Safety Dance! It Was A "Safety Saturday" In College Football, But 2-Pointer Couldn't Help James Madison In OT Loss To App. State
Never was the 1982 hit "Safety Dance" by Men Without Hats playing more in college football, perhaps, than over a short time Saturday afternoon in three games.
James Madison took a 5-3 lead on a safety in its game against Appalachian State, which went on to win 26-23 in overtime. The Dukes lost for the first time all season to fall to 10-1. Appalachian State improved to 7-2.
Meanwhile, Iowa broke out to a 2-0 lead in its game against Illinois. And that deuce ended up being the difference in a 15-13 win for the Hawkeyes (9-2).
And No. 3 Michigan scored two safeties in the same game for the first time in two decades in its 31-24 victory at Maryland to go to 11-0 on the season.
James Madison defensive lineman Jamree Kromah tackled Appalachian State quarterback Joey Aguilar four yards deep in the end zone for the Dukes' safety with 6:56 left in the second quarter.
After falling behind 23-20 in overtime, App. State wide receiver Kaedin Robinson scored on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Aguilar for the win on a play that officials reviewed. Robinson fumbled, and James Madison recovered for what could have been a touchback and James Madison win. Officials stuck with the original call of a TD, however. And the game ended.
Even the James Madison radio crew upon seeing replays said that Robinson crossed the goal line with the ball before fumbling.
Baseball Scores At James Madison-App State, Iowa-Illinois
Iowa defensive end Joe Evans tackled Illinois quarterback Joe Paddock five yards deep in the end zone for a safety and the 2-0 lead with 11:24 to play in the first quarter.
Michigan took a 16-3 lead late in the first half when it blocked a Maryland punt out of the end zone for the two-pointer - the old-fashioned way. And the Wolverines make it 31-24 with 3:38 left on another team safety on their way to their 1,000th all-time victory.
You can dance, if you want to ... as the song says.