This article is about the Division I-AA (now FCS) championship game. For the Division I-A (now FBS) championship game, see
2004 Sugar Bowl .
The 2004 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship Game was a postseason college football game between the James Madison Dukes and the Montana Grizzlies . The game was played on December 17, 2004, at Finley Stadium , home field of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga . The culminating game of the 2004 NCAA Division I-AA football season , it was won by James Madison, 31–21.
Teams The participants of the Championship Game were the finalists of the 2004 I-AA Playoffs , which began with a 16-team bracket .
James Madison Dukes James Madison finished their regular season with a 9–2 record (7–1 in conference). One of their losses was to West Virginia of Division I-A. The Dukes, unseeded in the tournament, defeated Lehigh , second-seed Furman , and third-seed William & Mary to reach the final. This was the first appearance for James Madison in a Division I-AA championship game.
Montana Grizzlies Montana finished their regular season with a 9–2 record (6–1 in conference). The Grizzlies, also unseeded in the tournament, defeated Northwestern State , New Hampshire , and Sam Houston State to reach the final. This was the fifth appearance for Montana in a Division I-AA championship game; they had won in 1995 and 2001, and lost in 1996 and 2000.
Game summary
Scoring summary Scoring summary Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP JMU MONT 1 10:08 11 71 4:52 MONT Jefferson Heidelberger 3-yard touchdown reception from Craig Ochs , Dan Carpenter kick good 0 7 2 8:54 14 74 6:27 JMU 28-yard field goal by David Rabil 3 7 2 0:16 13 71 5:05 JMU Maurice Fenner 1-yard touchdown run, Rabil kick good 10 7 3 11:58 6 80 3:02 JMU Justin Rascati 11-yard touchdown run, Rabil kick good 17 7 3 8:51 9 75 3:01 MONT Levander Segars 17-yard touchdown reception from Ochs, Carpenter kick good 17 14 3 7:29 3 29 0:24 MONT Willie Walden 8-yard touchdown reception from Ochs, Carpenter kick good 17 21 3 3:25 9 72 3:57 JMU Fenner 1-yard touchdown run, Rabil kick good 24 21 4 8:00 16 80 7:05 JMU Rascati 6-yard touchdown run, Rabil kick good 31 21 "TOP" = time of possession . For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football . 31 21
[ 1] [ 2] [ 3] [ 4]
Game statistics Total Dukes 0 10 14 7 31 Grizzlies 7 0 14 0 21
Montana running back Lex Hilliard Statistics JMU MONT First downs 32 21 Plays–yards 79–446 61–415 Rushes–yards 61–314 23–44 Passing yards 132 371 Passing: comp –att –int 13–18–0 29–38–1 Time of possession 36:13 23:47
Team Category Player Statistics James Madison Passing Justin Rascati 13–18, 132 yds Rushing Maurice Fenner 29 car, 164 yds, 2 TD Receiving Tom Ridley 3 rec, 32 yds Montana Passing Craig Ochs 29–38, 371 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT Rushing Lex Hilliard 12 car, 26 yds Receiving Jon Talmage 6 rec, 84 yds
[ 1] [ 2]
References ^ a b c "James Madison vs Montana" . ncaa.org . December 17, 2004. Retrieved February 1, 2019 .^ a b c "Dukes 31, Grizzlies 21 (box score)" . Great Falls Tribune Great Falls, Montana . December 18, 2004. p. 7S. Retrieved January 31, 2019 – via newspapers.com.^ Hartlaub, Ron (December 18, 2004). "Dukes" . The News Leader Staunton, Virginia . p. B5. Retrieved February 1, 2019 – via newspapers.com. ^ Geise, George (December 18, 2004). "Griz: Penalties hurt Montana" . Great Falls Tribune Great Falls, Montana . p. 6S. Retrieved February 1, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
Further reading
External links
Games through 2009 were played in December. Subsequent games have been played in January (*) or May (†).
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons National championship seasons in bold
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture and lore People Seasons National championship seasons in bold
2004–05 NCAA Division I championships
† Not an officially sanctioned NCAA championship
