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Catie Harper

@catieharper.bsky.social
145 followers 13 following 62 posts

jmu football and baseball reporter for the daily news-record | jmu alumna | no. 1 fan of devonta smith’s closet | past: design @ lee enterprises | she/her

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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 08/04/2025
"He's been cleared — I mean non-contact. Not really movement, just throwing a little bit." #JMU: Barnett returns to practice for the Dukes www.dnronline.com/sports/level...
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Barnett returns to practice for the Dukes
Since sustaining an injury in James Madison’s regular-season finale, quarterback Alonza Barnett III has been left sidelined from football-related activities.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 07/04/2025
"If they want me to fill up water and put me on the 53-man roster, I’ll be the best water boy in the history of sports." #JMU: Dobbs wanted chance to back up performance on film www.dnronline.com/sports/colle...
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Dobbs wanted chance to back up performance on film
For Jacob Dobbs, the approach to Pro Day was simple.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
"This game is just evolutionary every year. … If you sleep on the game, you're going to get passed." #JMU's Hitschler finds importance in learning www.dnronline.com/sports/level...
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JMU's Hitschler finds importance in learning
To be successful, a coach needs to be willing to learn.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
“I was always looking for JMU.” Smith was eager for #JMU offer www.dnronline.com/sports/level...
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Smith was eager for JMU offer
Jonah Smith had to wait just a little bit to get his dream offer.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
"You don't rise to some competition, you sink to the level of your training, and that's actually exactly what today is." #JMU hosts annual Pro Day www.dnronline.com/sports/level...
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JMU hosts annual Pro Day
It was a work day for former members of the James Madison football program on Thursday.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 25/03/2025
“It's hard to get back out here right away and go.” #JMU returns to practice after spring break www.dnronline.com/sports/level...
dnronline.com
JMU returns to practice after spring break
It wasn’t necessarily the most crisp practice head coach Bob Chesney has ever seen, but James Madison has a foundation to build upon after returning to the field following spring
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
“To perform at the level that we are right now, you need to be doing work off the field in your own time. I think Maddie has done a tremendous amount of that before she even got here.” Epke's work ethic led to all-time #JMU record www.dnronline.com/sports/level...
dnronline.com
Epke's work ethic led to all-time JMU record
It shouldn’t be all too surprising that Maddie Epke has found a home in the draw circle for James Madison.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
“Our expectations are to win our conference championship and get to the next level and hopefully play in that 12-team playoff.” #JMU: Dukes continue to build off bowl win www.dnronline.com/sports/colle...
dnronline.com
Dukes continue to build off bowl win
Last year's Boca Raton Bowl won’t be forgotten anytime soon for the James Madison.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
“After getting hurt, kind of felt like I let everyone down. Kind of put me in a hard place mentally.” #JMU's Adeyi ready to make most of additional season www.dnronline.com/sports/colle...
dnronline.com
JMU's Adeyi ready to make most of additional season
Ayo Adeyi is no stranger to injuries.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 19/03/2025
“I think by that Wednesday, Thursday, everyone's going to be itching to come back, so by the time we come back, I'm not worried about this group of guys. #JMU: Dukes close out good first week of practice www.dnronline.com/sports/level...
dnronline.com
Dukes close out good first week of practice
The schedule hasn’t been traditional for James Madison as it begins spring practice, but the Dukes are taking it in stride.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 16/03/2025
"One out, sac fly does the job." #JMU: Dukes take series against Warhawks www.dnronline.com/sports/level...
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Dukes take series against Warhawks
Sometimes every sport needs a little flare for the dramatics.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
JMU football has some changes for its future opponents. It adds a game vs. Duquesne (FCS) on Sept. 11, 2027. It'll be at home. New dates for JMU vs. Miami (OH): at Miami (OH) - Sept. 24, 2033 vs. Miami (OH) - Sept. 9, 2034
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 10/03/2025
“If you're only doing it in your meeting time, and if you're only doing it from the opening whistle to the final whistle of practice, there's a lot of opportunity, ultimately, that you're missing in there.” #JMU opens spring practice www.dnronline.com/sports/colle...
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JMU opens spring practice
Just after 10:30 a.m., James Madison huddled around head coach Bob Chesney at the center of Zane Showker Field.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 10/03/2025
Hey #JMU fans! I'm trying to get some football content out to you all, but Twitter is crashing out and Bluesky doesn't like my videos. I'll hopefully have some stuff to you all very soon, though!
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
The best decision Eli Steadman ever made was enrolling at Birmingham Southern. Nine months after the school closed, the #JMU baseball outfielder remains grateful for his time representing the Panthers, while being excited for his chance at the DI level. www.dnronline.com/sports/level...
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Steadman had untraditional journey to JMU
Eli Steadman was on his way back to Xenia, Ohio, after a summer-league series in Michigan, when he decided to send out some final Hail Mary emails.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
“Our job is to make that room as competitive as possible. That's one right now that's as competitive as any on this team.” #JMU: Chesney looking forward to QB competition www.dnronline.com/sports/level...
dnronline.com
Chesney looking forward to QB competition
Leading into last season, the James Madison quarterback battle was a two-man race.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
“Continue to lay our foundation of what we do offensively and defensively and on the mound as well.” #JMU: JMU hopes to build momentum www.dnronline.com/sports/colle...
dnronline.com
JMU hopes to build momentum
The opening weekend sweep isn’t necessarily lingering among the 2025 James Madison baseball team.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 23/02/2025
Jaden Kinsler was strong in his start, Ike Schmidly hit his first-career home run and #JMU claimed its first series win of the season. “We've been really confident this weekend.” www.dnronline.com/sports/colle...
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JMU gets first series win against Canisius
On Friday night, it was Jackson Logar dealing for James Madison. Not even 24 hours later, Jaden Kinsler had his chance.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
Brendan O'Donnell wanted to play affiliated baseball and he thought he was good enough to do so. After a summer in the Frontier League, though, O'Donnell was given an opportunity he couldn't refuse. #JMU's O'Donnell continues to embrace new role www.dnronline.com/sports/level...
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JMU's O'Donnell continues to embrace new role
Brendan O’Donnell spent his time playing baseball around good coaches.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
“I was just proud of how our guys just hung in there and grinded it out.” #JMU: Dukes down Highlanders for comeback win www.dnronline.com/sports/level...
dnronline.com
Dukes down Highlanders for comeback win
It may have taken him some time, but James Madison infielder Corey Dowdell eventually saw where his hit landed.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
"It's a cool thing, and I got a lot of pride in this place, for sure." #JMU Notebook: Dukes sit atop SBC standings www.dnronline.com/sports/level...
dnronline.com
JMU Notebook: Dukes sit atop SBC standings
On the women’s side, James Madison has been in control since Sun Belt Conference play opened.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
“She's not just a shooter. She’s not just a perimeter player. She can go inside, outside, threes, drives, post-ups.” McDaniel continues to show her importance to #JMU www.dnronline.com/sports/colle...
dnronline.com
McDaniel continues to show her importance to JMU
There’s a reason Peyton McDaniel entered the 2024-25 season as the Sun Belt Preseason Player of the Year.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 03/02/2025
“We run Virginia.” #JMU: Dukes remain in control of Royal Rivalry www.dnronline.com/sports/level...
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Dukes remain in control of Royal Rivalry
The two schools meet often.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
“It definitely feels like we're in a little bit of a time crunch. But we're all so excited to get started. I think it gives us just the perfect amount of time to get ready.” #JMU: Dukes dealing with short preseason ahead of opener www.dnronline.com/sports/level...
dnronline.com
Dukes dealing with short preseason ahead of opener
There isn’t much time for James Madison to waste.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
"This might be the toughest schedule I've ever put together. When you look at who we're playing out of conference … our midweek games aren't easy either." #JMU hopes for another NCAA Regional, faces tough schedule www.dnronline.com/sports/colle...
dnronline.com
JMU hopes for another NCAA Regional, faces tough schedule
Marlin Ikenberry’s closing remarks as James Madison wrapped its 2024 season in the Raleigh Regional were simple.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 27/01/2025
“For them to be able to see that their mom stuck with it and their mom did this, that means a lot to me as well.” Fort Defiance grad reflects on time as school mascot www.dnronline.com/sports/level...
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Fort Defiance grad reflects on time as school mascot
For four years at Fort Defiance, Amy Wells told just about anybody who would listen what her dream was.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
#JMU DC Hemphill departing for Texas A&M www.dnronline.com/sports/level...
dnronline.com
JMU DC Hemphill departing for Texas A&M
The transfer portal may not have hit James Madison as hard this season, but it still faces a major loss.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
"You have to learn to trust your body again and, obviously, wherever you get injured, you have to just learn to trust yourself again." #JMU: McMurtie has unfinished business with Dukes www.dnronline.com/sports/level...
dnronline.com
McMurtie has unfinished business with Dukes
Pat McMurtrie knew that this past fall didn’t have to be his final one at the college level.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 13/01/2025
“It's almost like a speed date. You get in there, you got to meet the coaches fast, you got to know whether you like them off your first instinct.” #JMU: COVID left lingering impact on college football www.dnronline.com/sports/level...
dnronline.com
COVID left lingering impact on college football
Nearly five years later, COVID-19’s impact is still evident in college football.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 09/01/2025
JMU's cross divisional opponents for the 2025 season will be Louisiana and Texas State. The Dukes will travel to Texas State and host the first-ever meeting with Louisiana.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 08/01/2025
“If you could get out of Miami with football, you have good luck playing in any other place because it's so hard, it's so competitive.” #JMU: Miami prepared Collins for jump to DI www.dnronline.com/sports/level...
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Miami prepared Collins for jump to DI
Miami football is just different.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 07/01/2025
“We played JMU my freshman year. You always hear about JMU. I expected a lot, and it definitely didn’t disappoint. When I got there, I was like, It felt like home. It felt like family.” Harley's leaps of faith brought him to #JMU www.dnronline.com/sports/level...
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Harley's leaps of faith brought him to JMU
The path to college athletics wasn’t always through football for Chantz Harley.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 02/01/2025
“It's actually funny because I was telling my mom when the first recruiting and all that started, I told her, I'm either going DI or I'm going to the army or military and serving.” Harris-Lopez rejoins former coaches at #JMU www.dnronline.com/sports/colle...
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Harris-Lopez rejoins former coaches at JMU
Curtis Harris-Lopez has spent his entire football career around the color purple.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 02/01/2025
"I think Division-III football is very underrepresented. Some of the competition I went against was really good competition." D-III roots prepared Greenberg for #JMU www.dnronline.com/sports/level...
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D-III roots prepared Greenberg for JMU
Zach Greenberg’s path to Division-I football didn’t necessarily start in high school.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 01/01/2025
“I just think the amount of work that went into it, the amount of trust that the guys that were on this roster gave to us was very impressive.” Chesney's first season brought more success to #JMU www.dnronline.com/sports/colle...
dnronline.com
Chesney's first season brought more success to JMU
It’s been just over a year since Bob Chesney officially took over the reins of the James Madison football program.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 30/12/2024
“If I hadn’t been able to, sort of, convince myself that I am who I think I am, I don’t think I would have made it this far at all.” Rodgers ready to bring physicality to #JMU www.dnronline.com/sports/colle...
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Rodgers ready to bring physicality to JMU
Mekhi Rodgers’ first memories of sports weren’t on the football field.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 26/12/2024
“I don’t think I've even come close to touching the surface of my potential. I don't think I played a perfect game this year — not one time. So, there’s always room for improvement.” #JMU: Spence kept focus on journey to becoming All-American www.dnronline.com/sports/level...
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Spence kept focus on journey to becoming All-American
The ending to Terrence Spence’s season was a little different than in years prior.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 25/12/2024
“We were like the perfect puzzle piece. I trust him with my future, and he trusts me to do what I got to do on the field, so I really love that.” Matthews ready to join #JMU in January www.dnronline.com/sports/colle...
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Matthews ready to join JMU in January
It wasn’t always about football for Lexington Matthews.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 24/12/2024
“The dude kept a smile on his face and just kept coming to practice every day.” Taylor competed in lone season with #JMU www.dnronline.com/sports/colle...
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Taylor competed in lone season with JMU
Jordan Taylor was only at James Madison for a season.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 22/12/2024
"I honestly never thought I would ever step foot again on this field for JMU after my sophomore year. Things were said. Things were done." #JMU: Atkins' redemption is why sports are special dnronline.com/sports/colle...
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HARPER: Atkins' redemption is why sports are special
As James Madison celebrated its first-ever bowl victory, quarterback Billy Atkins took a knee on the 40-yard line.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 19/12/2024
“They never sat there and said, ‘I need to be the guy.’ They said, ‘What do we need to do for this team to win a game?’ #JMU: Dukes best Hilltoppers for first bowl victory www.dnronline.com/sports/colle...
dnronline.com
Dukes best Hilltoppers for first bowl victory
BOCA RATON, Fla. — Nearly 1,000 miles away from Bridgeforth Stadium, James Madison found itself crafting a historic chapter in program history.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
“You truly never know when that play is going to take place, but you have to be ready, not only for yourself, but for the guys around you.” #JMU: Atkins eager to make most of starting opportunity www.dnronline.com/sports/level...
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Atkins eager to make most of starting opportunity
It’s been less than a month since James Madison quarterback Billy Atkins was honored during the program’s annual Senior Day.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
“I knew for a fact he was going to come back. He loves this place more than anyone does. He's someone that puts all his heart and everything into JMU." #JMU center Morris remained loyal to JMU through six-year career www.dnronline.com/sports/level...
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Morris remained loyal to JMU through six-year career
Tanner Morris is somewhat a rarity in today’s college football landscape.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 16/12/2024
“I'll always be able to have a friend in him. I'll always be able to reach out to him, and he's just played a huge part in my development.” #JMU quarterback Evans used experienced quarterback room to develop www.dnronline.com/sports/colle...
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JMU's Evans used experienced quarterback room to develop
This time last year, it looked like quarterback JC Evans was well on his way to Jacksonville State.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 12/12/2024
"I mean, he was a home run." #JMU's O'Neill capitalizes on first FBS season www.dnronline.com/sports/colle...
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JMU's O'Neill capitalizes on first FBS season
There are probably a lot of different things that can run through a coach’s mind when they’re driving into work.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
"There’s a lot of words that are said, and how many of those words are backed in substance?" #JMU: Chesney values honesty in recruitment www.dnronline.com/sports/colle...
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Chesney values honesty in recruitment
After two decades of winning, high school recruits take notice.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 09/12/2024
"I'm excited for Billy to get his shot. He works so hard." #JMU: Dukes turn to Atkins for bowl game www.dnronline.com/sports/level...
dnronline.com
Dukes turn to Atkins for bowl game
James Madison had just finished its double-overtime possession against Marshall when redshirt sophomore quarterback Alonza Barnett III looked at his offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy and told him tha...
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 09/12/2024
#JMU offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy on quarterback Alonza Barnett III, who won't play in the Boca Raton Bowl due to an injury.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 07/12/2024
"A little bit of a blow to us, but ultimately it's next man up." #JMU: Barnett unlikely to play in Dukes' bowl game www.dnronline.com/sports/colle...
dnronline.com
Barnett unlikely to play in Dukes' bowl game
If James Madison wants to leave Boca Raton, Fla., with its first bowl victory, it’ll likely have to do it without star quarterback Alonza Barnett III.
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Catie Harper @catieharper.bsky.social · 07/12/2024
When #JMU travels for the Boca Raton Bowl, it'll likely be without star quarterback Alonza Barnett III, head coach Bob Chesney announced Saturday. Barnett, who started every game for the Dukes, limped off the field late during JMU's loss to Marshall in the regular-season finale.
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