BOONE – Three years after ending James Madison's perfect season in overtime, App State did it again Thursday night.
James London connected on a 40-yard field goal in overtime, and the Mountaineers knocked off previously unbeaten James Madison 34-31 before a sold-out crowd of 33,322 at Kidd Brewer Stadium, dealing a major blow to the Dukes' College Football Playoff aspirations.
The victory improved App State to 5-2 overall and 2-1 in Sun Belt Conference play while dropping James Madison to 7-1 and 4-1. The Dukes entered Thursday as one of just six remaining unbeaten teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision and a leading contender for the College Football Playoff berth reserved for the highest-ranked conference champion from the Group of Six.
The result carried a familiar sting for James Madison. In November 2023, App State traveled to Harrisonburg and handed a 10-0 JMU team its first loss, winning 26-23 in overtime. Nearly three years later, the Mountaineers delivered another setback to an undefeated Dukes squad, this time on their home field.
Thursday's finish was every bit as dramatic.
App State appeared headed for a regulation victory when Henry Hasselbeck found Luke Douglas for a 4-yard touchdown with 5:52 remaining, giving the Mountaineers their first lead of the night at 31-24. The touchdown came just 24 seconds after London had tied the game with a 36-yard field goal.
But James Madison responded with a 15-play, 71-yard drive that consumed nearly the entire remaining clock. Quarterback Camden Coleman capped the possession with a 6-yard touchdown run with just three seconds left, and Morgan Suarez added the extra point to force overtime at 31-31.
The Dukes had an opportunity to extend the game in the extra period, but Suarez missed a 47-yard field goal attempt. App State needed just three plays before turning to London, whose 40-yard kick completed the upset.
London finished a perfect 4-for-4 on field goals, connecting from 48, 27, 36 and 40 yards. His performance proved essential on a night when App State managed just 81 rushing yards against a James Madison defense that entered the contest allowing only 16 points per game.
The Mountaineers instead leaned heavily on quarterback Malachi Singleton, who completed 26 of 40 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. Singleton also delivered one of the game's most unusual scoring plays, catching his own 5-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter.
The touchdown and ensuing two-point conversion erased a 21-13 deficit, pulling App State even at 21-21 with 13:15 remaining.
Singleton's first touchdown pass came late in the second quarter, when he connected with Alexander Sanchez for a 19-yard score that cut James Madison's lead to 14-10 at halftime. Earlier in the period, London had put the Mountaineers on the scoreboard with a 48-yard field goal.
App State continued chipping away after halftime, using London's 27-yard field goal to pull within 14-13. James Madison answered with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Coleman to Cole Keller late in the third quarter, restoring an eight-point advantage.
The Dukes had controlled much of the early action. George Pettaway opened the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, and JC Evans connected with Braeden Wisloski for a 70-yard touchdown pass in the second.
James Madison finished with 423 yards of offense compared with 366 for App State, but the Mountaineers repeatedly found ways to keep the game within reach.
The App State defense limited a JMU rushing attack that entered the game averaging 223.7 yards per contest to just 92 yards on 30 carries. Pettaway, the Sun Belt's leading rusher entering Thursday, managed 57 yards on 15 attempts.
The Mountaineers also intercepted Coleman once, with Colton Phares recording the takeaway and returning it 21 yards. App State finished with seven points off turnovers while committing none of its own.
Coleman completed 22 of 39 passes for 232 yards and a touchdown, while Evans added 99 passing yards and another score in limited action. Together, the two quarterbacks accounted for 331 passing yards as James Madison attempted to preserve its unbeaten season.
For App State, Nate Branch led the receiving corps with six catches for 73 yards, while Sam Pickett III added six receptions for 63 yards. Chris Lofton caught four passes for 54 yards and a touchdown, and Jamel Howse contributed five receptions for 49 yards. Jaquari Lewis led the rushing attack with 74 yards on 13 carries.
The victory also continued an eventful stretch for the Mountaineers under second-year coach Dowell Loggains. After opening Sun Belt play with a 10-3 home loss to Old Dominion in difficult weather conditions, App State rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to beat Coastal Carolina 35-32 last Friday.
Six days later, the Mountaineers produced an even more consequential result against a James Madison program that entered the week leading the Sun Belt in both scoring offense and scoring defense.
The loss complicates the Dukes' path toward a conference championship and a potential College Football Playoff appearance, while App State moves back into contention in the Sun Belt East Division.
For the Mountaineers, the next challenge comes Oct. 31 at Georgia Southern. They will make that trip with consecutive conference victories and another overtime upset of an unbeaten James Madison team to add to the program's history.
.png)
