James Madison held a scrimmage Saturday morning at Bridgeforth Stadium in Harrisonburg. It was the first time coach Mike Houston put his team in a game-like setting during preseason camp. The Dukes open their season at home on Sept. 3 against Morehead State.

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- Junior quarterback Bryan Schor played five series – all with the first-team offense – while South Carolina transfer Connor Mitch played four series – one with the first-team offense and three with the second-team.

- Houston said the coaching staff will put “a lot” of stock from the two quarterbacks’ scrimmage performances into the decision to name a starter. Houston said “by next weekend at the latest” a decision would be made.

- The first-year Madison coach said he thought Mitch showed great poise in the second half of the scrimmage. Houston said that the ex-Gamecock is a “cool customer” in the huddle with his teammates.

- Schor started the scrimmage by going 5-for-5 on the first series with a 33-yard touchdown pass on a post-corner throw to wide receiver Rashard Davis. Houston said he was impressed with how Schor set the tone for the scrimmage.

- True freshman Cole Johnson also earned praise from Houston. Houston said Johnson “has a great future” at JMU, but with two veterans at quarterback already competing for the No. 1 job, the Virginia Beach native will redshirt this season.

- The most impressive position group Saturday was the offensive line, according to Houston. The group “turned the corner,” he said.

- On defense, true freshman defensive end John Daka got to the quarterback four times. He would’ve had four sacks, but quarterbacks were in non-contact red jerseys. Houston said there would be pass-rush situations during the season where JMU lines Daka up on one side and preseason All-American Andrew Ankrah on the other.

- Running back Khalid Abdullah ripped off a 44-yard run early in the scrimmage. Abdullah echoed Houston’s thoughts on the offensive line. Abdullah said he was able to stay patient and wait for the offensive line to setup blocks, which is something the senior running back wanted to work on for this fall. Abdullah said at times last year he would try to force a big run, but this year he wants to wait for holes to open up.

- Abdulllah said he thought the scrimmage went well overall and that the offense was very physical.

- Linebacker Gage Steele said the defense struggled at first as the unit was trying to adjust to the speed of the scrimmage. Once the defense was adjusted to the offense’s tempo, Steele said the unit played better. Steele said the unit was probably at its best in short-yardage situations. The first-team defense forced the first-team offense into a three-and-out during a short-yardage setup on the goal line. Steele had a tackle for loss during that series.