Beecher likely to start at QB, Brown at WR, with Summers out

At the beginning of the week, Liberty football coach Danny Rocco said with some certainty that he would play two quarterbacks today against James Madison. But that was Tuesday, and at that time, Rocco figured wide receiver Chris Summers would have a fairly good shot at returning from a foot injury suffered during the Flames’ win against Lafayette last Saturday in Pennsylvania.

After Thursday’s practice, Summers’ status was still unresolved. He was expected to return to practice Wednesday but didn’t. Summers didn’t practice Thursday, either, leaving his availability for today a true game-time decision.

Summers’ status will dictate how Liberty’s quarterback situation develops today. If he can’t go, Mike Brown will be forced to spend most of his time at receiver, meaning Tommy Beecher — who is healthy after missing a week with a mild concussion — will spend much of the game at quarterback.

Brown might still line up in direct-snap and Wildcat-type formations from time to time, but without Summers, Liberty has a void of experience at receiver, so Brown will spend most of his time there.

Monday, JMU coach Mickey Matthews said he was game-planning as well as he could to defend Brown without real regard to where he would be playing.

“You really can’t prepare for a great player,” Matthews said. “You watch the West Virginia film, and he’s making guys miss. He makes that one-handed catch against West Virginia. The guy just does it all.

“He’s a tremendous football player. When you have a guy like that, you can’t really do anything specific to stop him. You have to be aware of what he’s doing. If he’s at quarterback, he’s going to carry the ball a lot and throw it. If he’s at wide receiver, that’s the guy they’re going to throw to, No. 10. When you watch them on tape, so much of their offense is geared towards him. He’s very competitive. He makes you miss. He makes plays.”

Summers isn’t the only player who could be absent tonight for what is arguably the most important home game in the history of the program. Linebacker Doncel Bolt injured his left quad early this week and didn’t practice Wednesday or Thursday. He’s questionable, and if he can’t go, former Amherst High standout Pierre Tinsley would get the start at Mike linebacker.

Justin Vargas, the starting right tackle, injured his right ankle against Lafayette and was still wearing a splint on the joint Thursday. He’s doubtful, meaning Soeren Wendland will get his first career start tonight.

All of the seats at Williams Stadium are sold out, but tickets are still available for those who want to sit on the grassy hillsides and watch. Though that might be an uncomfortable proposition, considering the forecast: A 7 p.m. temperature of 59 degrees with a 90 percent chance of rain.

Though Liberty may be forced to scrap its two-quarterback plans, the seventh-ranked Dukes will continue to rotate quarterbacks Drew Dudzik and Justin Thorpe. Dudzik started at Maryland in JMU’s opener and Thorpe started last week’s VMI game. Last week, the pair combined to throw for 341 yards and four touchdowns.

So the Dukes will present a challenge to a Liberty pass defense that haad major breakdowns last week at times against Lafayette. One player to watch is sophomore safety Larry Claiborne, who has struggled with his consistency so far. He’s been too eager to go for the big play — the big hit, the sack, the interception — rather than just concentrating on his assignments.

That’s something that will change with more experience, Rocco said.

“Larry needs to know that in my mind, a game that has a sack, a pass break-up and a tackle for loss, but you get beat deep twice, that’s not a good game,” Rocco said. “A good game to me is to never give up a big play.”