harrisonburg, VA

| MadiZone| W 63–14| 16,184
December 3| 2:00 pm| No. 22 New Hampshire*| No. 5|

* Bridgeforth Stadium
* Harrisonburg, VA (FCS Playoffs Second Round)

| ESPN3| W 55–22| 13,231
December 9| 7:00 pm| No. 1 Sam Houston State*| No. 5|

* Bridgeforth Stadium
* Harrisonburg, VA (FCS Playoffs Quarterfinals)

| ESPN2| W 65–7| 15,646
December 16| 7:00 pm| at No. 4 North Dakota State*| No. 5|

* Fargodome
* Fargo, ND (FCS Playoffs Semifinals)

| ESPN2| W 27–17| 18,282
January 7, 2017| 12:00 pm| vs. No. 13 Youngstown State*| No. 5|

* Toyota Stadium
* Frisco, TX (FCS National Championship Game)

| ESPN2| W 28–14| 14,423

* *Non-conference game
* Homecoming
* Rankings from STATS FCS Poll released prior to game Poll released prior to the game
* All times are in Eastern time

[1]

## Roster

[edit]

2016 James Madison Dukes football team roster

Players  | Coaches
Offense | Pos. | # | Name | Class

|
|
|

RB | `32` | Khalid Abdullah | Sr
WR | `7` | Terrence Alls |  Jr
OL | `67` | Zaire Bethea | Fr
OL | `61` | A.J. Bolden |  Jr
WR | `12` | Logan Boyd |  Jr
WR | `5` | Jake Brown | Fr
OL | `58` | Gerren Butler |  Fr
OL | `68` | Tyree Chavious |  Fr
WR | `42` | Skyler Clark | Fr
WR | `40` | Daniel Clements | So
TE | `86` | Mark Cullen |  Fr
WR | `6` | Rashard Davis | Sr
OL | `55` | Nick Edwards |  Jr
QB | `18` | Hunter Etheridge |  So
OL | `75` | Michael Faulkner | Fr
OL | `64` | Matt Frank |  Sr
OL | `79` | Raymond Gillespie | Fr
WR | `13` | Ishmael Hyman |  Jr
OL | `60` | Jahee Jackson |  Fr
RB | `25` | Cardon Johnson |  Jr
QB | `12` | Cole Johnson | Fr
RB | `22` | Eric Kirlew | Fr
OL | `76` | Mitchell Kirsch |  Sr
TE | `88` | Jonathan Kloosterman | Jr
WR | `84` | Ryan Kluck | Fr
WR | `8` | John Miller | Jr
QB | `2` | Connor Mitch |  Jr
WR | `81` | Cory Owen |  Fr
QB | `16` | Neeshant Parikh |  So
RB | `34` | Simba Parker |  Jr
OL | `73` | Mac Patrick | Fr
TE | `82` | Zach Polglase | Fr
WR | `11` | Brandon Ravenel | Sr
WR | `85` | Quintin Reynolds |  So
TE | `98` | Lawton Riggs | Fr
OL | `62` | Kyle Rigney |  Sr
OL | `78` | Zach Rugg |  Sr
TE | `15` | Daniel Schiele | Sr
QB | `17` | Bryan Schor | Sr
RB | `1` | Trai Sharp | So
OL | `77` | Robert Snead | Fr
WR | `10` | Riley Stapleton |  Fr
OL | `70` | Aaron Stinnie |  Jr
WR | `3` | Domo Taylor | Sr
OL | `63` | J.T. Timming | Fr
QB | `19` | Mack Waldman |  So
WR | `39` | Robbie Walker | Jr
WR | `89` | Braxton Westfield | Fr
RB | `20` | Taylor Woods | Jr
OL | `71` | Richard Xu |  So
Defense | Pos. | # | Name | Class

|
|
|

DB | `27` | D'Angelo Amos | Fr
LB | `93` | Andrew Ankrah |  Jr
DL | `95` | Adeeb Atariwa | Fr
LB | `54` | Kelvin Azanama | Fr
CB | `34` | Justin Bethea | Jr
S | `21` | Robert Branch | So
DL | `53` | Jordan Brooks |  Fr
DL | `84` | Brandon Brown |  Jr
S | `44` | Jordan Brown |  Jr
LB/LS | `59` | Daniel Caracciolo | Fr
DL | `47` | Darrious Carter |  So
CB | `36` | Robert Carter Jr. |  So
S | `38` | Mike Cobbs | So
S | `48` | Reggie Collins | Fr
DL | `97` | John Daka | Fr
LB | `46` | David Ezeagwu | Jr
S | `5` | Raven Greene |  Jr
LB | `9` | Kyre Hawkins |  Jr
LB | `49` | Brandon Hereford |  Jr
LB | `2` | Dimitri Holloway | So
S | `40` | Ryan Horner | Fr
S | `35` | Marcell Johnson | Jr
LB | `27` | Pat Kagel |  So
LB | `16` | John Kinney | Fr
DL | `90` | Rondre Knowles-Tener | Fr
LB | `50` | Christian Launius | Fr
DL | `92` | Mike Mabry | Fr
S | `43` | Bryce Maginley | Fr
LB | `51` | Devin Medley | Fr
LB | `52` | Nick Michalski |  Jr
CB | `37` | Jimmy Moreland |  So
CB | `26` | Curtis Oliver | So
LB | `18` | Tabb Patrick | Fr
CB | `14` | Taylor Reynolds |  Sr
DL | `31` | Kirk Robinette |  Fr
CB | `22` | Rashad Robinson | So
DL | `74` | Simeyon Robinson |  Jr
DL | `65` | Dorrius Rodgers | Fr
LB | `10` | Jacob Rosen | Fr
LB/LS | `41` | Brett Siegel |  Jr
S | `30` | Adam Smith | Fr
LB | `33` | Gage Steele |  Sr
DL | `91` | Martez Stone |  Sr
CB | `23` | Charles Tutt | So
DL | `94` | Cornell Urquhart | Jr
LB | `24` | Justin Wellons |  Sr
S | `28` | Grant Westbrook | So
DB | `7` | Trey Wilson | Fr
DL | `72` | Gary Wortham |  Sr
Special teams | Pos. | # | Name | Class

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|

K/P | `42` | Pat Frio | Jr
P | `69` | John Gardiner | Fr
K | `45` | Tyler Gray | So
P | `99` | Gunnar Kane |  Sr
K/P | `57` | Jeremiah McBride | Fr
K | `91` | Ethan Ratke | Fr
LS | `56` | Matt Wolcott |  So

Head coach

* Mike Houston
1st year at James Madison
Alma mater: Mars Hill

Coordinators/assistant coaches

* Donnie Kirkpatrick
Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks
1st year at James Madison
Alma mater: Lenoir-Rhyne
* Bob Trott
Defensive coordinator
1st year at James Madison
Alma mater: North Carolina
* Bryan Stinespring
Tight ends/Run-Game coordinator
1st year at James Madison
Alma mater: James Madison
* John Bowers
Outside Linebackers
3rd year at James Madison
Alma mater: James Madison
* Byron Thweatt
Inside Linebackers
1st year at James Madison
Alma mater: Virginia
* Jamal Powell
Offensive line
2nd year at James Madison
Alma mater: Texas Christian
* Jeff Hanson
Defensive line
2nd year at James Madison
Alma mater: Richmond
* Tripp Weaver
Cornerbacks
1st year at James Madison
Alma mater: East Carolina
* De'Rail Sims
Running backs
1st year at James Madison
Alma mater: Pikeville
* Drew Dudzik
Wide receivers
1st year at James Madison
Alma mater: James Madison
* Dale Steele
Director of football administration/recruiting coordinator
1st year at James Madison
Alma mater: South Carolina
* John Williams
Director of strength and conditioning
* Markus James
Assistant Director of strength and conditioning
* Pete Johnson
Football Equipment Manager
* Patty Dorfer
Administrative Assistant
* Scott Cook
Associate Athletic Trainer
* Cal Hall
Assistant Athletic Trainer

* * *

Legend

* (C) Team captain
* (S) Suspended
* (I) Ineligible

* Injured
* Redshirt

* * *

Roster
Last update: December 17, 2016

## Game summaries

[edit]

### Morehead State

[edit]

| 1  | 2  | 3  | 4 | Total

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Eagles  | 0  | 7  | 0  | 0 | 7
#12 Dukes | 28  | 24  | 21  | 7 | 80

See also: 2016 Morehead State Eagles football team

### Central Connecticut

[edit]

| 1  | 2  | 3  | 4 | Total

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Blue Devils  | 0  | 7  | 14  | 0 | 21
#12 Dukes | 21  | 14  | 7  | 14 | 56

See also: 2016 Central Connecticut Blue Devils football team

### At North Carolina

[edit]

| 1  | 2  | 3  | 4 | Total

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#11 Dukes  | 21  | 0  | 7  | 0 | 28
Tar Heels | 14  | 21  | 14  | 7 | 56

See also: 2016 North Carolina Tar Heels football team

### At Maine

[edit]

| 1  | 2  | 3  | 4 | Total

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#11 Dukes | 7  | 3  | 7  | 14 | 31
Black Bears  | 0  | 13  | 7  | 0 | 20

See also: 2016 Maine Black Bears football team

### Delaware

[edit]

| 1  | 2  | 3  | 4 | Total

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Fightin' Blue Hens  | 0  | 7  | 0  | 13 | 20
#7 Dukes | 7  | 19  | 7  | 10 | 43

See also: 2016 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team and Delaware–James Madison football rivalry

### William & Mary

[edit]

| 1  | 2  | 3  | 4 | Total

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Tribe  | 3  | 7  | 0  | 14 | 24
#7 Dukes | 10  | 0  | 7  | 14 | 31

See also: 2016 William & Mary Tribe football team and James Madison–William & Mary football rivalry

### At New Hampshire

[edit]

| 1  | 2  | 3  | 4 | Total

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#7 Dukes | 7  | 14  | 7  | 14 | 42
Wildcats  | 0  | 9  | 3  | 27 | 39

See also: 2016 New Hampshire Wildcats football team

### Rhode Island

[edit]

| 1  | 2  | 3  | 4 | Total

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Rams  | 0  | 7  | 0  | 0 | 7
#8 Dukes | 28  | 21  | 21  | 14 | 84

See also: 2016 Rhode Island Rams football team

### At Richmond

[edit]

| 1  | 2  | 3  | 4 | Total

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#7 Dukes | 14  | 10  | 6  | 17 | 47
#6 Spiders  | 10  | 14  | 7  | 12 | 43

See also: 2016 Richmond Spiders football team

### At Villanova

[edit]

| 1  | 2  | 3  | 4 | Total

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#6 Dukes | 7  | 0  | 3  | 10 | 20
#9 Wildcats  | 0  | 7  | 0  | 0 | 7

See also: 2016 Villanova Wildcats football team

### Elon

[edit]

| 1  | 2  | 3  | 4 | Total

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Phoenix  | 0  | 7  | 7  | 0 | 14
#6 Dukes | 17  | 10  | 15  | 21 | 63

See also: 2016 Elon Phoenix football team

## FCS Playoffs

[edit]

### Second Round–New Hampshire

[edit]

| 1  | 2  | 3  | 4 | Total

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#22 Wildcats  | 7  | 0  | 8  | 7 | 22
#5 Dukes | 3  | 28  | 21  | 3 | 55

### Quarterfinals–Sam Houston State

[edit]

| 1  | 2  | 3  | 4 | Total

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#1 Bearkats  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 7 | 7
#5 Dukes | 21  | 21  | 23  | 0 | 65

See also: 2016 Sam Houston State Bearkats football team

### Semifinals–North Dakota State

[edit]

| 1  | 2  | 3  | 4 | Total

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#5 Dukes | 7  | 10  | 0  | 10 | 27
#4 Bison  | 0  | 7  | 10  | 0 | 17

See also: 2016 North Dakota State Bison football team

It was this game that ended NDSU's streak of five consecutive FCS titles.

### Championship–Youngstown State

[edit]

| 1  | 2  | 3  | 4 | Total

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#13 Penguins  | 0  | 7  | 0  | 7 | 14
#5 Dukes | 14  | 7  | 7  | 0 | 28

See also: 2016 Youngstown State Penguins football team

## Ranking movements

[edit]

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
( ) = First-place votes| Week

|

Poll| Pre| 1| 2| 3| 4| 5| 6| 7| 8| 9| 10| 11| 12| Final
STATS FCS| 12| 12| 11| 11| 7| 7| 7| 8| 8| 7| 6| 6| 5 (1)| 1 (154)
Coaches| 11| 11| 8| 7| 6| 6| 6| 5 (1)| 5| 5| 5| 5 (1)| 5| 1 (26)
FCS Playoffs| Not released| 5| 4| 4| Not released

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "2016 James Madison Dukes Football Schedule". James Madison University Department of Athletics. Retrieved December 8, 2015.

* v
* t
* e

2016 James Madison Dukes football—NCAA Division I FCS national champions

* Khalid Abdullah
* John Daka
* Rashard Davis
* Raven Greene
* Ishmael Hyman
* Jimmy Moreland
* Aaron Stinnie

* Head coach: Mike Houston

* Assistant coaches: Donnie Kirkpatrick
* Dale Steele
* Bryan Stinespring
* Byron Thweatt
* Bob Trott

* v
* t
* e

James Madison Dukes football

Venues|

* Bridgeforth Stadium (1975–present)

Bowls & rivalries|

* Bowl games
* 2023 Armed Forces Bowl
* Delaware
* Old Dominion
* Richmond
* William & Mary

Culture & lore|

* Duke Dog
* Marching Royal Dukes
* "JMU Fight Song"

People|

* Head coaches
* Statistical leaders
* NFL draftees

Seasons|

* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

National championship seasons in bold

* v
* t
* e

NCAA Division I-AA/FCS football champions

1970s|

* 1978: Florida A&M
* 1979: Eastern Kentucky

1980s|

* 1980: Boise State
* 1981: Idaho State
* 1982: Eastern Kentucky
* 1983: Southern Illinois
* 1984: Montana State
* 1985: Georgia Southern
* 1986: Georgia Southern
* 1987: Northeast Louisiana
* 1988: Furman
* 1989: Georgia Southern

1990s|

* 1990: Georgia Southern
* 1991: Youngstown State
* 1992: Marshall
* 1993: Youngstown State
* 1994: Youngstown State
* 1995: Montana
* 1996: Marshall
* 1997: Youngstown State
* 1998: UMass
* 1999: Georgia Southern

2000s|

* 2000: Georgia Southern
* 2001: Montana
* 2002: Western Kentucky
* 2003: Delaware
* 2004: James Madison
* 2005: Appalachian State
* 2006: Appalachian State
* 2007: Appalachian State
* 2008: Richmond
* 2009: Villanova

2010s|

* 2010: Eastern Washington
* 2011: North Dakota State
* 2012: North Dakota State
* 2013: North Dakota State
* 2014: North Dakota State
* 2015: North Dakota State
* 2016: James Madison
* 2017: North Dakota State
* 2018: North Dakota State
* 2019: North Dakota State

2020s|

* 2020: Sam Houston State
* 2021: North Dakota State
* 2022: South Dakota State
* 2023: South Dakota State

* v
* t
* e

CAA Football Conference champions

* Richmond & UMass (2007)
* James Madison (2008)
* Richmond & Villanova (2009)
* Delaware & William & Mary (2010)
* Towson (2011)
* New Hampshire, Richmond, Villanova, & Towson (2012)
* Maine (2013)
* New Hampshire (2014)
* James Madison, Richmond, & William & Mary (2015)
* James Madison (2016)
* James Madison (2017)
* Maine (2018)
* James Madison (2019)
* Delaware (2020)
* James Madison & Villanova (2021)
* New Hampshire & William & Mary (2022)
* Albany, Richmond, & Villanova (2023)

National championships in bold

* v
* t
* e

2016 NCAA Division I FCS playoff participants

* Cal Poly
* Central Arkansas
* Charleston Southern
* Chattanooga
* The Citadel
* Eastern Washington
* Illinois State
* Jacksonville State
* James Madison
* Lehigh
* New Hampshire
* North Carolina A&T
* North Dakota
* North Dakota State
* Richmond
* Saint Francis (PA)
* Samford
* Sam Houston State
* San Diego
* South Dakota State
* Villanova
* Weber State
* Wofford
* Youngstown State

Champion – James Madison
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Conf]: Conference record
*[W]: Wins
*[L]: Losses
*[No.]: Number