# 2004 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship Game

The 2004 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship Game was a postseason college football game between the James Madison Dukes and the Montana Grizzlies. The game was played on December 17, 2004, at Finley Stadium, home field of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. The culminating game of the 2004 NCAA Division I-AA football season, it was won by James Madison, 31–21.

## Teams

The participants of the Championship Game were the finalists of the 2004 I-AA Playoffs, which began with a 16-team bracket.

### James Madison Dukes

James Madison finished their regular season with a 9–2 record (7–1 in conference). One of their losses was to West Virginia of Division I-A. The Dukes, unseeded in the tournament, defeated Lehigh, second-seed Furman, and third-seed William & Mary to reach the final. This was the first appearance for James Madison in a Division I-AA championship game.

### Montana Grizzlies

Montana finished their regular season with a 9–2 record (6–1 in conference). The Grizzlies, also unseeded in the tournament, defeated Northwestern State, New Hampshire, and Sam Houston State to reach the final. This was the fifth appearance for Montana in a Division I-AA championship game; they had won in 1995 and 2001, and lost in 1996 and 2000.

## Game summary
### Scoring summary

Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | JMU | MONT |
| 1 | 10:08 | 11 | 71 | 4:52 | MONT | Jefferson Heidelberger 3-yard touchdown reception from Craig Ochs, Dan Carpenter kick good | 0 | 7 |
| 2 | 8:54 | 14 | 74 | 6:27 | JMU | 28-yard field goal by David Rabil | 3 | 7 |
| 2 | 0:16 | 13 | 71 | 5:05 | JMU | Maurice Fenner 1-yard touchdown run, Rabil kick good | 10 | 7 |
| 3 | 11:58 | 6 | 80 | 3:02 | JMU | Justin Rascati 11-yard touchdown run, Rabil kick good | 17 | 7 |
| 3 | 8:51 | 9 | 75 | 3:01 | MONT | Levander Segars 17-yard touchdown reception from Ochs, Carpenter kick good | 17 | 14 |
| 3 | 7:29 | 3 | 29 | 0:24 | MONT | Willie Walden 8-yard touchdown reception from Ochs, Carpenter kick good | 17 | 21 |
| 3 | 3:25 | 9 | 72 | 3:57 | JMU | Fenner 1-yard touchdown run, Rabil kick good | 24 | 21 |
| 4 | 8:00 | 16 | 80 | 7:05 | JMU | Rascati 6-yard touchdown run, Rabil kick good | 31 | 21 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 31 | 21 |

### Game statistics

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Dukes | 0 | 10 | 14 | 7 | 31 |
| Grizzlies | 7 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 21 |
| Statistics | JMU | MONT |
| First downs | 32 | 21 |
| Plays–yards | 79–446 | 61–415 |
| Rushes–yards | 61–314 | 23–44 |
| Passing yards | 132 | 371 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 13–18–0 | 29–38–1 |
| Time of possession | 36:13 | 23:47 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| James Madison | Passing | Justin Rascati | 13–18, 132 yds |
| James Madison | Rushing | Maurice Fenner | 29 car, 164 yds, 2 TD |
| James Madison | Receiving | Tom Ridley | 3 rec, 32 yds |
| Montana | Passing | Craig Ochs | 29–38, 371 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT |
| Montana | Rushing | Lex Hilliard | 12 car, 26 yds |
| Montana | Receiving | Jon Talmage | 6 rec, 84 yds |