James Madison started off their highly-anticipated 2025 season with a comfortable win over FCS foe Weber State, 45-10, in Harrisonburg.
Quarterback Alonza Barnett III started for James Madison after suffering a leg injury late in the 2024 season. His comeback is nothing short of remarkable not only for Barnett, but medical advancements in rehab from injuries in general. The leg seems to be fine though, as AB III would run for an 11-yard touchdown to cap off the Dukes opening drive.
Barnett would finish the game going 14-for-22 with 130 yards through the air and a passing touchdown, as well as the score on the ground.
Quarterback Matthew Sluka also saw significant time as well for JMU, adding a rushing and passing touchdown of his own. The Holy Cross/UNLV transfer would have been the likely starter if not for Barnett’s quick recovery.
It seems like the coaching staff plans to still make use of the versatile Sluka moving forward. Putting passing and rushing plays on films for opponents shows that JMU does not plan to have Sluka be one-dimensional when brought in for packages.
JMU would score on its first four possessions, but would sputter at the end of the first half. A fumble put Weber State deep in Dukes territory and the Wildcats would capitalize with their only touchdown of the night.
Special teams penalties would then negate a touchdown and long run back to end the first half and start the second for JMU. A failed fake punt would once again have Weber State in Dukes territory, but strong defense would force the Wildcats to convert a 51-yard field goal to make the score 28-10.
An interception thrown by Sluka and blocked field goal would cap a forgettable third quarter, and showed that there is still room for improvement for JMU moving forward. However, the Dukes would put what little hopes of an upset there were to bed early in the fourth quarter.
On the first play of the final quarter, Wayne Knight broke out for a 59-yard rush to the house to put JMU up 38-10. Redshirt freshman quarterback JC Evans would then come in to cap off the scoring with a 5-yard touchdown run to make it 45-10.
JMU would end up with 313 yards on the ground, with George Pettaway and Wayne Knight leading the way with 99 and 89 yards, respectively. The Dukes, as a team, would average 7.1 yards per carry with four touchdowns, three of which coming from three different quarterbacks.
Defensively, outside of the short field situations, JMU’s safeties were the stars. The position group would account for all three interceptions thrown by Weber State’s Jackson Gilkey on the night.
The Wildcats were held to just 148 yards of total offense, showing no real signs of potency outside of being given short fields at the end of the first half and the start of the second.
It was a comfortable win for James Madison, but far from perfect. There will be plenty on film for the team and staff to critique this week. JMU’s level of competition ramps up significantly traveling to Louisville on Friday night.
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