JMU football outlasted Liberty on Saturday, winning 31-13 thanks to 21 unanswered points to end the game.

The Dukes improved to 2-1 with the win, which was a complete team effort. JMU held a massive yardage edge (440 to 233) and possessed the ball for 33 minutes. 

Here are three takeaways from the dominant victory.

The front 7 is Power 4 good

JMU’s biggest defensive issue Saturday was over pursuit. At times the Dukes left their pass rush lanes and allowed Liberty to use the QB run game effectively. They were too aggressive to start the game. 

The game reminded me of a scene from The Office when Michael Scott — not the speedy freshman WR — interviews for a job and says his biggest weaknesses are working too hard and caring too much.

JMU’s biggest weakness defensively Saturday was … playing too hard? It’s a good problem to have, and it’s also what makes the front seven terrifying.

The Dukes were beating up Liberty’s offensive line, and when they finally stuck to their assignments in the second half, the results came. Liberty scored three points in the second half, with three drives ending in three-and-outs.

The Flames recorded a season-low 233 yards. Ethan Vasko getting hurt didn’t help Liberty’s offense, of course, but the Flames also dialed up a risky game plan for a QB who got banged up against Bowling Green the week prior. They ran him 11 times in the opening half, and he took a beating from the Dukes’ defensive front that ultimately led to an injury.

JMU allowed just 3.8 yards per carry and tallied three sacks, including two from Aiden Gobaira. The Dukes have six sacks in two games against FBS teams after no sacks against Weber State. The front seven has been elite through three games.

Xavier Holmes posted an initial 86.7 PFF grade at DE, tallying five tackles. Redshirt freshman linebacker Immanuel Ezeogu has been a problem, recording an 82.5 grade over 20 snaps. Gobaira graded out just below 80. 

“If we play our best football, nobody can beat us,” Gobaira said. 

Alonza Barnett is back

Barnett has flaws in his game, including inconsistency against pressure, but he’s also one of the best G5 quarterbacks given his ceiling. The redshirt junior is still developing, and he flashed signs of growth Saturday.

Liberty had yet to allow a 200-yard passer this season, but Barnett went 17-for-25 for 213 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. He also rushed for 45 yards and two scores on five attempts. His interception in the end zone was an inexplicable mistake — he needs to limit costly turnovers in league play — but it was really his lone blemish on an otherwise impressive showing.

Perhaps most important was Barnett’s ability to respond to adversity. Trailing 10-3, he led a touchdown drive. Trailing 13-10, he led a touchdown drive. When the Dukes needed an offensive answer, Barnett orchestrated a drive.

“We never gave up,” Barnett said. “We continued to fight, and the guys never lost belief in me and each other.” 

Barnett can lead JMU to wins, and when he’s given a clean pocket he can make NFL-caliber throws. His 30-yard strike to Jaylan Sanchez was a beauty, and his touchdown pass to Landon Ellis was a well-placed ball thrown under pressure. JMU has elite playmakers, and Barnett doesn’t need to be superhuman to distribute the ball efficiently. He did what was asked of him Saturday and it led to an 18-point road win. 

Having Matthew Sluka available as a runner and backup is great for depth, but the Dukes will go as far as Barnett takes them.

Road warriors?

JMU’s 2024 season was derailed by road losses. The Dukes went 5-1 at home with an overtime defeat by two points in their lone home slip-up in 2024. But they dropped three road games, including two by double digits.

After a road defeat to Louisville, the Dukes trailed Liberty 13-10 in the third quarter. They rattled off 21 unanswered.

It’s a huge response for a team that had road issues in 2024. With a remaining away schedule of Georgia State, Texas State, Marshall, and Coastal Carolina, winning 4+ road games feels quite possible. The Texas State game is likely the hardest remaining road test on the schedule, and it’s possible JMU wins out to finish the year 5-1 on the road.

If the Dukes want to stay in the race for the College Football Playoff, they’ll need to be perfect on the road the rest of the way. Saturday was a hint that last year’s struggles away from Harrisonburg could be a thing of the past.

Photo courtesy of JMU Athletics Communications