Fan the Flames: October 2008

Monday, October 27, 2008

Fan the Flames Preview: Game #9

#17

(7-1. 2-0)

vs.

(3-5)

Liberty hits the road for the final road swing of the 2008 season (hard to imagine that we were just discussing the opener not too long ago) as they face the soon to be Big South foe Blue Hose (Presbyterian is not eligible for the conference title this year but their games will affect conference standings)

The Blue Hose come into this week after a 28-24 win over fellow transitioning program North Carolina Central in Clinton followed by a 47-21 loss in Boiling Springs to Big South member Gardner-Webb (in their first season as a member in all sports). The Blue Hose are led by RB S.J. Worrell who leads the Blue Hose with 420 yards on 101 carries (4.2 yard average) and 4 TDs, along with QB Tim Webb who has 1428 yds and 9 TDs. after recovering from a broken neck suffered in the game last year (which the Flames won 48-14 on Homecoming).

Game time is set for 1:30 PM from Bailey Stadium in Clinton, SC. I'll have my prediction up later this week. the game can be heard locally on 88.3 FM and online at www.wrvlfm.com

Fan the Flames

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Fan the Flames Recap: Charleston Southern

Liberty came into this week needing to rebound after falling to Lafayette at Williams Stadium and with a number of football alumni (including former coach Sam Rutigliano and All Pro TE Eric Green who both had jerseys retired at halftime), rebound they did. Brock Smith threw for 269 yards and 2 TDs, Rashad Jennings rushed for 2 more and Liberty stifled the Buccaneer passing game and the Flames move to 2-0 in Big South play with a 42-0 victory on Homecoming. This was the second straight win for the Flames on homecoming and the second straight year they scored 42 points (won 42-14 over Presbyterian last year). This also is LU's 5th straight win at home over Charleston Southern and the Flames' 43rd straight win at home when scoring at least 30 points.

Before I go into my stars of the game and key stats, here is a list of teams that Liberty has beaten on this streak I just referenced:

1992
Morgan State
Central Florida
Delaware State

1993
Concord
Charleston Southern

1994
Concord
Catawba
New Haven
Charleston Southern

1995
West Virginia Tech
Morgan State
Wofford
Western Kentucky

1996
Charleston Southern

1997
Glenville State
Elon
Cal Poly

1998
Norfolk State

1999
Fayetteville State
Johnson C Smith

2000
Wingate

2001
Delaware State
Wingate

2002
West Liberty State

2003
Kentucky Wesleyan
VMI
Norfolk State
Coastal Carolina
Hofstra

2004
West Virginia Tech
Charleston Southern

2005
(Only season where LU failed to score at least 30 points in a game at home during streak)

2006
Glenville State
Charleston Southern

2007
Tusculum
Shippensburg
St Francis (Pa.)
Presbyterian
Coastal Carolina
VMI
(Only season where LU has scored at least 30 in EVERY home game)

2008
North Greenville
Glenville State
Stony Brook
Charleston Southern

(The Lafayette game ended a streak of consecutive home games scoring at least 30 points at 9)

Stars of the Game:

1. Jonathan Crawford: J-5 had a career day as he caught 6 passes for 124 yards (career high) and 2 TDs including a 69 yard pass to get things started for the Flames
2. Rashad Jennings: What else is there to say? The senior had another great game and added 2 more TDs
3. Brock Smith: The senior had another efficient game (threw one INT but it was on the last play of the 1st half) and spread the ball around very well passing to 8 different receivers

Key Stats:

Brock Smith: 17-27-269 yards-2 TDs (69 yards, 10 yards)-1 INT, 2 rushes- -5 yards-1 TD (1 yard)
Rashad Jennings: 23 rushes-127 yards-2 TDs (1 yard, 1 yard) 1 catch-8 yards
Jonathan Crawford: 6 catches-124 yards-2 TDs (69 yds, 10 yds)
Dominic Bolden 5 catches-117 yards, 2 rushes-34 yards-1 TD (25 yards)

The Flames head back on the road for two games, starting with a trip to Clinton, SC to face the Presbyterian Blue Hose in Big South play. Kickoff is set for 1:30 PM at Bailey Stadium.

Fan the Flames Recap: Charleston Southern

Friday, October 24, 2008

Fan the FLames Prediction: Charleston Southern

I'll make this a quick one. Liberty has beaten CSU 6 of the last 8, and they will be hopping mad after losing at home and they will win handily

Liberty 51
CSU 14

Monday, October 20, 2008

Fan the Flames: Game #8

(3-4, 1-1)

vs.

(6-1,1-0)

After suffering a tough loss, the Flames get back into Big South Conference play as the Buccaneers come a calling. LU has lost two of the last three years on Homecoming (10-7 to VMI in 2005 and 14-13 to William and Mary in 2006), but picked up a solid 48-14 win over eventual conference foe Presbyterian last year. The Buccaneers have not won at Liberty since 2000 and 6 of the last 8 overall in this series have gone the way of the Flames. The Bucs come in led by Clemson transfer Tribble Reese who has throw for over 1000 yards on the season and 11 TDs.

I'll have my prediction posted on Flamefans as well as this site later in the week.

Fan the Flames

Fan the Flames Recap: Lafayette

Brock Smith had a career high passing the football and Rashad Jennings recorded his 18th 100 yard rushing game, but it was nto enough as the Flames fell to Lafayette 35-21. This snapped LU's 11 game home winning streak, its 11 game overall winning streak. The Flames could not overcome two major special teams miscues, the first being a muffed punt by the usually sure-handed Dominic Bolden, and then a blocked punt for a TD, the first allowed by the Flames since 2001. Liberty did their best to make a game of it late, but a stop inside the Lafayette one and then a fake punt by the Leopards effectively sealed matters.

Stars of the Game:

1. Brock Smith: Even in spite of the loss, Smith has a career high in passing yards (344), pass attempts (37) and nearly had a career high in completions as LU rolled up huge offensive numbers.

2. Rashad Jennings: What else can you say? His 18th career 100 yard game and a highlight 58 yard TD run to spark the Flames in the second quarter.

Dominic Bolden: Despite the fumble on the punt return, the senior did have a career day receiving the ball.

Key Stats:

1. Smith 24-37-344 yds-2 TDs-1 INT
2. Jennings 20 carries-148 yards-1 TD

Liebrty doesnt have much time to rebound as the Buccaneers of Charleston Southern come to town for Homecoming. Game time is set for 3:30 PM.

Fan the Flames

Friday, October 17, 2008

Fan the Flames Prediction: Lafayette

This is a pretty important game for the Flames. Lafayette is 4-1 and is right on the cusp of being ranked. This game could be a big game for the Leopards but I think its even bigger for the home team as a loss here would be absolutely devastating. Lafayette has yet to score 30 points this season (they last did against Holy Cross last season) while Liberty has scored at least 30 points in all but one game this season and only failed to score 30 twice in the last 17 games. Additionally, (completely off the wall stat alert)Liberty has won 42 consecutive games at home when scoring at least 30 points. The last time they lost? November 2, 1991 against James Madison University (current #1 team in the land in I-AA/FCS football). I think that the Flames need to again get off to a fast start and I think that Rashad Jennings has a chance to put himself at the forefront in the Payton Award talk with this game. When I originally made my prediction on Flamefans (http://www.flamefans.com) I had this game picked 28-24. After doing a lot of reasearch this week I am going to adjust it a bit and say that LU keeps all their streaks going and gets a key win.

Liberty 35
Lafayette 20

Monday, October 13, 2008

Fan the Flames Preview: Game #7

(4-1)

vs.

(6-0)

Liberty steps out of conference for the 5th time in 7 games as they play host for the first time to Lafayette College out of the Patriot League. Although teh Leopards are fairly new to Flames fans, they have played a team that LC fans are extremely familiar with, Lehigh University. Lafayette and Lehigh have one of the longest active rivalries in all of college football as they will mark the 144th meeting of the two schools the final week of the regular season. LC comes to town winners of 4 of 5 to start the season (with the one loss coming two weeks ago to Harvard 27-13).

The Flames come in with the longest active winning streak in I-AA/FCS football at 11 wins in a row as well as the second longest active home winning streak at 11 in a row (behind the University of Dayton who has won 12 in a row and is at Davidson this weekend) and the Flames have not lost a game out of conference since losing to Toledo 35-34 last season).

Lafayette is led by their quarterback Rob Curley. He came in for 4 games last season (3-1 record) and actually played the Lehigh game with a broken hand and threw for the winning TD. Curley has 820 yards passing along with 5 TDs and 3 picks through 5 games this year.

I'll have my prediction for this game later in the week.

Fan the Flames

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Fan the Flames Recap: Stony Brook

Teh numbers may not have been as eyepopping but you dont have to win every game 63-0 to dominate. Brock Smith threw for a TD and Rashad Jennings ran for two more as the Flames extended all three of their winnings streaks with a 33-0 win over the Stony Brook Seawolves. Defensive back Ryan Greiser also made an impact with a vicious hit on Lynell Suggs on SBU's first offensive possession. The Flames will probably be on the cusp of the top 10 in most rankings come tomorrow night.

Stars of the Game:

1. Mike Brown: This guy is going to be something else. He had a sweeping 30 yard TD on an end around on the Flames second offensive possession and made his presence felt all over the field
2. The Flames defensive backfield: Along with Greiser's crushing hit, Pat Calvary had an interception and they generally shut down the Seawolves' air attack even though Dayne Hoffman did finish with over 100 yards.

Key Stats:

Brock Smith: 14-20-136 yards-1 TD-0 INT, RAshad Jennings: 24 carries-101 yards 2 TDs, Dominic Bolden: 4 catches-46 yards-1 TD, Matt Bevins 4 punts-167 yards 2-2 FG (27 yards, 22 yards)

The Flames step out of conference this weekend as the Lafayette Leopards come to town on Family Weekend. Game time is set for 3:30 PM

Fan the Flames

Friday, October 10, 2008

Fan the Flames Prediction: Game #6

Stony Brook is a team that many Flames fans are not all that familiar with (unless you happen to be from New York). They have two very good running backs in Edwin Gowins and COnte Cuttino. The thing is that as I said Monday, the Seawolves have been outscored by almost 5:1 in the last 4 games. I was reading a piece by Liberty beat writer Chris Lang and he mentioned that Stony Brook has never beaten a full scholarship I-AA/FCS team on the road. Liberty is still in a back and forth for the longest active home winning streak in the country with Dayton (The Flyers host Drake University at Welcome Stadium Saturday at 1 PM). Zach Terrell may be out for the FLames but they have found quite a fine replacement in B.J. Hayes. I think that if Stony Brook can get on track early they can make this a respectable game but if they fall behind, as they have in the last three games, this one will be over by halftime. Im leaning more toward the latter on this one.

Liberty 56
Stony Brook 7

Monday, October 6, 2008

Fan the Flames Game #6

(1-4)

vs.

(5-0)

After a tought three game road trip that saw the Flames win all three by a combined 11 points, Liberty returns to Williams Stadium this weekend as they face off with first year Big South foe Stony Brook. The Seawolves are coming off a bye week but the week before, took one on the chin from Hofstra falling 41-3. They are led byRedshirt freshman QB Dayne Hoffman (51-of-119 for 670 Yards with 4 TDs and 6 INTs) and true freshman RB Edwin Gowins (398 Yds Rushing (7.1 YPC) 3 TDs) . The Seawolves have had trouble moving the ball on their own (211 yards last game vs. Hofstra) while giving up yards and points in bunches (outscored 106-43 in last 4 games).

Liberty comes off a big win down in Myrtle Beach (well...Conway) over Coastal Carolina 43-38. Rashad Jennings had 195 yards rushing and 3 TDs and was awarded another Big South Conference Offensive Player of the Week nod for his efforts.

I'll have my prediction later this week (hopefully a lot better than the last one)

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Fan the Flames Recap: Coastal Carolina

Brock Smith threw for 239 yards and three TDs while Rashad JEnnings just missed his second straight 200 yard rushing game and the defense stood tall on a late two point conversion as the Flames won their tenth game in a row 43-38 over the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. Jennings has a chance for a 4th TD but instead made the same decision as Brian Westbrook did in a game last season as he downed himself at the one yard line to allow LU to run out the clock. The Flames now have won 6 consecutive Big South Conference football games dating back to the 2006 season, won back to back games against Coastal for the first time, and won in Conway for the first time.

Stars of the Game:

1. Rashad Jennings: The senior RB again showed why he is in the running for the Walter Payton Award after another excellent performance. He also added two receiving TDs to finish with 5 on the day (good for 30 points)
2. BJ Hayes: After sitting out last season as a redshirt, Hayes has immediately made his presence felt on the offense and he certainly made an impact with the longest run AND longest TD run of the year (66 yds) and finished with 120 all purpose yards and that TD

Key Stats:

Brock Smith: 15-24-239-3 TDs-0 INT
Rashad Jennings: 35 carries-195 yards-1 TD, 3 catches-33 yards-2 TDs
Dominic Bolden: 5 catches-93 yards-1 TD

After being on the road three of the last four weeks, the Flames return to the friendly confines of Williams Stadium and put their 10 game home winning streak on the line against Stony Brook University. Kickoff is set for 3:30 PM.

Fan the Flames