Where: Williams Stadium (cap. 12,000), Lynchburg
  When: 7 p.m.
  Radio: Midlothian (106.9), WREJ (1540)
  Tickets: $25 premium, $20 reserved, $15 general admission
  Records: James Madison 1-1, Liberty 2-1
  Players to watch: JMU - QB Drew Dudzik, 18-28, 355 yards, 5 TDs; QB Justin Thorpe, 8-13, 135 yards, TD; TE Mike Caussin, 6 catches, 197 yards, 4 TDs; LU - QB/WR Mike Brown, 39-48, 313 yards, 2 TDs passing, 139.3 all-purpose yards; QB Tommy Beecher, 25-39, 228 yards, TD; WR Chris Summers, 17-182 yards, TD.

HARRISONBURG—Forget about whether he should stick with one quarterback, James Madison coach Mickey Matthews said. He was more concerned about the fact that Virginia Military Institute gummed up the seventh-ranked Dukes’ bread-and-butter running game and had to air it out in a 44-16 victory last night at Bridgeforth Stadium. “We need to be focused on our offensive line more than our quarterbacks,“ Matthews said. “That’s where the controversy needs to be right now.“

T ODAY’S STATE GAMES (cap. 15,500), Harrisonburg
  When: 6 p.m.
  Radio: WLEE (990), WREJ (1540)
  T ickets: Sold out R ecords: VMI 1-0, JMU 0-1 Players to watch: VMI - QB Tim Maypray 14 carries, 73 yards, 1 TD; RB Howard Abegesah 17-106; LB Eric Church 13 tackles in first game; JMU - QB Drew Dudzik 14 carries, 112 yards, 1 TD rushing, 9-15, 141 yards, 2 TDs passing; RB Jamal Sullivan 19-87, TD; CB/KR Scotty McGee 88 all-purpose yards.

Nick Ferrara kicked a 26-yard field goal in overtime, giving Maryland a 38-35 victory over James Madison last night. Starting first in overtime, James Madison moved 1 yard in three plays before Dixon Wright was wide right on a 41-yard field goal try. Maryland (1-1) then used two runs by Da’Rel Scott to move the ball to the 13. Following two carries by quarterback Chris Turner, the second of which got the ball to the middle of the field, Ferrara connected.

Rhode Island coach Joe Trainer applied a comedic stamp to the University of Richmond’s win at Duke, and William and Mary’s victory at Virginia. “I heard a rumor that the Orange Bowl is going to extend an automatic bid to the winner of the CAA,“ Trainer said. Add Villanova’s win over Temple, and the Richmond-based Colonial Athletic Association experienced the most attention-grabbing football week in league history. James Madison of the CAA kicks off its season Saturday at Maryland (0-1); the Terps were scorched 52-13 at California last weekend. Might good things—wins over ACC teams—come in threes for the Colonial?

James Madison quarterback Justin Thorpe (right) congratulates Rodney Landers. Thorpe, a Varina grad, is in a battle with Drew Dudzik to replace Landers, who was first-team all-CAA last year with the Dukes. Aquarterback competition is a standard sight on a college campus in spring. But it’s a little unusual to see it spill into mid-September on a visiting team’s field.

2008 records: 8-0 CAA, 12-2
  Offense: Quarterback is the big question mark entering the season, but Matthews will install the same spread offense for both players. He said to anticipate a 60/40 run/pass mix, which is about what he’s aimed for in previous seasons. Once the team has a signal-caller, expect the offense to be the team’s strong suit.

In some cases, college recruiting is an exercise in risk-reward assessment. A coach must weigh some kind of problem against the potential return. The medical problem of Dorian Brooks suggested at best limited investment. Brooks was damaged goods as a defensive lineman during his senior year at Highland Springs High School. A herniated disk kept him out of all but three games and subsequently required surgery.

s   Major: Kinesiology with a sports management concentration
  Last year: 6-2½, 302-pound James Madison offensive guard was second team all-CAA and honorable mention All-America by The Sports Network.
  Quotable: “He [told me], ‘Coach, I didn’t know I was this good.‘ He’s that kind of kid. He’s not a boastful guy. I said, ‘Son, you’re a good football player. You’re going to have a chance to play in the NFL.‘“—JMU coach Mickey Matthews

Player  School
  Julius AchonGeorge Mason
Ibrahim AdenGeorge Mason
Abdi BileGeorge Mason
Kevin BlackGeorge Mason
Mike BrownWilliam and Mary
Russ ColemanJames Madison
Ben CookeJames Madison
Mike FoxJames Madison
Jacob FreyWilliam and Mary
Sean GrahamWilliam and Mary
Ken HallaWilliam and Mary

HARRISONBURG—There’s only one rule when the James Madison offensive line goes for a post-practice treat at Smoothie King—don’t get the small, or else others will laugh at you. The rest is a matter of personal preference. For guard Dorian Brooks, a Highland Springs grad, his personal favorite is “The Hulk,“ a 2,200-calorie ice cream creation. But it’s OK, because the 300-pound senior has to work for it.

Player  School
  Danielle ChellewOld Dominion
Kelsey CutchinsJames Madison
Anna DavisWilliam and Mary
Kim DeckerOld Dominion
Marina DiGiacomoOld Dominion
Janelle EngleOld Dominion
Kathy FosinaOld Dominion
Leah GeibDelaware
Maaike HilbrandOld Dominion
Kelli JamesOld Dominion

Player  School
  Wade BarrettWilliam and Mary
Brent BennettJames Madison
Michael BradyAmerican
Adin BrownWilliam and Mary
Leigh CowlishawRichmond
Matthew DelicateVCU
David HorstOld Dominion
Waughn HughesWilliam and Mary
Steve JolleyWilliam and Mary
Kaarlo KankkunenJames Madison

South Division (first-place votes): 1. (tie) Richmond and Villanova (9); 3. James Madison (1); 4. Delaware; 5. William and Mary; 6. Towson.
  North Division (first-place votes) : 1. New Hampshire (12); 2. Massachusetts (7); 3. Maine; 4. Hofstra; 5. Northeastern; 6. Rhode Island
  Offensive player of the year: QB R.J. Toman, New Hampshire, Jr., 6-1, 195

Sept. 5: William and Mary at Virginia, 6 p.m., E360
  Sept. 12: Richmond at Delaware, 3:30 p.m., TCN/CSN-NE
  Oct. 3: William and Mary at Villanova, 7 p.m., TCN/CSN-NE
  Oct. 10: Richmond at James Madison, noon, CSN-MA/CSN-NE
  Oct. 17: Richmond at Maine, noon, CSN-MA/CSN-NE; Villanova at James Madison, 3:30 p.m., TCN