In a Rush, JMU Routs Towson for 10th Straight Victory and CAA Crown

Rodney Landers rushed for 117 yards and three touchdowns, and Griff Yancey ran for three scores as top-ranked James Madison clinched the Colonial Athletic Association title yesterday with a 58-27 rout of host Towson.

Eugene Holloman gained 131 yards on 15 carries for the Dukes (10-1, 8-0), who piled up 440 rushing yards to 18 by Towson (3-9, 1-7). James Madison recorded a season high in points and finished the regular season with 10 consecutive victories.

The Dukes will host a first-round playoff game next weekend. Seedings will be announced tonight.

Towson's Sean Schaefer was 27 for 48 for 315 yards and two touchdown passes to Tommy Breaux and rushed for another score in the Tigers' fifth straight loss. He finished his career with 11,644 passing yards -- eighth-most in division I-AA history.

Marcus Lee became Towson's career leading receiver with a second-quarter grab, the 220th of his career.

Landers scored on a 29-yard keeper on the game's first possession. After a 16-yard touchdown scamper by Damien Kinchen put Towson ahead, Landers directed a 13-play, 80-yard march capped by a five-yard touchdown pass to Mike Caussin for a 13-7 lead the Dukes never relinquished.

A blocked punt set up Landers's one-yard touchdown early in the second quarter and James Madison got a 43-yard field goal by Dave Stannard, a four-yard touchdown run by Yancey and a four-yard scoring run by Landers en route to a 37-13 halftime lead.

· DELAWARE STATE 10, HOWARD 6: The Hornets capitalized on two second-half interceptions in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference season finale for both teams.

Five plays after Mike Gable intercepted Howard's Floyd Haigler, Erick Jones's 15-yard touchdown reception from Anthony Glaud gave Delaware State a 7-6 lead with 2 minutes 49 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Jones caught it at the 8-yard line and juked three Howard defenders for a touchdown.

Haigler threw his 19th interception of the season to James Romain and, seven plays later, Riley Flickinger kicked a 28-yard field goal that gave Delaware State a 10-6 lead with 8:43 remaining.

The Bison (1-10, 0-8) took a 6-0 lead on Haigler's two-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Sherman with two minutes remaining in the second quarter.

Eddie Brown had seven receptions for 51 yards for Delaware State (8-2, 5-2).

Howard's Karlos Whittaker rushed for a season-high 95 yards on 31 carries.