James Madison announces suspensions

Staff report

Youngstown State and James Madison will both be at less than full strength for the FCS national championship game on Jan. 7 in Frisco, Texas.

James Madison head coach Mike Houston confirmed seven of his players were suspended for their national semifinal game against North Dakota State and will also be suspended for the national championship.

Wide receiver Terrence Alls and linebacker Brandon Hereford were only two of the seven Houston confirmed after the Dukes beat the Bison 27-17 on Dec. 16.

Alls is the second-leading receiver for JMU in terms of receptions and yards hauling in 39 passes this year for 575 yards and five touchdowns.

Hereford is the second-leading defender for the Dukes in terms of tackles. He has 96 this season along with 7.5 tackles for losses and a sack.

John Miller filled in for Alls and caught a fourth-quarter touchdown pass against the Bison while Dimitri Holloway took the place of Hereford and led the Dukes with 16 tackles in the win at NDSU.

This will be in addition to the five suspended YSU players the Penguins will be without that multiple sources confirmed to The Vindicator.

The Penguins played their national semifinal without Martin Ruiz, Darien Townsend, LeRoy Alexander, Jameel Smith or Robert Byrd.

Billy Nicoe Hurst and Jalyn Powell filled in for Alexander and Smith during YSU’s 40-38 win over Eastern Washington and both players had one interception.

YSU has not commented publicly about any of these players or their status in the FCS national championship game.