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James Madison dominates North Carolina on the way to a historic first half with 53 points

James Madison University needed just two quarters of its game against North Carolina to make history, as the Dukes took a 53-21 lead into the second half of their Week 4 game against the Tar Heels.

According to TruMedia, the 53 points scored in two quarters are the most points the JMU football team has ever scored in a half, the most points UNC has ever allowed in a half and the most points allowed by a power conference team in the first half against a Group of 5 opponent since 2012.

In the third quarter, both teams quickly scored equal points and the Tar Heels reduced the Dukes' lead to 60-32.

The Dukes forced four turnovers in the first half, including a blocked punt that was returned for a touchdown and a pick-six. Those plays caused massive changes in an offensively-heavy first half, with JMU outgaining the Tar Heels 418 to 311 yards.

JMU quarterback Alonza Barnett III, a redshirt sophomore, entered halftime completing 14 of 21 passes for 288 yards and three passing touchdowns, along with another 64 rushing yards and two more touchdowns on the ground. Dukes running back George Pettaway, who transferred to JMU from North Carolina this offseason, had 10 carries for 65 yards in the first half.

JMU, a member of the Sun Belt, is in its third season at the FBS level and is fully eligible for the postseason for the first time after the two-year transition period. The Dukes finished the 2023 season 11-2 and first place in the Sun Belt East Division, but were ineligible for the conference championship game. JMU played in the Armed Forces Bowl due to a lack of eligible teams.

The Dukes started the season 2-0 under new head coach Bob Chesney, who was hired from Holy Cross. Former coach Curt Cignetti took the job at Indiana after five seasons, with 13 former JMU players following him through the transfer portal. Former quarterback Jordan McCloud, who was named the 2023 Sun Belt Player of the Year, transferred to Texas State. The Dukes have signed 64 new scholarship players this season following the coaching change.

North Carolina went into the duel with a 3-0 record, after wins over Minnesota, Charlotte and NC Central.

James Madison University is located in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The program has made a steady and purposeful climb into the Sun Belt and G5 over the past two decades, including a couple of FCS national championships, but the financial gap between JMU and an ACC team like North Carolina is wide. UNC's athletic revenue was $139.4 million last fiscal year, most of that — about $45 million — in ACC payouts. James Madison's athletic budget was $68 million in fiscal year 2023, which is one of the highest among G5 schools but less than half of what the Tar Heels brought in

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(Photo: Bob Donnan / Imagn Images)

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