After a two-game road trip, Liberty returns to Williams Stadium this week to take on JMU on Saturday, September 20. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET and will be carried on ESPNU.
For the first time in over a decade, Liberty and James Madison will meet on a football field this weekend. The Flames and Dukes have both made the move up to the FBS from the FCS ranks in recent seasons and both have had their share of success. Now, the teams get to decide the game on the field in the Battle of the Blue Ridge as a trophy will be played for. This is the first of 10 scheduled meetings between the two programs over the next 15 years.
Bob Chesney is in his second season at the helm for the Dukes. He guided them to a 9-4 season last year and 4-4 mark in the Sun Belt. James Madison defeated Western Kentucky, 27-17, to win the Boca Raton Bowl this past December. So far this season, Chesney and JMU are 1-1 with a win over Weber State (45-10) and loss at Louisville (28-14). They enter this week rested after an open date with 15 days between their previous game and when they take the field in Lynchburg on Saturday.
Alonza Barnett started 12 games at quarterback for JMU last year before suffering a serious leg injury in the regular season finale. He was one of the top quarterbacks in the Sun Belt, completing 213 of 355 pass attempts (60%) for 2,598 yards and 26 touchdowns with four interceptions. He also had 135 carries for 442 rushing yards and a team-best seven rushing touchdowns. Barnett was expected to miss the first part of the 2025 season as he recovered from his injury, but he had a remarkable recovery and has returned to the field these past two games, completing 29 of 47 passes (61.7%) for 232 yards and two touchdowns. He has 12 carries for 40 yards and a touchdown.
Due largely to Barnett’s injury, Chesney and the Dukes went to the transfer portal where they brought in Matthew Sluka, someone who Liberty also courted out of the transfer portal in December. Sluka has some history with Chesney, playing for him at Holy Cross before transferring to UNLV last year. Sluka has played in the first two games, completing 6 of 9 passes for 50 yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions. He also leads the team with 27 rushing attempts for 113 yards and 2 touchdowns. Chesney has rotated Barnett and Sluka frequently and even during possessions. Sluka has certainly be used more running the ball when he’s on the field, but he does have some potential in the passing game.
When it’s not Sluka or Barnett running the ball, George Pettaway and Wayne Knight get chances. Those two have combined for 27 rushing attempts for 221 yards and a touchdown this season. Including both Pettaway and Knight, the Dukes have eight different players with at least three receptions this season. Knight leads the team with 6 receptions while Landon Ellis leads the team with 75 yards receiving.
JMU is averaging 219.5 yards rushing per game through the team’s first two games while passing for 141 yards.
Defense may be JMU’s calling card, especially early in the season as they sort through their quarterback rotation. The Dukes have held opponents to 19 points per game in the first two weeks, holding teams to 2.9 yards per rushing attempt and 88.5 yards rushing per game. Teams are completing fewer than 50% of their passes against JMU’s defense this season, throwing for 117.5 yards per game with two touchdowns and three interceptions. James Madison has also been really good on third downs, limiting teams to just 8 of 28 on third down conversions (28.6%). Nine different players have at least one tackle for loss so far this season.
Previous Meeting
- November 29, 2014: Liberty 26, James Madison 21
- Series: JMU leads, 12-6
Key Players to Watch
- Alonza Barnett, III (QB)
- Matthew Sluka (QB)
- George Pettaway (RB)
- Immanuel Bush (DL)
- Trent Hendrick (LB)
- Jacob Thomas (S)
James Madison Recent/Upcoming Schedule & Results
- August 30: JMU 45, Weber State 10
- September 5: Louisville 28, JMU 14
- September 20: @ Liberty
- September 27: vs Georgia Southern
