Fan the Flames Preview: NC Central

Jarrett Brown passed for 243 yards and added 69 and a rushing TD as the West Virginia Mountaineers defeated the Liberty Flames 33-20 in Morgantown. This was the first loss for Liberty in a season opener under Danny Rocco (having won the last three).

LU certainly gave the Mountaineers all they could handle despite the final margin. Tommy Beecher passed for 210 yards and a TD but the real surprise was redshirt sophomore Mike Brown. Brown finished with 11 catches for 157 yards and a TD, Rushed two times for 7 yards and ANOTHER TD, and had 3 KO returns for 107 yards. If the band was there he'd have probably taken a few minutes to direct them for a couple songs too. The kid can do everything and he has a chance to be a real stud this year and the next two years. The biggest problems that I noticed (and these were confirmed in discussions with fellow fans after the game) were poor tackling and giving up big plays in the passing game. I counted a number of times where either Brown for WVU should have been sacked or the runner should have been stopped in the backfield for a loss. Despite that, the Flames certainly earned the respect of Mountaineer Nation and best wishes to them in the Big East this year. Now its back to the mountain...


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The North Carolina Central Eagles (along with the Marching Sound Machine) make their first trip to Williams Stadium as Liberty opens the home portion of the 2009 season Saturday night. The Eagles lost last week to the Hampton Pirates 31-24 to open the 2009 season. They are led by their own dual threat redshirt sophomore QB in Michael Johnson who finished last weeks game with 123 yards through the air and 2 TDs as well as a TD on the ground. LU has not lost an opener at home since Aug 31, 2002 against Western Carolina. LU has a pair of important games coming up against Lafayette in Easton, PA and at home against #8 James Madison but they cannot overlook NCCU. LU has averaged 38.8 points per game in home openers since the loss to Western Carolina in 02 and defeated Division II North Greenville last season 49-10 and the Flames have won 44 consecutive games at home when scoring at least 30 points (I'll have to contact Elias and see who has the longest streak in that regard). LU knows that this could be a trap game with two very important constest on the horizon but COach Rocco knows they are going to have an electric atmosphere at Williams Stadum and that will carry the Flames to a decisive home win.

LU 49
NCCU 7