The Pecan Park Eagle

GO, DUKES, GO!

OK, It’s not baseball today, but bear with me. I got into the game on ESPN last evening and over night decided that the writing subject refresher was good for me. In addition, a good friend has a strong connection to James Madison University and I could not ignore the joy she must be feeling this Saturday morning.

The final score was 31-28. Please connect to the original publication site at ESPN for the full report on this FCS Quarterfinals playoff victory by the No. 1 ranked James Madison University Dukes (13-0-0) over the Weber State University Wildcats (11-3-0):

http://www.espn.com/ncf/recap/_/id/401002978

It’s departure from baseball all right, but yet another example of how that “never-give-up” attitude is so often the difference-maker when two clubs in any sport square off with a parity level of talent on either side of the athletic encounter.

The winner will be decided from there by the energy made available by the sporting god muses, a favorable control of the game’s momentum, pot luck, destiny, fate, fan support, and – the not so easy to see quality variable of which-adversary-wants-it-the-most. And that last kicker variable is most often never completely known until the game ends.

When the final bell rang last night, it was James Madison University that had the magic touch.

With a little over two minutes to go in the game, the JMU Dukes trailed the Weber State Wildcats by 28-20. It was the first time this season that James Madison had trailed anyone in the 4th Quarter. The gremlin of defeat and ruin to a perfect season and a denied repeat of their smaller college national championship seemed at hand.

But bad things were not to be for JMU.

With 2:08 on the clock, JMU receiver Riley Stapleton hauled in a 40 yard pass from quarterback Bryan Schor for a touchdown that narrowed the lead of Weber State to 28-26. The Dukes then worked a successful Trai Sharp run for the two-point conversion. Game now tied at 28-28.

The Dukes weren’t done. They moved the ball.

Then, with time left for one play. Dukes kicker Ethan Ratke  connected on a 46 yard field goal as time expired.

James Madison wins, 31-28. Their record goes to 13-0 . They advance in the playoffs. And their players, coaches, and fans go home happy. And their alumni throughout the land get to enjoy an even cheerier Friday.

Congratulations, Peggy Dorrill. You guys deserved it. And earned it. As for the sport product itself, it isn’t baseball, but it’s a whole lot more exciting than anything served up in recent times by the NFL.

Happy James Madison Univ. Alumna
Peggy Dorrill
December 9, 2017

“GOOD LUCK TO THE JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY DUKES” the rest of the way!

Go get that championship!

********************

Tags: 31-28, James Madison Rallies By Weber State

This entry was posted on December 9, 2017 at 1:08 pm and is filed under Baseball. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.