HARRISONBURG — During preparation for his first game as head coach at James Madison, Mike Houston said it didn’t take him long to figure out which Morehead State players stood out on film.

Houston watched tape of last year’s meeting between JMU and Morehead State again Tuesday morning and saw the same thing that he’s seen all summer when he started scouting the Eagles.

“Austin Gahafer is a very talented quarterback,” Houston said. “And he has a very talented target back in [slot receiver] Jake Raymond.”

Gahafer was the offensive player of the year in the Pioneer Football League last fall and returns for his senior season as the active passing leader in the FCS with 8,514 career yards. Raymond — a fifth-year senior — needs only one catch to become Morehead State’s all-time leader in receptions.

Raymond hauled in 11 catches for 130 yards against the Dukes defense last season.

Fourth-year Morehead State coach Rob Tenyer said he’d lean on Gahafer and Raymond to ignite his offense Saturday.

“Those two have chemistry, and when things break down, they find a way to get things done,” Tenyer said. “That’s important in big games and in close games.”

“There will be points in the game that we lean on Austin as a four-year starter to make changes, adjustments and let us know what he’s seeing between series, which is something that he’s grown with. We want to build around the things that he’s good at, so it’s important for us that we keep an open line of communication with him during the game.”

On the other side of the chess match, Houston plans to combat any offensive cohesion Morehead State will bring to Harrisonburg with defensive coordinator Bob Trott’s scheme.

The defense was designed and installed throughout preseason camp for flexibility.

“We can lineup in any 4-2-5, 3-4 or 4-3 depending on what package we want to go to when the offense comes out,” senior linebacker Gage Steele said during preseason camp. “Coach Trott has definitely got a lot of things that he can put in and it’s exciting to have it where we can come out in different defenses and mix it up a little bit.”

JMU can also use three corners on the field at the same time in a nickel package.

“We’re going to have to do a variety of things in coverage to give Gahafer a variety of different looks,” Houston said. “We’ve got to move some personnel around and play some different coverage. What we have to do is make him feel uneasy in the pocket whether it’s by pressure or disguise.”

One personnel move that could benefit JMU is sliding its best corner, senior Taylor Reynolds, inside to mirror Raymond. Reynolds already moves inside when the Dukes switch to their nickel package.

“Based on our game plan, we know that [Raymond] is the quarterback’s No. 1 target, so knowing that going into the game will help us a lot,” Reynolds said. “On film, they move him around a good bit, so knowing where he is on the field at all times is really going to help us.”

A preseason All-American, Reynolds has nine career interceptions.

“He’s a pretty good receiver, so it’s taking a lot to prepare for him especially in the film room,” Reynolds said.

On the front end of the defense, Houston said he will “roll guys in and out” on the defensive line to keep the group fresh. At least seven defensive linemen will play to give the Dukes a fresh pass rush.

The only solidified starter on the defensive line is Andrew Ankrah, who will rush off the edge and out of a standup linebacker spot from time to time.

“[Gahafer] is a really great player, so we’re going to have to play really disciplined football,” Ankrah said. “Getting sacks and getting to him will be important.”