James Madison Keeps Liberty at Arm's Length, 20-13
James Madison got in front 7-0, never gave the lead back, and won its opener 20-13. Liberty gained more yards, 332 to 291, and threw for 230 of them. It also finished a touchdown short.
G. Pettaway's 7-yard run put the Dukes up late in the first quarter. After a Chase Reeves field goal, M. Suarez kicked a 46-yarder, and then JC Evans hit C. Scott from 5 yards to make it 17-3. Reeves answered with a 42-yarder as the half ran out, so it was 17-6 at the break, and Suarez added a 32-yard kick early in the third for 20-6. That was the last JMU score of the day.
Liberty had one touchdown, and it came late: D. Purdie to Makai Jackson, 34 yards, with 10:01 left in the fourth. That made it 20-13, and there was no more scoring. Neither team turned the ball over, which is its own small surprise in a game with this many field goals, and James Madison ran for 173 yards on 31 carries to Liberty's 102 on 37.
James Madison is 1-0 and Liberty 0-1. The fantasy list is a quiet one: Jackson led everyone with 16.3, Purdie had 15.5 and Evans 15.3, and Evans got his on 69 rushing yards as well as the touchdown throw.
The kickers had a busy afternoon. Suarez had both James Madison field goals and both extra points, and Reeves kicked two field goals and the extra point for Liberty. Liberty never tied it and never led, and its closest approach was the final seven.