HARRISONBURG — After JMU returned from its semifinal victory at top-seeded North Dakota State, coach Mike Houston said he anticipated getting center Kyle Rigney back for the championship.

On Monday, the first-year coach announced that Rigney would be playing in Saturday's FCS championship game in Frisco, Texas, against Youngstown State.

“Yeah, he’s coming along pretty good,” Houston said Monday during the Colonial Athletic Association football teleconference. “We expect everyone that played up in Fargo to play in the championship game.”

Rigney got hurt and had to hobble the field at the FargoDome in the first half of the contest, and was replaced by true freshman Mac Patrick.

Rigney, a fifth-year senior, has started every game at center for the Dukes this season.

“Having players with experience is always a beneficial factor,” Houston said. “Anytime you can have a player with more experience than another, that player will be more prepared to play in that setting.

“With all that being said, I’ve been very pleased with the way some of our young players have progressed, so I feel comfortable with any of the guys on our two-deep that we’ll put on the field.”