James Madison begins the coach Billy Napier era with a 20-13 victory over in-state foe Liberty

HARRISONBURG, Va. (AP) — JC Evans threw for a touchdown and ran for a key first down late in the fourth quarter to help James Madison begin the coach Billy Napier era with a 20-13 victory over in-state foe Liberty on Saturday.

James Madison forced Liberty into a fourth-and-2 decision with 2:16 left in the fourth quarter before breaking up a pass to the outside. Evans rushed for 23 yards on the next play and the Dukes were able to run out the clock on three more run plays in front of 25,035 fans.

Evans was 7-of-9 passing for 61 yards and he ran it nine times for 69 yards for JMU, which improved to 14-6 in the series to earn the Battle of the Blue Ridge trophy. Evans found Corey Scott for a 5-yard touchdown late in the first half for a 17-3 lead.

Eleven of the previous 20 games between the two schools have been decided by one score.

Deshawn Purdie threw for 230 yards and a touchdown for Liberty, which was making its first trip to Harrisonburg since the 2014 season.

The Dukes are coming off a 12-2 season, which ended with the program’s first Sun Belt Conference title and an appearance in the College Football Playoff.

Up next

Liberty: Returns home to play Gardner-Webb next Saturday.

James Madison: Hosts Wagner next Saturday.

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