Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Fan the Flames Game #2 Preview: Morehead State

What a start to the 2017 season! Last week, Liberty pulled off one of the upsets of the season, knocking off the Baylor Bears out of the Big 12 48-45.  Stephen "Buckshot" Calvert was firing on all cylinders, setting Big South and Liberty records, going 44/60 for 447 yards and three TDs, breaking three Flames records, including one of the oldest single game records in school history with his yardage total. The record belonged to Flames legend Phil Basso, who set the record in 1984.

Calvert wasn't the only player with a standout performance. Antonio Gandy-Golden finished with 13 catches for 192 yards and two of Calvert's three TDs after finishing with 21 catches  all of 2016. With top receiver BJ Farrow out due to eligibility questions, AGG swiftly became Buckshot's favorite target, giving Baylor's DBs fits all night, including outreaching a Bears defender for his second TD and give the Flames a lead they would not relinquish the rest of the night. Another receiver with a fine evening was senior Marquis Fitzgerald, who finished with 6 catches, equaling his total from all of last season.

A player I am particularly glad to see have a big game last week is Carrington Mosley, the former LCA star, who had a breakout 2016, finishing as the leading rusher as part of the three headed attack for the Flames. Mosley finished with 122 yards including a 36 yard run on the second play from scrimmage that set the tone for the rest of the game.

Alex Probert, the sophomore kicker, tied a school record with 4 field goals, which was a big step after struggling with his kicking at the Flames Fan Fest the week prior.

The biggest part of the win for Liberty was the fact that there were no turnovers, something the Flames struggled with often especially in FBS matchups (see UNC 2015).

ANother major aspect is something that you might not see on the boxscore and that is the pace of play. OC Joe Dailey has often spoke in 2016 of going with a faster, more uptempo style of play, but the offense proved to be much to vanilla. The Flames ran 103 plays totaling 585 yards of offense.


The Flames arrived Sunday morning after a delay in their return flight from Waco, but there is no rest for the weary as we look to the 2017 home opener


Morehead State 1-0 (0-0 Pioneer Football League)

vs.


Liberty 1-0 (0-0 FCS Independent)


The Flames welcome the Morehead State Eagles to Williams Stadium for the first time since 1990 on Saturday. The last meeting between the teams was in Morehead the next year.

Matchup
Location: Williams Stadium, Lynchburg, VA
Series: Ninth Meeting
Last Meeting: Morehead State 12-10 (10/5/1991)
Kickoff: 6:00 PM
Radio: The Journey FM Radio Network/Liberty Flames Sports Network (Liberty) Alan York play-by-play; WIVY FM/Morehead State Eagles Radio Network (Morehead State) Chuck Mraz play-by-play
Television: Liberty Flames Sports Network/ESPN 3 Mike Tilley play-by-play
Coaches: Turner Gill (6th Season at Liberty 36-24 Record), Rob Tenyer (5th season 19-28 Record)
Last Week: Liberty  d. Baylor (FBS) 48-45, Morehead State d. Kentucky Christian (NAIA) 56-14

Liberty got one of the biggest wins in program history in front of a national TV audience when they spoiled the debut of new Baylor head coach Matt Rhule down in Waco (if you want some entertainment, read the 30 page discussion on the SicEm365 forum from the game...unless youre a Baylor fan).
As I said earlier, there is no rest for the weary as the Flames returned from Waco on Sunday morning and set right to work preparing for the Eagles so that they do not suffer a hangover from all the excitement around the Baylor win.

The Flames have not lost a home opener since 2012 (Turner Gill's first year) and welcomed MSU's conference mate to Lynchburg with a 55-7 rout last fall. Top receiver BJ Farrow is out for this one while they still look into his eligibility concerns, as well as slot receiver Lionel McConnell, who was injured in the second half of the Baylor game.

Liberty is laser focused on this game especially after the Baylor game, because eyes will be watching. I expect a huge crowd especially from the students, who were all over campus after the Baylor win and that will buoy them to a dominating win

Liberty 59
Morehead State 14


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