James Madison Notches Record-Breaking Blowout of North Carolina

The Dukes scored a school-record 53 points in the first half against the Tar Heels.

James Madison Dukes linebacker Jacob Dobbs and linebacker Trent Hendrick celebrate in the first quarter of Saturday's game against North Carolina at Kenan Memorial Stadium. | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

The James Madison Dukes' game against North Carolina, its first against a Power 4 opponent this season, on Saturday figured to be a good litmus test of where the program is at under coach Bob Chesney in his first season at the helm.

And boy have the Dukes passed the test with flying colors, as they blew the doors off the Tar Heels with a record-breaking first half that saw them score a school-record 53 points en route to a 70-50 win.

College football fans, in awe of James Madison, took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to express their amazement at the Dukes' dominance.

First, there was the surprise onside kick that bounced off of a Tar Heels player right into the waiting hands of the Dukes.

James Madison out here playing CFB25 in real life @JMUBarstool pic.twitter.com/JpM7G3wCvw

— Barstool U (@BarstoolU) September 21, 2024

As the Dukes kept scoring, fans went over-the-top in their reactions.

James Madison needs to be in the ACC. They’re beating UNC like they’re an FCS school. Insane. pic.twitter.com/LkV2hOfJYx

— Big Game Boomer (@BigGameBoomer) September 21, 2024

James Madison might score 1776 points.

— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) September 21, 2024

Call this game the Federalist Papers, because James Madison is educating North Carolina in a convincing but super condescending manner.

— Bryan Mac (@Bry_Mac) September 21, 2024

It's really a shame that Mack Brown is being treated this way by his old friend James Madison. pic.twitter.com/KkF9fGQQhu

— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) September 21, 2024

North Carolina fans had seen enough after the first half.

#UNC’s student section is clearing out after a record breaking 53-21 first half from #JMU. pic.twitter.com/PebBg7bpHg

— Hayden Hundley (@HaydenHundley_) September 21, 2024

The Dukes' scoring onslaught was so overpowering that even the ACC Network couldn't take it anymore.

ACC Network bailed out just before James Madison hit 70 on UNC. pic.twitter.com/VzbLOteQG1

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 21, 2024

The second half only went slightly better for North Carolina, which outscored the Dukes 29-17. But the first half deficit was simply too much to overcome, and James Madison emerged with a 70-50 victory.

James Madison quarterback Alonza Barnett III authored a performance for the ages in the win, as he threw for 388 yards and five touchdowns while adding an additional 99 yards and two more scores on the ground.

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