Harrisonburg, Va. – #2 James Madison found paydirt on its first three possessions as it rolled to a 73-7 win over the Robert Morris University football team Thursday night at Bridgeforth Stadium in Harrisonburg, Va. The Colonials slip to 1-2 on the year while the Dukes move to 2-1 in 2018.
 
Dukes quarterback Ben DiNucci went 14-of-17 for 184 yards and three touchdowns throning the ball. He also had 39 yards rushing and a two scores on the ground. Marcus Marshall rushed for 95 yards on six carries while Riley Stapleton hauled in seven passes for 67 yards and a score.
 
The Colonials had three different quarterbacks take snaps with redshirt-freshman George Martin leading the team on its only scoring drive. He was 1-of-2 for 33 yards. Terence Stephens carried 17 times for 69 yards to lead a running attack that went for 150 yards. Alijah Jackson tacked on 60 yards while toting the ball 17 times. Tim Vecchio had three receptions for 52 yards, including a 33-yarder that set up the team's only touchdown.
 
After electing to receive the opening kickoff, the Dukes needed six plays to take the lead, 7-0, when Marshall hauled in a 39-yard pass from DiNucci. DiNucci ran in from one yard later in the quarter and then found Kyndel Dean in the back of the endzone with a 15-yard pass that pushed the margin to 21-0 after one quarter.
 
Another DiNucci rush and then a TD pass to Riley Stapelton stretched the lead to 35-0. Ethan Ratke hit a 25-yard field goal, Jimmy Moreland returned an interception 20 yards before Percy Ageyi-Obese rushed 80 yards to make the halftime score 52-0.
 
The Dukes scored on their first two possessions of the third quarter. Marshall went 81 yards and then Jawon Hamilton capped off a seven-play, 84-yard drive with a five-yard scamper.
 
Robert Morris erased the goose egg early in the fourth quarter with a workman-like drive that went 10-plays, 64 yards. They kept the ball on the ground for nine of those plays, the only pass a 33-yard completion from Martin to Vecchio at the Dukes four-yard line. Three plays later, Stephens forced his way into the endzone with 11:08 to play in the fourth quarter.
 
The Dukes added their 10^th touchdown of the afternoon with 9:14 to play. Erik Kirley went 19 yards to finish a six-play, 75-drive and push the final score to 73-7.
 
Robert Morris opens Northeast Conference play next Saturday, Sept. 22, when it travels to Smithfield, R.I., for a 1:00 p.m. game against the Bryant Bulldogs.