JMU defeats Liberty, 20-13, in season opener ruled by stout D on both sides

JMU got out to a two-touchdown lead on Liberty early in the third quarter, then held on for dear life, with the Flames helping out – having a TD called back on a holding penalty, and a second drive stalling at the Dukes’ 11.

The end result: a 20-13 Madison win.

Credit, here at the top, to both programs, for scheduling this game as their opener.

Both JMU and Liberty aspire to be the Group of 6 team in the CFP when a season starts, so, you wouldn’t fault them for starting the season with a layup drill.

I’m not sure what to make of this one, other than, both defenses were solid.

JMU averaged 37.1 points and 452.6 yards per game last season on the way to a CFP berth; on Saturday, the Flames D held the Dukes to 291 yards.

The Madison D did its best work in the first half, limiting Liberty to 130 yards.

The Dukes D was at its best in the second half in bend-but-don’t-break mode – getting the stop after an apparent third quarter 34-yard TD pass from Deshawn Purdie to Makai Jackson was nullified by a holding call on tackle DJ Geth, then stiffening early in the fourth after the Liberty offense got a first down at the JMU 15.

On the latter series: backup QB Ethan Vasko ran two yards on first down from the JMU 15; Peyton Jones ran for two more on second.

Purdie missed on a third-down pass to Seth Gathers to set up a fourth-and-6; Purdie failed to connect on a pass attempt to Jamari Person at the JMU 5 to turn the ball over on downs with 11:40 to go in the game.

The Flames did get to within one score on its next possession, on a quick-strike four-play, 61-yard drive that culminated with another 34-yard TD pass to Jackson – this one held up – that got the score to 20-13 with 8:33 left.

The Liberty D forced a JMU three-and-out, giving the offense the ball back at the Liberty 20.

The final Flames offensive drive stalled at midfield, with Purdie failing to connect with LaKelsey Johnson on a fourth-and-2 pass at the Liberty 49 with 2:21 to go.

Purdie was 17-of-27 for 230 yards and a TD.

JMU moved the ball well on the ground, putting up 173 yards on 31 rushing attempts, led by starting QB JC Evans, who had 69 yards on nine attempts.

Evans was 7-of-9 through the air for 61 yards and a TD.

Backup Camden Coleman, who saw action in two offensive series in the second half, was 5-of-9 for 57 yards through the air.

The first series with Coleman in as the QB resulted in a 32-yard Morgan Suarez field goal, capping a nine-play, 45-yard JMU drive.