What a game.

JMU football outlasted Washington State, 24-20, on Saturday in a physical game between a pair of really well-coached teams. JMU should thank its lucky stars it played a Jimmy Rogers-led Washington State team in Year 1 of his tenure because the Cougars are going to be a monster very soon.

Here are three takeaways from JMU’s win.

Game atmosphere delivers

There were times Saturday when the crowd was quiet, as Washington State temporarily held the edge in the defensive dogfight. But man, the place erupted in the second half.

Washington State is perhaps the biggest name opponent to ever play inside of Bridgeforth Stadium, and I felt the atmosphere was one of the best in recent memory. I will remember the crowd reaction of JMU’s three touchdowns for a long time.

First, the Dukes took a 10-3 lead on Justin Eaglin’s interception returned for a score. The crowd went nuts. Then, Alonza Barnett hit Braeden Wisloski for a 68-yard touchdown to knot the score at 17 in the second half. The crowd was even louder.

Wayne Knight blew the top off of Bridgeforth Stadium with a 58-yard, game-winning rushing touchdown late in the fourth quarter. JMU pulled out a gritty win against an impressive and improving Pac-12 team.

This game meant a lot to the players, coaches and fans. Playing a team from the Pac-12 at home and winning is a meaningful accomplishment, even if this Washington State team is fighting for bowl eligibility. Beating a name brand school matters, and you could tell from the crowd reaction to a narrow victory over a 5-win team that Saturday’s result meant something to the people watching.

Saturday’s game might not have brought playoff style points, but it’s some of the most fun I’ve ever had watching a JMU game. That home atmosphere is intoxicating. I can’t wait to go back in two weeks.

Bob Chesney’s style works

This isn’t new information, but the way Bob Chesney coaches football leads to success. He empowers his players in a way Curt Cignetti — who also is an incredible coach despite a different style — rarely did.

When Alonza Barnett struggled against Bucknell in 2023, Cignetti essentially blasted him in the postgame press conference. Chesney has done nothing but publicly stand up for his quarterback over the past two seasons, and as a result we get to see Barnett come into his own as a redshirt junior.

His stats Saturday were ugly, but he played a solid second half to help JMU secure a win. He also riled up the crowd late, pumping up the fans in the final moments as the Jumbotron zoomed in on his smiling face. He was the star of the show as he iced the game with his legs, and the fans loved it. So did Barnett.

And so did Chesney.

Seconds after the Jumbotron cut away from Barnett, Chesney went over to the quarterback and put his arm around him with a huge smile. Chesney is fine with players being who they are, even in the waning moments of a close game. He wants them to focus, but he doesn’t require them to tone down their personalities to win.

I loved watching Cignetti teams because of their ruthless pursuit of greatness. Those JMU practices under Cignetti were revered for being meticulous. Cignetti followed a daily routine that steadily improved his teams until they were ready to compete for championships. There wasn’t much nonsense on Cignetti’s best teams. That same approach thrives in the Big Ten now.

I love watching Chesney’s team because it’s clear how much fun they have beating opponents. He emphasizes sideline energy, demanding players encourage teammates and stay positive. He’s instilled a belief in this particular team that no matter the halftime score — Chesney calls that the most meaningless stat in sports — the Dukes will win and enjoy the process of getting there. He yelled at halftime this weekend that he wasn’t asking his team to do anything in the second half, except to be who they are.

Both styles work, and it’s fascinating to compare the two. I think I know which approach Barnett prefers.

Spinogatti comes up huge

With Gannon Weathersby battling an injury, Holy Cross transfer Drew Spinogatti was asked to essentially play a starting role for 60 minutes. He was up to the task.

Spinogatti tied for the team lead with 73 snaps played, and he led the team with 16 tackles. He wasn’t perfect, giving up a lengthy completion to a running back and missing a couple of tackles as well, but he was physical and relentless amid the occasional mistake. He played like a hard-hitting linebacker should.

Weathersby played 11 snaps before his lower-body injury forced him to leave the game slowly. It seems quite possible that he will be unavailable or limited significantly for the next two games.

Spinogatti will be one of the guys asked to play a major role as the Dukes look to win their first Sun Belt title. Saturday, Spinogatti — who led the postgame locker-room singing of the fight song — showed he’s ready for the moment.

Photo courtesy of JMU Athletics Communications