Football Meets James Madison for the First Time

Saturday, October 26

Harrisonburg, Va. / Bridgeforth Stadium

2:30 pm CT

Southern Miss

James Madison

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Southern Miss Golden Eagles quarterback Ethan Crawford (3) puts a stiff arm on Arkansas State Red Wolves cornerback Justin Hodges (0) in a NCAA football game between the Southern Miss Golden Eagles and the Arkansas State Red Wolves. October 19, 2024. (Joe Harper/bgnphoto.com)

Photo by: Joe Harper/bgnphoto.com

Football Meets James Madison for the First Time

10/25/2024 10:15:00 AM | Football

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HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss finishes the October portion of its football schedule when they travel to Harrisonburg, Va., to face James Madison for the first time in its history.

The Golden Eagles (1-6 overall, 0-3 Sun Belt) look to snap a five-game losing streak as the Dukes become the final Sun Belt school Southenrn Miss will face on the gridiron. JMU (5-2, 1-2) is the 78th different FBS program the Golden Eagles will play when they meet at Bridgeforth Stadium at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

The game will be available to watch via ESPN+, as well as heard on an affiliate of the Southern Miss Sports Network and through SouthernMiss.com.

Southern Miss plays under interim head coach Reed Stringer after the school announced a change of leadership for the program last Sunday evening. Stringer said that the team would move forward for the remainder of the season and give it everything they have over the final five games, starting with the Dukes.

"We're just going to keep working and keep trying to become a better football team and make something of the last five games our fans and our administration and our university can be proud of," said Stringer.

While this is the first time playing JMU, the Golden Eagles are no strangers playing in the Commonwealth of Virginia. This will be the school's first trip to the state since dropping a 56-35 decision at Liberty on Oct. 24, 2020.

Southern Miss holds a 7-8 record in games that they have played in the state of Virginia, including a 7-6 victory over NC State in Norfolk on Nov. 12, 1966, which was played as part of the Oyster Bowl. Southern Miss dropped a 3-0 decision to William & Mary the season before in Norfolk, 3-0, in that contest.

Overall, Southern Miss holds a 25-12 record against schools from the state of Virginia, including a 14-2 mark against Richmond, 4-0 versus VMI, 4-5 versus Virginia Tech, 2-0 versus Virginia, 1-2 versus Old Dominion, 0-2 versus Liberty and 0-1 against William and Mary.

Southern Miss enters this weekend having come off one of its best games offensively against Arkansas State. In their four touchdown drives, the Golden Eagles went 10 or more plays in each of those drives. It marked the first time Southern Miss had four touchdown drives of 10 or more plays in the same game since versus UTSA in 2016.

The Golden Eagles had five 10-plus play drives in that UTSA contest with one field goal as well. In 2017, Southern Miss also enjoyed five 10-plus scoring drives versus Rice and that included three touchdowns and two field goals.

Quarterback Ethan Crawford scored the Golden Eagles' last touchdown of the game from three yards last weekend, which capped a 15-play drive. That was the longest touchdown drive in terms of plays since a 16-yard touchdown drive against South Alabama in 2021.

On defense, freshman Chris Jones led the team in tackles for the second time this season with nine giving him 33 for the season. Graduate transfer Tre' Pinkney leads the Golden Eagles with 50 stops in 2024.

Tickets for all Southern Miss football games can be purchased by going online at SouthernMissTickets.com, by calling 1-800-844-TICK (8425) or by visiting the Pat Ferlise Ticket Office at the corner of 4th Street and Golden Eagle Way weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.