The Battle of the Blue Ridge Returns! Liberty vs. JMU (9-18-25)
By: Ty Tracy
Headline Photo Credit: Brynne Smith-LMS Network
The Battle of the Blue Ridge is officially back. Head coach Jamey Chadwell and the Liberty Flames will host the James Madison Dukes on Saturday, September 20, at Williams Stadium in Lynchburg, VA, marking the first meeting between the two programs since 2014. That last matchup was a memorable one—Liberty knocked off JMU 26–21 in the first round of the FCS playoffs, snapping the Dukes’ six-game win streak in the series. Now, more than a decade later, the rivalry is set to return in a bigger way than ever before. Earlier this month, Liberty and JMU announced that the Battle of the Blue Ridge will feature a new trophy awarded to the winner. Originally scheduled for six meetings between 2025 and 2034, the series was expanded on September 10 to include 10 games over the next 16 seasons. The history runs deep. The two schools have squared off 18 times, with James Madison holding a 12–6 edge in the all-time series. But with both programs now competing at the FBS level, the stakes—and the spotlight—are higher than ever. Fans can expect Saturday’s matchup to reignite one of the region’s most anticipated rivalries, with plenty of emotion, history, and pride on the line.
As both teams look to recover from tough losses, Liberty enters Saturday’s matchup trying to avoid a three-game skid. The Flames are coming off a 23–13 defeat to Bowling Green last Friday, in which they turned the ball over four times. Concerns have been mounting about Liberty’s performance through the first three weeks of the season, and head coach Jamey Chadwell didn’t mince words after the loss. “We’re not playing to the level that team’s capable of for whatever reason right now,” Chadwell said. Since Chadwell’s arrival, the Flames have struggled with consistency across all four quarters, and offensive production has been a major issue. The head coach pointed out the team’s scoring woes, noting, “We’re not scoring enough points. You should be able to score points in college football.” Through three games, Liberty is averaging just over 23 points per contest—near the bottom nationally alongside Sam Houston. Chadwell knows the offense is capable of much more and emphasized the need for improvement in several key areas if the Flames are going to get back on track.
The Dukes enter Saturday’s matchup coming off a bye week after suffering their first loss of the season against Louisville. JMU led 14–6 in the first half before quarterback Alonzo Barnett fumbled in his own end zone, resulting in a defensive touchdown that shifted the momentum back to the Cardinals. Louisville capitalized on the mistake and went on to win by two touchdowns. Head coach Bob Chesney called it a “disappointing loss” and pointed to penalties as a major factor, noting that his team needs to clean up mistakes to compete with quality opponents like Louisville. One of the biggest questions heading into the Liberty game is how Chesney will manage the quarterback position. Against Louisville, JMU utilized a two-quarterback system, with Matthew Sluka primarily handling the run game while Barnett took on more of the passing duties. Chesney admitted it wasn’t part of the original game plan, but he liked how the offense moved the ball with the change of pace. Still, it wasn’t enough to secure the win, leaving speculation about whether the Dukes will stick with Barnett as the starter or continue to rotate both signal-callers.
Saturday’s matchup has the potential to be a physical battle if Liberty plays up to its full potential.
The Flames are entering a challenging two-week stretch, with James Madison and Old Dominion standing out as their toughest non-conference opponents. With JMU favored to win the Sun Belt Conference, this weekend will be a true test for Liberty. As the Flames prepare, head coach Jamey Chadwell shared his thoughts on JMU’s two-quarterback system. “We’ve seen some people where they’ve played different quarterbacks, but I don’t know like every snap,” Chadwell said. “The one that comes in there, he’s a runner most of the time. The other one is a little bit of a mix.” Liberty’s defense will have its hands full adjusting to both quarterbacks, with Alonzo Barnett a possible starter. The bigger question, however, is whether the Flames can stop JMU’s ground game and set the tone early. Through three games, Liberty has allowed over 100 rushing yards in each contest and has developed a troubling habit of starting slow before trying to rally late.
Meanwhile, JMU comes in fresh off a bye week. Head coach Bob Chesney believes his team will be ready and emphasized the challenge of defending Liberty’s option-style offense. “It’s in the spread. You’re not running it from under center, but it has a lot of the same elements to it,” Chesney said. “There’s a lot in here that you’ve got to be sound in your gaps. You’ve got to be sound in your option assignments, and you just don’t necessarily know which way it’s coming.” Chesney noted the importance of discipline for his defensive front, stressing that one missed assignment could swing the game. JMU’s front seven will have a big task in slowing down Liberty’s rushing attack. The Dukes’ head coach also spoke about Liberty quarterback Ethan Vasko, who transferred from Coastal Carolina in the spring. While familiar with Vasko’s playing style, Chesney pointed out how his role has evolved in the Flames’ offense. “He’s a runner in this thing a whole lot more,” Chesney said. “He can pull the ball down and run.” With Liberty seeking consistency and JMU looking to bounce back from a loss before the bye week, Saturday’s game promises to be a clash of physicality, discipline, and execution.
This is a must-win game for both teams, but Liberty is the one that needs it most to get back on track. After Saturday, the Flames will travel to Norfolk, VA, to face an Old Dominion team that many people underestimated coming into the season. The Monarchs nearly upset Indiana in their opener and then dominated Virginia Tech 45–26 at Lane Stadium, proving they are a serious contender. For Liberty, the next two weeks against James Madison and Old Dominion could define the direction of their season. If the Flames want to regain momentum, it starts with a statement performance on Saturday.
