HARRISONBURG, Va. – Quarterback Todd Centeio threw three of James Madison's four touchdown passes as the Dukes defeated Norfolk State 63-7 on Saturday afternoon at Bridgeforth Stadium.
The Dukes (2-0) led 21-0 after one quarter en route to their third straight win in the series with NSU (0-2).
Otto Kuhns led the Spartans' offense with 203 passing yards, including a 90-yard TD pass to
Da'Quan Felton in the third quarter for NSU's first touchdown of the season. Felton caught three passes for 141 yards, a career high.
JMU started quickly, scoring touchdowns each of the first three times it touched the ball. Centeio threw a 43-yard TD pass to Kris Thornton on the Dukes' first possession. After forcing a short NSU punt, the Dukes needed just five plays to score again, on Centeio's 22-yard TD pass to Devin Ravenel.
Jordan Swann's interception on the ensuing NSU drive set up another score, this one on a 1-yard run by Latrele Palmer to cap a short 35-yard scoring drive. The Dukes led 21-0 after one quarter.
Centeio connected on another TD pass with Ravenel, covering 8 yards, in the second quarter. Percy Agyei-Obese scored on a 1-yard run earlier in the period for the Dukes, who led 35-0 at halftime.
The Spartans got in the end zone on their first possession – and first play – of the second half. Kuhns tossed a 90-yard TD pass to Felton. It was the longest pass by the NSU football program since the school-record 98-yarder from Chris Walley to Derrick Demps in the 2011 FCS playoff game at Old Dominion.
The Dukes added to their lead later in the period with a 15-yard TD pass from Billy Atkins to Thornton at the 8:48 mark. Kaelon Black tacked on a 1-yard TD run later in the quarter.
Sammy Malignaggi scored on a 1-yard TD run for the Dukes in the fourth quarter.
Six of JMU's nine scoring drives started in NSU territory.
JMU outgained the Spartans 462-212, holding NSU to 9 rushing yards. Thornton had seven catches for 102 yards, while Agyei-Obese ran for 88 and two scores.
The Spartans return home to face Hampton in the Battle of the Bay at 2 p.m. next Saturday at Dick Price Stadium.
