JMU football opened its 2024 season with an eventful 30-7 victory over Charlotte. The Dukes trailed 7-3 in the second quarter before slowly pulling away from Biff Poggi’s squad.

While Poggi, Charlotte’s head coach, said after the game he felt Charlotte was the better team, the scoreboard told a different story. JMU’s defense shined in Week 1, holding Charlotte to less than 10 points.

With Bob Chesney’s JMU squad off to a 1-0 start, let’s break down a few takeaways from Week 1.

Alonza Barnett Starts at QB

The story of the day was quarterback. Alonza Barnett officially won the starting job over Washington transfer Dylan Morris, who has 15 games of starting experience. Barnett struggled at the beginning of the game, but he found his footing in the second half.

Barnett finished the game with just over 300 total yards and two touchdowns. He turned the ball over twice in the first half, but took care of the ball well in the final 30 minutes.

The deep ball was his strength Saturday, as he completed three passes of 30 yards or more. Barnett completed six passes of at least 15 yards, generating explosive plays to score.

Dylan Morris’ experience made him JMU’s likely starter, but Barnett clearly showed the coaching staff he’s capable of excelling at the Division I level. He looked good in the second half, and he should improve as he gains more experience and confidence.

Chesney’s Aggressive Philosophy

Curt Cignetti kicked a 20-yard field goal last season, with the Dukes making the short kick on fourth-and-goal from Utah State’s two-yard line. The made field goal gave JMU a 10-0 first quarter lead in a game it eventually won 45-38.

Don’t expect Bob Chesney to make the same decision, if he’s in a similar situation.

JMU went for it on fourth-and-goal twice in its 2024 season opener, a 30-7 win over Charlotte. While the Dukes failed to convert on both occasions, Chesney showcased a clear fourth-down philosophy shift from the previous coaching staff.

“We didn’t come here to kick field goals,” Chesney said after the game. “We came here to be aggressive.”

While increased aggression on fourth down might startle some fans, Chesney’s decisions weren’t based on vibes. He’s taking a calculated approach to maximizing JMU’s chance of winning.

Failing on fourth-and-goal isn’t ideal, but it left Charlotte with 90+ yards left to go to score a touchdown. The 49ers failed to score on the possessions immediately following JMU’s failed fourth-and-goal conversions. The second time, Charlotte threw an interception three plays later. JMU scored on the first play of its next drive.

In Chesney’s estimation, it’s better for JMU to take the risk of bypassing a field goal and failing to convert on fourth down because the reward includes either scoring a touchdown or pinning the opponent deep in their own territory.

The Dukes went 1-3 on fourth downs in the game, with Alonza Barnett completing a 43-yard pass to Cam Ross on 4th-and-four on the team’s first drive of the game.

Offensive Line Woes

The offensive line seemed to improve in the second half, but the first half included some rough moments. Left tackle Jesse Ramil was beat on a strip sack, which led to Charlotte’s first (and only) touchdown of the game. Ramil, starting at left tackle in place of the injured Tyshawn Wyatt, received a Pro Football Focus grade of 55, the lowest of any of JMU’s starting offensive linemen. Ramil shined at the FCS level and should improve as he adjusts to FBS competition.

Other guys along the front also struggled at times Saturday. The entire unit wasn’t as dominant as some fans hoped.

The Dukes’ running backs averaged just three yards per carry. North Texas transfer Ayo Adeyi averaged over seven yards per carry last season, but had 16 carries for 41 yards (2.6 yards per carry) on Saturday against Charlotte. The running game largely struggled outside of Alonza Barnett’s 89 rushing yards.

Chesney felt the offensive front played better in the second half after making schematic adjustments in the locker room. He mentioned a schematic shift leading to better blocking angles later in the game. JMU ran for 137 yards after halftime, compared to 61 yards in the first half.

Additional Game Notes

• Taji Hudson didn’t play at WR. He was wearing a brace on his knee/lower leg, but it’s unclear his status moving forward. He did dress for the game, a positive sign.
• Left tackle Tyshawn Wyatt traveled to the game, but wore street clothes on the sideline. The Dukes hope to have him back in the near future, but an official timeline hasn’t been shared publicly.
• The Dukes rotated guys a lot, with 41 players on offense and defense playing at least 10 snaps. In JMU’s 2023 FBS opener against UVA, the Dukes used 33 players for 10+ snaps on offense and defense.
• Bob Chesney does well to teach players during the game. Defensive back DJ Barksdale turned his head to track a deep pass in the second half, but slowed down and gave the receiver space. After the ball fell incomplete, Chesney quickly ran over and told him to make sure he doesn’t slow down when turning his head.
• Chesney also gave an earful to defensive back Kye Holmes in the second half, after Holmes got into the face of a Charlotte player and nearly drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. While no flag was thrown, Chesney used the play as a teaching moment. Holmes and Chesney seemingly had a positive discussion about the play.
• DE Khairi Manns shined, with the Maine/Colorado transfer leading JMU with eight tackles and posting a team-best defensive PFF grade of 81.9

Photo courtesy of JMU Athletics Communications