James Madison scores a school-record 53 points in the first half in a 70-50 win over North Carolina

North Carolina entered Saturday’s game against James Madison with a 3-0 record. But how impressive that was with wins over Minnesota, Charlotte and North Carolina Central was questionable.

In fact, the Dukes answered that question once and for all, going into Chapel Hill as 12.5-point underdogs and stunning the Tar Heels 70-50. In a completely bananas game, both teams combined for over 1,000 yards of offense after three quarters and each team scored a touchdown on a blocked punt.

Quarterback Alonza Barnett III threw for 388 yards and five touchdowns, adding 99 yards on eight carries with two more scores to lead James Madison (3-0). Receivers Omarion Dollison caught three passes for 125 yards and a touchdown, while Cam Ross had seven receptions for 107 yards and a score. George Pettaway added 87 yards rushing.

North Carolina appeared to redeem itself by taking a 14-11 lead late in the first quarter on a 28-yard TD run by Omarion Hampton. But the Dukes quickly regained the lead, 18-14, with Barnett and Dollison connecting on a 69-yard scoring pass.

JMU coach Bob Chesney remained aggressive by calling for an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff, which the Dukes recovered. Two plays later, Barnett hit Dollison for a 50-yard pass, setting up a two-yard TD run by the sophomore QB and a 25-14 lead.

The Tar Heels cut the deficit to 25-21 on their next possession, capping a 75-yard drive with a Jacolby Criswell scoring pass to Bryson Nesbit. Still, the defense couldn’t stop it, allowing the Dukes to put together a 75-yard drive of their own that ended with a six-yard TD throw to Ross.

Criswell threw for 474 yards in a losing effort, with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Kobe Paysour had four receptions for 93 yards and JJ Jones added five catches for 86 yards. Hampton led the Tar Heels with 139 yards rushing and three scores.

James Madison added two more touchdowns before halftime, one on a pick 6, to enter the locker room with a 53-21 lead. That’s the most points JMU has ever scored in a half and the most North Carolina has ever allowed in a half.

UNC scored a touchdown late in the third and added two in the fourth to presumably make the final score less embarrassing. Still, the Dukes scored again — giving Barnett five TD passes for the day — to put 70 points on the Kenan Memorial Stadium scoreboard.

Next Saturday, UNC travels to Duke for a 4:00 p.m. ET kickoff. James Madison hosts Ball State at 1:00 p.m. ET.