Following a brief weather delay with strong storms and rain rolling through Harrisonburg, Virginia, Liberty opened the fourth year under head coach Jamey Chadwell with a 20-13 loss to James Madison. In the second meeting of the Battle of the Blue Ridge, the Dukes take home the trophy for a second straight year, doing so in head coach Billy Napier’s debut in front of 25,035 fans at Bridgeforth Stadium.
** Liberty’s defense got off to a slow start, allowing scores on JMU’s first four drives. It allowed the home-standing Dukes to build a 20-6 lead into the 2nd half. Meanwhile, the Flames were only able to add a pair of Chase Reeves field goals in the opening half.
** In his first start as a Flame, Deshawn Purdie completed 17 of 27 passes for 230 yards with 1 touchdown and no interceptions. He also rushed 7 times for 3 yards. We did see both Jaylen Henderson and Ethan Vasko for exactly one play each. Henderson came on for a crucial 3rd down in the red zone after Purdie’s helmet was knocked off. Vasko came in for one play in the red zone in the 4th quarter and ran the ball for 2 yards.
** Makai Jackson paced the Liberty receivers with 3 catches for 73 yards and a score. He also had a touchdown pass called back due to a holding penalty on the offensive line. Jaylon Coleman added 3 receptions for 37 yards while Jamari Person hauled in 2 passes for 48 yards and Bryce Randolph had 2 catches for 32 yards. Liberty’s tight ends combined for 5 catches for 37 yards.
**On the ground, Kam Davis had 16 carries for 51 yards. Peyton Jones added 9 carries for 25 yards and Coleman had 3 rushes for 18 yards. Liberty rushed for just 91 yards on 38 carries (2.4 yards per carry).
** On the defensive side of the ball, D-Icey Hopkins, Derrell Farrar, and Aidan Vaughn led the team with 7 tackles a piece. Brenton Williams h ad 4 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.
** JMU only scored a field goal on its opening drive of the second half and was held scoreless the rest of the way. They had just 121 yards of offense in the second half.
** Liberty led a lot of the key statistics (total yards: 321-291, time of possession: 37:22-22:38), first downs (19-15). It was the penalties (12 for 82 yards), rushing struggles, and the inability to finish drives with touchdowns that cost the team.
** Play of the Game: The Flames had the ball with a chance to tie (or even take the lead with a 2-point conversion) in the closing minutes. Facing a 4th and 2 near midfield, Purdie rolled out to his right. He had two receivers in the area, both tightly covered, but the pass was incomplete. It was a turnover on downs and the Dukes took over and able to end the game to secure the win.
** This is the first time Liberty has started a season at 0-1 since the 2019 season. That was Hugh Freeze’s first game as head coach, a 24-0 loss at home to Syracuse.
** Dating back to last season, the Flames have lost five straight. It’s the program’s first five game losing streak since dropping the first four games of the Turner Gill era in 2012 after losing the season finale in 2011.
** Up next: Liberty faces Gardner-Webb next Saturday, Sept. 12 in the home opener at Williams Stadium. Kickoff scheduled for 6 p.m.
