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James Madison vs. Air Force

Saturday, December 23, 2023, Armed Forces Bowl

Air Force beat No. 24 James Madison 31–⁠21. It was their only meeting on record.

Neutral site24James Madison11–⁠2 in 2023
21
Neutral siteAir Force9–⁠4 in 2023
31

Final at Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort WorthTV: ABC, ESPN+Attendance 30,828

MVP Emmanuel Michel (RB, Air Force)Wikipedia

At kickoff
63°F, overcast, mist, wind 8 mph from the southeastWeather: NOAA NCEI Integrated Surface Database; Fort Worth Naval Air Station Jrb/Carswell Field (KNFW), 10 km from the stadium, 22 minutes after kickoff
Official
Nate BlackGame officials: stats.ncaa.org box scores, via SportsDataverse

Scoring by quarter

TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4Final
James Madison707721
Air Force7147331

Standouts

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, free licenses; credits on each player’s page.

Player stats

James Madison

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Jordan McCloud20/3325731
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Kaelon Black1143015
Latrele Palmer320012
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Elijah Sarratt8115027
Phoenix Sproles555218
Reggie Brown244027
Kaelon Black434124
DefenseTklTFLSacksInt
Aiden Fisher17000
Jamree Kromah8000
Devyn Coles7200
Jacob Thomas7000

Air Force

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Zachary Larrier3/54510
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Emmanuel Michel35203254
John Lee Eldridge III878051
Zachary Larrier92617
Aiden Calvert217010
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Jared Roznos142142
Caleb Rillos1606
DefenseTklTFLSacksInt
Jamari Bellamy6100
Bo Richter54.530
Jayden Goodwin40.500
Alec Mock4000
Johnathan Youngblood3001
Peyton Zdroik2210

From CollegeFootballData’s box score. Names lead to each player’s page. ★ a career high on file.

Team stats

James MadisonAir Force
283Total yards396
257Passing yards45
26Rushing yards351
7.8Yards per pass9.0
1.4Yards per rush5.6
16First downs18
4–⁠11Third downs8–⁠15
1–⁠1Fourth downs2–⁠3
1Turnovers0
3–⁠10Penalties0–⁠0
23:09Possession36:51
0Sacks (by defense)4

Efficiency

James MadisonAir Force
44%Success rate43%
0.18EPA per play0.25
1.41Explosiveness1.26
−0.19Rushing EPA0.24
0.35Passing EPA0.34
41%Passing-down success17%
0.28First-down EPA−0.11
−0.23Second-down EPA0.39
0.17Third-down EPA0.76
7%Havoc by its defense25%

From CollegeFootballData.com: each offense’s efficiency, and the havoc each defense caused. The better side of each line is bold.

Before kickoff

Our ratings and the line, going in

Our ratings (scores only)

James Madison 70% to win. Air Force won as Elo’s underdog.

The line

Air Force −2.5, over/under 43.5.

The last line on file before kickoff: the consensus line when the books publish one, otherwise a single major sportsbook’s.

Before kickoff, the win chances were Air Force 57%, James Madison 43%. CollegeFootballData.com’s estimate from the point spread.

Every drive

Air Force end zoneJames Madison end zoneQ1 James MadisonPunt, 4 playsQ1 Air ForceTouchdown, 8 playsQ1 James MadisonTouchdown, 7 playsQ1 Air ForcePunt, 7 playsQ1 James MadisonInterception, 8 playsQ2 Air ForceTouchdown, 7 playsQ2 James MadisonPunt, 6 playsQ2 Air ForcePunt, 3 playsQ2 James MadisonPunt, 3 playsQ2 Air ForcePunt, 3 playsQ2 James MadisonPunt, 3 playsQ2 Air ForceTouchdown, 2 playsQ2 James MadisonEnd of half, 1 playQ3 Air ForceTurnover on downs, 7 playsQ3 James MadisonTouchdown, 5 playsQ3 Air ForceTouchdown, 9 playsQ3 James MadisonPunt, 3 playsQ3 Air ForceField goal, 17 playsQ4 James MadisonTouchdown, 12 playsQ4 Air ForceEnd of game, 6 plays
Solid bars scored; an outline in the other team’s color marks points the defense scored. Air Force drives left to right, James Madison right to left.
  1. Q1 James MadisonPunt, 4 plays, 19 yards
  2. Q1 Air ForceTouchdown, 8 plays, 86 yards
  3. Q1 James MadisonTouchdown, 7 plays, 75 yards
  4. Q1 Air ForcePunt, 7 plays, 10 yards
  5. Q1 James MadisonInterception, 8 plays, 56 yards
  6. Q2 Air ForceTouchdown, 7 plays, 72 yards
  7. Q2 James MadisonPunt, 6 plays, 14 yards
  8. Q2 Air ForcePunt, 3 plays, 1 yard
  9. Q2 James MadisonPunt, 3 plays, −2 yards
  10. Q2 Air ForcePunt, 3 plays, 6 yards
  11. Q2 James MadisonPunt, 3 plays, −4 yards
  12. Q2 Air ForceTouchdown, 2 plays, 46 yards
  13. Q2 James MadisonEnd of half, 1 play, −2 yards
  14. Q3 Air ForceTurnover on downs, 7 plays, 26 yards
  15. Q3 James MadisonTouchdown, 5 plays, 51 yards
  16. Q3 Air ForceTouchdown, 9 plays, 75 yards
  17. Q3 James MadisonPunt, 3 plays, −4 yards
  18. Q3 Air ForceField goal, 17 plays, 49 yards
  19. Q4 James MadisonTouchdown, 12 plays, 70 yards
  20. Q4 Air ForceEnd of game, 6 plays, 25 yards

Play by play

1st quarter5 drives, then Tied at 7
James Madison Punt, 4 plays
14:541st & 10 at own 35Reagan Tubbs kickoff for 62 yds , DJ Barksdale return for 22 yds to the JMU 25
14:301st & 10 at own 25Jordan McCloud pass complete to Elijah Sarratt for 10 yds to the JMU 35 for a 1ST down
14:001st & 10 at own 35Jordan McCloud pass complete to Elijah Sarratt for 8 yds to the JMU 43
13:302nd & 2 at own 43Kaelon Black run for 1 yd to the JMU 44
13:003rd & 1 at own 44Kaelon Black run for no gain to the JMU 44
12:414th & 1 at own 44Ryan Hanson punt for 42 yds, fair catch by Dane Kinamon at the AFA 14
Air Force Touchdown, 8 plays
12:251st & 10 at own 14Emmanuel Michel run for 54 yds to the JMU 32 for a 1ST down
11:501st & 10 at opp 32Emmanuel Michel run for 6 yds to the JMU 26
11:102nd & 4 at opp 26Emmanuel Michel run for 4 yds to the JMU 22 for a 1ST down
10:351st & 10 at opp 22Dylan Carson run for 9 yds to the JMU 13
10:102nd & 1 at opp 13Dylan Carson run for 5 yds to the JMU 8 for a 1ST down
9:231st & goal at opp 8Zac Larrier run for 6 yds to the JMU 2
8:402nd & goal at opp 2Emmanuel Michel run for 1 yd to the JMU 1
8:113rd & goal at opp 1Emmanuel Michel run for 1 yd for a TD (Matthew Dapore KICK)Air Force 7, James Madison 0
James Madison Touchdown, 7 plays
8:113rd & 3 at own 35Reagan Tubbs kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
8:001st & 10 at own 25Kaelon Black run for a loss of 1 yard to the JMU 24
7:202nd & 11 at own 24Jordan McCloud pass complete to Phoenix Sproles for 10 yds to the JMU 34
6:503rd & 1 at own 34Jordan McCloud pass complete to Elijah Sarratt for 7 yds to the JMU 41 for a 1ST down
6:151st & 10 at own 41Jordan McCloud pass complete to Elijah Sarratt for 27 yds to the AFA 32 for a 1ST down
5:441st & 10 at opp 32Jordan McCloud pass incomplete
5:352nd & 10 at opp 32Kaelon Black run for 14 yds to the AFA 18 for a 1ST down
5:001st & 10 at opp 18Jordan McCloud pass complete to Phoenix Sproles for 18 yds for a TD (Camden Wise KICK)Tied at 7
Air Force Punt, 7 plays
5:001st & 10 at own 35Connor Madden kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
4:501st & 10 at own 25Owen Burk run for 3 yds to the AFA 28
4:102nd & 7 at own 28Owen Burk run for 5 yds to the AFA 33
3:303rd & 2 at own 33Emmanuel Michel run for 1 yd to the AFA 34
3:104th & 1 at own 34Emmanuel Michel run for 3 yds to the AFA 37 for a 1ST down
2:301st & 10 at own 37Zac Larrier run for 3 yds to the AFA 40
1:402nd & 7 at own 40John Lee Eldridge III run for a loss of 5 yards to the AFA 35
1:163rd & 12 at own 35Zac Larrier pass incomplete
1:034th & 12 at own 35Luke Freer punt for 45 yds, downed at the JMU 20
James Madison Interception, 8 plays
0:501st & 10 at own 20Latrele Palmer run for 12 yds to the JMU 32 for a 1ST down
0:201st & 10 at own 32Jordan McCloud pass complete to Zach Horton for 9 yds to the JMU 41
0:102nd & 1 at own 41Jordan McCloud pass complete to Phoenix Sproles for 4 yds to the JMU 45 for a 1ST down
Q2 14:301st & 10 at own 45Jordan McCloud pass complete to Elijah Sarratt for 17 yds to the AFA 38 for a 1ST down
Q2 14:101st & 10 at opp 38Jordan McCloud pass complete to Phoenix Sproles for 16 yds to the AFA 22 for a 1ST down
Q2 13:401st & 10 at opp 22James Madison Penalty, False Start (-5 Yards) to the AFA 27
Q2 13:001st & 15 at opp 27Kaelon Black run for 5 yds to the AFA 22
Q2 12:342nd & 10 at opp 22Kaelon Black run for a loss of 2 yards to the AFA 24
Q2 11:573rd & 12 at opp 24Jordan McCloud pass intercepted Johnathan Youngblood return for no gain to the AFA 28
2nd quarter8 drives, then Air Force 21, James Madison 7
Air Force Touchdown, 7 plays
11:501st & 10 at own 28Emmanuel Michel run for 3 yds to the AFA 31
11:152nd & 7 at own 31Aiden Calvert run for 7 yds to the AFA 38 for a 1ST down
10:371st & 10 at own 38Emmanuel Michel run for 3 yds to the AFA 41
10:002nd & 7 at own 41Emmanuel Michel run for 3 yds to the AFA 44
9:003rd & 4 at own 44John Lee Eldridge III run for 51 yds to the JMU 5 for a 1ST down
8:201st & goal at opp 5Emmanuel Michel run for 4 yds to the JMU 1
7:512nd & goal at opp 1Emmanuel Michel run for 1 yd for a TD (Matthew Dapore KICK)Air Force 14, James Madison 7
James Madison Punt, 6 plays
7:462nd & 6 at own 35Reagan Tubbs kickoff for 61 yds , DJ Barksdale return for 19 yds to the JMU 23
7:401st & 10 at own 23Latrele Palmer run for 6 yds to the JMU 29
7:032nd & 4 at own 29Jordan McCloud sacked by Bo Richter for a loss of 9 yards to the JMU 20 James Madison Penalty, Intentional Grounding (Yards) to the JMU 20
6:533rd & 13 at own 20Jordan McCloud pass complete to Reggie Brown for 17 yds to the JMU 37 for a 1ST down
6:251st & 10 at own 37Jordan McCloud pass incomplete
6:172nd & 10 at own 37Jordan McCloud pass incomplete
6:133rd & 10 at own 37Jordan McCloud pass incomplete
6:064th & 10 at own 37Ryan Hanson punt for 38 yds, fair catch by Dane Kinamon at the AFA 25
Air Force Punt, 3 plays
6:001st & 10 at own 25John Lee Eldridge III run for a loss of 5 yards to the AFA 20
5:252nd & 15 at own 20Dane Kinamon run for a loss of 1 yard to the AFA 19
4:403rd & 16 at own 19Zac Larrier run for 7 yds to the AFA 26
4:124th & 9 at own 26Luke Freer punt for 44 yds, fair catch by Josh Sarratt at the JMU 30
James Madison Punt, 3 plays
4:051st & 10 at own 30Jordan McCloud pass complete to Kaelon Black for 6 yds to the JMU 36
3:372nd & 4 at own 36Jordan McCloud pass incomplete
3:003rd & 4 at own 36Jordan McCloud sacked by Bo Richter for a loss of 8 yards to the JMU 28 Jordan McCloud fumbled, forced by Bo Richter, recovered by JMU Jordan McCloud , return for 0 yards
2:454th & 12 at own 28Ryan Hanson punt for 47 yds, fair catch by Dane Kinamon at the AFA 25
Air Force Punt, 3 plays
2:151st & 10 at own 25Emmanuel Michel run for 3 yds to the AFA 28
2:002nd & 7 at own 28Emmanuel Michel run for 1 yd to the AFA 29
1:593rd & 6 at own 29Timeout James Madison, clock 01:59
1:533rd & 6 at own 29Zac Larrier run for 2 yds to the AFA 31
1:534th & 4 at own 31Timeout James Madison, clock 01:53
1:424th & 4 at own 31Luke Freer punt for 53 yds, downed at the JMU 16
James Madison Punt, 3 plays
1:301st & 10 at own 16Jordan McCloud pass complete to Kaelon Black for a loss of 1 yard to the JMU 15
0:512nd & 11 at own 15Jordan McCloud pass incomplete
0:473rd & 11 at own 15Kaelon Black run for a loss of 3 yards to the JMU 12
0:384th & 14 at own 12Ryan Hanson punt for 34 yds, downed at the JMU 46
Air Force Touchdown, 2 plays
0:331st & 10 at opp 46Zac Larrier run for 4 yds to the JMU 42
0:332nd & 6 at opp 42Timeout Air Force, clock 00:33
0:272nd & 6 at opp 42Zac Larrier pass complete to Jared Roznos for 42 yds for a TD (Matthew Dapore KICK)Air Force 21, James Madison 7
James Madison End of half, 1 play
0:182nd & 6 at own 35Reagan Tubbs kickoff for 61 yds , DJ Barksdale return for 18 yds to the JMU 22
0:051st & 10 at own 22TEAM run for a loss of 2 yards to the JMU 20
3rd quarter5 drives, then Air Force 28, James Madison 14
Air Force Turnover on downs, 7 plays
15:001st & 10 at own 35Connor Madden kickoff for 63 yds for a touchback
14:551st & 10 at own 25Emmanuel Michel run for 3 yds to the AFA 28
14:102nd & 7 at own 28Emmanuel Michel run for 5 yds to the AFA 33
13:403rd & 2 at own 33Emmanuel Michel run for 9 yds to the AFA 42 for a 1ST down
13:051st & 10 at own 42Emmanuel Michel run for 4 yds to the AFA 46
12:302nd & 6 at own 46Emmanuel Michel run for 2 yds to the AFA 48
11:503rd & 4 at own 48Emmanuel Michel run for 3 yds to the JMU 49
11:074th & 1 at opp 49Emmanuel Michel run for no gain to the JMU 49
James Madison Touchdown, 5 plays
10:591st & 10 at own 49Jordan McCloud pass complete to Elijah Sarratt for 17 yds to the AFA 34 for a 1ST down
10:201st & 10 at opp 34Jordan McCloud pass complete to Reggie Brown for 27 yds to the AFA 7 for a 1ST down
9:451st & goal at opp 7Latrele Palmer run for 2 yds to the AFA 5
9:162nd & goal at opp 5Jordan McCloud pass incomplete
9:113rd & goal at opp 5Jordan McCloud pass complete to Kaelon Black for 5 yds for a TD (Camden Wise KICK)Air Force 21, James Madison 14
Air Force Touchdown, 9 plays
9:113rd & 8 at own 35Connor Madden kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
9:051st & 10 at own 25Zac Larrier pass complete to John Lee Eldridge III for a loss of 3 yards to the AFA 22
8:262nd & 13 at own 22John Lee Eldridge III run for 17 yds to the AFA 39 for a 1ST down
7:591st & 10 at own 39Aiden Calvert run for 10 yds to the AFA 49 for a 1ST down
7:161st & 10 at own 49Emmanuel Michel run for no gain to the AFA 49
6:412nd & 10 at own 49Zac Larrier pass complete to Caleb Rillos for 6 yds to the JMU 45
6:073rd & 4 at opp 45John Lee Eldridge III run for 8 yds to the JMU 37 for a 1ST down
5:301st & 10 at opp 37Emmanuel Michel run for 5 yds to the JMU 32
4:452nd & 5 at opp 32Emmanuel Michel run for 31 yds to the JMU 1 for a 1ST down
4:071st & goal at opp 1Zac Larrier run for 1 yd for a TD (Matthew Dapore KICK)Air Force 28, James Madison 14
James Madison Punt, 3 plays
4:021st & 10 at own 35Reagan Tubbs kickoff for 60 yds , DJ Barksdale return for 19 yds to the JMU 24
3:551st & 10 at own 24Jordan McCloud pass incomplete
3:432nd & 10 at own 24Jordan McCloud sacked by Payton Zdroik for a loss of 4 yards to the JMU 20
3:113rd & 14 at own 20Jordan McCloud pass incomplete
3:054th & 14 at own 20Ryan Hanson punt for 38 yds, fair catch by Dane Kinamon at the AFA 42
Air Force Field goal, 17 plays
3:001st & 10 at own 42Emmanuel Michel run for 2 yds to the AFA 44
2:152nd & 8 at own 44John Lee Eldridge III run for 4 yds to the AFA 48
1:373rd & 4 at own 48Zac Larrier run for 3 yds to the JMU 49
1:004th & 1 at opp 49Zac Larrier run for 1 yd to the JMU 48 for a 1ST down
0:461st & 10 at opp 48Zac Larrier pass incomplete
0:352nd & 10 at opp 48John Lee Eldridge III run for 6 yds to the JMU 42
Q4 14:503rd & 4 at opp 42Emmanuel Michel run for 6 yds to the JMU 36 for a 1ST down
Q4 14:101st & 10 at opp 36Emmanuel Michel run for 5 yds to the JMU 31
Q4 13:302nd & 5 at opp 31Emmanuel Michel run for 1 yd to the JMU 30
Q4 12:553rd & 4 at opp 30Dane Kinamon run for 5 yds to the JMU 25 for a 1ST down
Q4 12:201st & 10 at opp 25Emmanuel Michel run for 2 yds to the JMU 23
Q4 11:402nd & 8 at opp 23John Lee Eldridge III run for 2 yds to the JMU 21
Q4 11:053rd & 6 at opp 21Emmanuel Michel run for 7 yds to the JMU 14 for a 1ST down
Q4 10:201st & 10 at opp 14Emmanuel Michel run for 1 yd to the JMU 13
Q4 9:352nd & 9 at opp 13Dane Kinamon run for 5 yds to the JMU 8
Q4 9:003rd & 4 at opp 8Zac Larrier run for a loss of 1 yard to the JMU 9
Q4 8:204th & 5 at opp 9Matthew Dapore 26 yd FG GOODAir Force 31, James Madison 14
4th quarter2 drives, then Air Force 31, James Madison 21
James Madison Touchdown, 12 plays
8:154th & 5 at own 35Reagan Tubbs kickoff for 54 yds , Que Reid return for 19 yds to the JMU 30
8:051st & 10 at own 30Kaelon Black run for 15 yds to the JMU 45 for a 1ST down
7:351st & 10 at own 45Kaelon Black run for a loss of 1 yard to the JMU 44
6:552nd & 11 at own 44Jordan McCloud pass complete to Elijah Sarratt for 12 yds to the AFA 44 for a 1ST down
6:301st & 10 at opp 44Kaelon Black run for 4 yds to the AFA 40
5:552nd & 6 at opp 40Jordan McCloud sacked by Bo Richter for a loss of 14 yards to the JMU 46
5:203rd & 20 at own 46Kaelon Black run for 11 yds to the AFA 43
5:074th & 9 at opp 43James Madison Penalty, False Start (-5 Yards) to the AFA 48
4:544th & 14 at opp 48Timeout James Madison, clock 04:54
4:404th & 14 at opp 48Jordan McCloud pass complete to Kaelon Black for 24 yds to the AFA 24 for a 1ST down
4:091st & 10 at opp 24Jordan McCloud pass incomplete
4:032nd & 10 at opp 24Jordan McCloud pass incomplete
3:563rd & 10 at opp 24Jordan McCloud pass complete to Elijah Sarratt for 17 yds to the AFA 7 for a 1ST down
3:141st & goal at opp 7Jordan McCloud pass incomplete
3:102nd & goal at opp 7Jordan McCloud pass complete to Phoenix Sproles for 7 yds for a TD (Camden Wise KICK)Air Force 31, James Madison 21
Air Force End of game, 6 plays
3:092nd & 10 at own 35Ryan Hanson on-side kick recovered by Air Force at the AFA 48
3:041st & 10 at own 48Emmanuel Michel run for 3 yds to the JMU 49
2:222nd & 7 at opp 49Timeout Air Force, clock 02:22
2:152nd & 7 at opp 49Emmanuel Michel run for 13 yds to the JMU 36 for a 1ST down
2:081st & 10 at opp 36Timeout James Madison, clock 02:08
2:051st & 10 at opp 36TEAM run for a loss of 2 yards to the JMU 38
2:052nd & 12 at opp 38Timeout James Madison, clock 02:05
2:002nd & 12 at opp 38Emmanuel Michel run for 8 yds to the JMU 30
1:203rd & 4 at opp 30Emmanuel Michel run for 5 yds to the JMU 25 for a 1ST down
0:401st & 10 at opp 25TEAM run for a loss of 2 yards to the JMU 27

Play-by-play from CollegeFootballData.com, as its scorers wrote it. The clock is the time left in the quarter; the spot is from the side of the team with the ball.

The series

Every James Madison–Air Force game

Air Force leads 1–⁠0 in their only meeting.

Around this game

James Madison

Air Force