JMU quarterback receives unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for one missed tackle

James Madison beat the Charlotte 49ers 30-7 on Saturday. JMU quarterback Alonza Barnett III had 219 yards and two touchdowns passing and 89 yards rushing. He also committed one of the most glaring blunders in NCAA history.

After JMU’s first down in the fourth quarter, Barnett exchanged words with Charlotte’s Dre Butler. Butler shoved Barnett and he went flying. He put his hands up, fell and fell backward. Then he lunged again before linebacker Joseph Simmons stepped up to perform chest compressions.

The whole clip really puts Barnett’s stunts into perspective, as it turns out he was given an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, which offset Butler’s unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. It’s unclear whether it was for provoking the incident or for being blatantly wrong, but either way it was deserved.

James Madison’s next game will be against the Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs next Saturday. Tune in to ESPN+ to see if Barnett has recovered by then.