James Madison Dukes outlasted a late Georgia Southern Eagles surge on the road, winning 27-24 to stay unbeaten.

The final score was James Madison Dukes 27, Georgia Southern Eagles 24. James Madison moves to 6-0 on the season, while Georgia Southern falls to 2-4.

This one came down to the last few minutes, with Georgia Southern clawing back from a ten-point third-quarter deficit before James Madison's defense made the stop that mattered.

Box score

TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4Final
James Madison Dukes3314727
Georgia Southern Eagles7301424

See full player stats and game details

How it turned

Georgia Southern led 7-3 after the first quarter and still led 10-6 at halftime, getting touchdown passes from Max Johnson to T. Bradshaw and a field goal from T. Bryant, with James Madison answering both times with field goals from M. Suarez.

The third quarter flipped the game. James Madison scored fourteen unanswered points, a 2-yard touchdown pass from C. Coleman to J. Harrison and a 57-yard touchdown strike from JC Evans to C. Keller, and took a 20-10 lead into the fourth.

Georgia Southern did not go quietly. Johnson threw touchdown passes to T. Todd and A. Greene Jr. in the fourth quarter to pull within field-goal range of the lead, but James Madison answered with a JC Evans touchdown pass to KD Mosley that proved to be the game-winner, with James Madison holding on 27-24.

Scoring plays

  • Q1 12:33 GASO: M. Johnson pass to T. Bradshaw for 18 yds, for a TD (T. Bryant KICK)
  • Q1 0:54 JMU: M. Suarez 33 yd FG GOOD
  • Q2 3:25 GASO: T. Bryant 28 yd FG GOOD
  • Q2 0:06 JMU: M. Suarez 21 yd FG GOOD
  • Q3 13:16 JMU: C. Coleman pass to J. Harrison for 2 yds, for a TD (M. Suarez KICK)
  • Q3 7:48 JMU: JC Evans pass to C. Keller for 57 yds, for a TD (M. Suarez KICK)
  • Q4 12:50 GASO: M. Johnson pass to T. Todd for 25 yds, for a TD (T. Bryant KICK)
  • Q4 5:27 JMU: JC Evans pass to KD Mosley for 1 yd, for a TD (M. Suarez KICK)
  • Q4 2:27 GASO: M. Johnson pass to A. Greene Jr. for 6 yds, for a TD (T. Bryant KICK)

Top performers

James Madison leaned on its ground game and its tight end. George Pettaway carried 21 times for 151 yards, and Cole Keller caught four passes for 108 yards and a touchdown, including that 57-yard score. Camden Coleman went 16 of 27 for 171 yards and a touchdown through the air.

Georgia Southern's offense put up big numbers through the air but it wasn't enough. Max Johnson threw for 343 yards and three touchdowns on 26-of-38 passing, though he was picked off once. Josh Dallas hauled in eight catches for 111 yards, and Jeremiah Ware added a 50-yard reception.

Top performers

James Madison Dukes

  • Camden Coleman (QB) — 16/27, 171 yds, 1 TD, 0 INT
  • George Pettaway (RB) — 21 car, 151 yds, 0 TD
  • Seth Cromwell (RB) — 9 car, 40 yds, 0 TD
  • Cole Keller (TE) — 4 rec, 108 yds, 1 TD
  • Michael Scott (WR) — 4 rec, 68 yds, 0 TD
  • Jayon Harvey (S) — 9 tkl, 0 sck, 0 INT

Georgia Southern Eagles

  • Max Johnson (QB) — 26/38, 343 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT
  • Tyrese Woodgett (RB) — 11 car, 65 yds, 0 TD
  • Terrance Gibbs (RB) — 5 car, 24 yds, 0 TD
  • Josh Dallas (WR) — 8 rec, 111 yds, 0 TD
  • Jeremiah Ware (WR) — 1 rec, 50 yds, 0 TD
  • Aaron Sears (DB) — 11 tkl, 0 sck, 0 INT

Team stats

StatJames Madison DukesGeorgia Southern Eagles
Total yards438465
Passing18/29, 229 yds26/40, 343 yds
Rushing48 att, 209 yds25 att, 122 yds
Turnovers22
Sacks03

What's next

James Madison Dukes host Georgia State Panthers on Saturday, October 17, 2026.

Georgia Southern Eagles travel to face Old Dominion Monarchs on Thursday, October 15, 2026.

What's next

  • James Madison Dukes (6-0) — vs Georgia State Panthers, Saturday, October 17, 2026
  • Georgia Southern Eagles (2-4) — at Old Dominion Monarchs, Thursday, October 15, 2026

In this story

Written by Cole Saturday, an AI analyst, from News Hub Fantasy data (schedule, scores and box scores), and checked against that data before it published automatically. Read how we use AI in our editorial standards.