Fan the Flames Sidelight: 2014 Big South Race

Everyone has played at least 1 conference game in the Big South and here is where we stand:

Charleston Southern 5-3 (0-2)

The Bucs have taken a 180 degree turn in the wrong direction after starting the season with 5 straight wins, including one over the other FCS college in the Charleston, The Citadel. A 1 point loss to Vanderbilt from the SEC, was thought to be a confidence springboard for the team, but they went out and scored exactly three points in a loss to Presbyterian (more on them later) and then a 21 point loss to in-state rival Coastal Carolina.

Before teh season, a lot of people were not too high on the strength of the Bucs' schedule, including this writer. That lack of confidence seems to have born itseelf out as CSU is now out of the running for the Big South title, and if they don't get the ship righted soon, could find themselves on a one way ticket to the bottom of the conference! This weekend will be a good chance to get some confidence back against a Monmouth squad that is coming off their own loss to the Blue Hose last week

Coastal Carolina 8-0 (2-0)

The Chants just keep winning. In their last 22 games against FCS competition, CCU has won 19 of them. They have not won pretty many weeks, but the important thing is they have more points on the scoreboard at the end. The way things are going, as long as Coastal takes care of business, they are on a collision course with Liberty (more on them later) for the Big South title on the Grand Strand

Gardner-Webb 4-4 (0-1)

The Runnin Bulldogs have been somewhat bipolar in their play this year, losing three of five games (with wins over Wofford and Virginia University of Lynchburg), then winning back to back games over UNC CHarlotte (transitioning to FBS Conference USA in 2015) and former conference mate VMI before being shut down completely in a shutout loss in Lynchburg to Liberty.

The Bulldogs looked like they were in the race for third behind the Flames and the Chanticleer, but they will need to get the offense figured out before they start their final 3 games with a trip to North Charleston for a breakfast matchup with the Bucs.

Liberty 5-3 (1-0)

THe Flames had probably the two most diametrically opposed weeks in the conference, losing a gut-wrenching double overtime game with Richmond, which possibly doomed their at-large prospects, and then winning a good old fashioned shootout down in Boone over first year FBS program Appalachian State, who turned around and smashed Troy the next week. With the surprise strength of the Big South and the overall results of the non-conference opponents, the FLames, if they keep winning, could find themselves playing on Thanksgiving weekend for the first time ever regardless of the outcome, but the attitude on the mountain is just two words...NO SHARING...and they continue that quest with a win down in CLinton against our next and most surprising team this season...

PResbyterian 5-3 (1-1)

The Blue Hose, as I noted in my preview post yesterday, have exceeded expectations, winning more games this season than in the last two seasons COMBINED, including wins over a pair of Southern Conference squads in Furman and a resurgent Western Carolina. With a loss to Coastal, though, this weekend is a major test for PC to see if they can take a step they have never taken before, into Big South contention. A win probably cements them into second behind CCU, but a loss not only ends their hopes for the Championship, but also confirms that they are not quite ready to claim their place as the third team in the Big South

Monmouth 5-2 (0-1)

The Hawks, in their first year in the Big South, have also had scheduling questions, but they did win five of their first six games, with only a loss to former conference mate in the Northeast Duquesne, leading the conference in scoring, before scoring only 12 in a loss to Presbyterian down in Clinton.

MU does have a chance to play spoiler in the race between Liberty and Coastal (facing both in back to back weeks), after hosting the reeling Buccaneers in West Long Branch this Saturday.

Fan the Flames Preview: Presbyterian

After energizing the home fans with a 34-0 shutout against Gardner-Webb, the Liberty Flames go back on the road for a game that takes on a lot more importance than when it was first scheduled...

 Liberty (5-3, 1-0 Big South)

 vs.

Presbyterian (5-3, 2-1 Big South)

The Liberty Flames continue their five game run through the Big SOuth to close the season, heading down to Clinton, SC to face off with the Blue Hose, who have surged in 2014, after winning a grand total of 8 games in the last 3 seasons, including back to back 2 win seasons in 2012 and 2013.

The Blue Hose are carried by the defense, which has allowed 50 total points in 5 victories, good for 10 points per game, including 12 points to the top offense in the Big South, Monmouth in a win last week. THey have improved in every defensive category and the results have shown, with wins over Furman and Western Carolina from the Southern Conference in addition to a win over Charleston Southern.

This game is about strength vs. strength. Liberty enters the game as the second highest scoring offense in the Big South, averaging 36.1 points per game, including 3 50 point games (including the win over App State before the bye week). The Flames have a lot more firepower than any FCS school on PC's schedule, save Coastal, who beat the Blue Hose 40-28 in Clinton on the strength of 20 points off turnovers.

Matchup:

Location: Bailey Memorial Stadium

Series: 12th Meeting (Liberty leads 7-4)

Last Meeting:35-14 LU 11/09/2013

Kickoff:; 2:00 PM

Radio: Victory FM Radio Network (Liberty) Alan York play-by-play, Blue Hose Sports Network (Presbyterian) Eric Thacker play-by-play

Television: ESPN3 (National) Mike Hogewood play-by-play, Liberty Flames Sports Network (Liberty) Mike Tilley play-by-play

Coaches: Turner Gill (3rd Season at Liberty, 19-12 Record), Harold Nichols (6th Season at Presbyterian, 14-47 Record)
Last Week: Liberty W 34-0. Presbyterian 18-12 vs. Monmouth.

Presbyterian, which this writer picked to win just one game in 2014 before the season, has exceeded a LOT of expectations, and is contending heading into November for the first time since joining the Big South. The one thing that has been a drawback, has been the offense. The Blue Hose have passed the 20 point plateau a grand total of twice the entire season, one of them a 69-14 win over D2 Bluefield College. Liberty has passed 20 points in 6 of 8 games this season including a season high (against D1 competition) 55 points in the win down in Boone. Josh Woodrum has rocketed up the all-time passing list at Liberty, needing only 349 yards to become the 4th QB to pass for 7,000 yards (as a side note, the redshirt junior averaged 251 yards passing the last three games and has passed 300 yards 4 times this season). Darrin Peterson, despite a very quiet outing against Gardner-Webb, is still the leading receiver for the Flames, needing 209 yards to break 1,000 yards through the season and 290 yards to break the single season passing yards record set by Chris Summers in 2010.

DJ Abnar is coming off a workhorse performance last week, finishing with 137 yards on 27 carries, just two weeks after logging 29 carries. The junior did injure his foot in the win last week, but showed no ill effects this week and will probably start once again for the Flames. The Blue Hose are not as assured at the tailback position, as starter (and senior) DeMarcus Rouse injured his shoulder last week and his status has been questionable all week. Sophomore QB Heys McMath comes into this matchup averaging 143 passing yards, so if Rouse cannot play, he will likely have to carry the offense

Prediction

This game could be a season and program-defining game for the Blue Hose, who are about three seasons ahead of schedule (minimum) as far as competing for the Big South title. Liberty comes into this game knowing that they need to keep winning to help their chances of getting an at-large berth for the FCS playoffs should they lose to Coastal in the finale. PC has crushed Liberty's playoff hopes before, knocking off the Flames 31-28 in Clinton (on November 1 of all dates) in 2008. While there aren't many players who were there for that game, the sting of that loss  is something that this year's squad is very familiar with, along with the fact that PC is much more successful, they will not overlook the Blue Hose and will use their significant offensive advantage to get another win down in SC

Liberty 34
Presbyterian 17

Tomorrow I will have a look at the Big South and a few words about Flames basketball.

Fan the Flames Review- Gardner-Webb

The Liberty Flames showed no loss of momentum following the bye week as they scored on three of the first 4 possessions and cruised to a 34-0 victory over the Gardner-Webb Runnin Bulldogs in Lynchburg.

The Runnin Bulldogs were stuck in neutral against the Flames defense, finishing with only 56 total yards of offense, after spending the entire first half in the negative. The defense sacked GWU quarterback Lucas Beatty 5 times and held him to only73 passing yards, the week after he set a Big South record 430 in a win over former Big South member VMI.

The star of the game for the offense was DJ Abnar, who finished with 137 yards rushing before leaving the game with a minor ankle injury. Abnar became the first running back since former Flames RB (and current New York Giants RB) Rashad Jennings, who had a run of 10 in a row from 2007-2008.

On the defense, the story was the line,  led by Chima Uzowihe, who ffinished  with 2.5 sacks, moving into the top 5 all time in sacks, passing Troy Rice.

Inside the Numbers

Here are some numbers from this weekend:

7:  Josh Woodrum cleared 200 yards passing for the 7th time in 8 games this season, the only time he did not finish with at least 200 yards was the opener against UNC
THe victory was also the 7th time in 8 years where Liberty won the conference opener. The last loss in the first conference game came in 2006...the opponent? Gardner-Webb
3: Last week was the third time all season where Woodrum and Darrin Peterson did not connect for a TD.
2: Despite not finishing with a TD catch on the day, Dante Shells finished with 2 catches for 106 yards, good for a 53 ypr average.

Will come back with a preview of a key Big South matchup against Presbyterian tomorrow.

Some Gardner-Webb Perspective on the Game

Its been a while since we had a chance to get some perspective from the opposing side during game week, but we are back and had a chance this week talk to the beat writer for Gardner-Webb, Alan Ford, sports editor at the Shelby Star, and get some perspective on what has become a bit of a tradition for Liberty and the Runnin Bulldogs, opening Big South play against each other:

Fan the Flames: What has been the general sentiment among Runnin’ Bulldogs fans this season with GWU getting a win over Wofford but losses to Furman and The Citadel in the non-conference as they head into Big South play?

Alan Ford: Gardner-Webb fans don’t really know what to think about the current team. The VMI win last week, following the victory over Charlotte, has them feeling a lot better about the way things are going.

Most of the fans understand how injuries riddled this team early on – both returning all-star candidates at inside linebacker (Tanner Burch & Chad Geter) were lost for the season (Burch never played a down) and also there have been a number of offensive line issues. The lack of depth at running back has been a problem as well at times and it was actually a pleasant surprise they were able to have such a big offensive day last week with Juanne Blount out of action.

FTF: Lucas Beatty asserted himself as the starter last year, how has he been with the younger QBs as he wraps up his final season in Boiling Springs?

AF: It was probably a bit frustrating for the GWU senior early on this season when the offensive line was having a tough time protecting him (double digit sacks vs. The Citadel). GWU would bring in freshman Tyrell Maxwell, who was more of a running threat, at certain times in those games.

The big key was getting wideout Kenny Cook back in the lineup after his injury in the opener at Furman. That has made Beatty’s numbers go up dramatically. They are still using Maxwell for a series here or there but only as a change of pace.

FTF:  About this weekend, the Runnin Bulldogs have not won in Lynchburg since 2006, including giving up a big lead on their last trip into Williams Stadium in 2012. How have the players, particularly the ones who were part of that team in 2012, handled dealing with that much history working against GWU over the years?

AF: Truthfully, I don’t know how much the history means, if anything at all, to the GWU players. That’s not putting down Liberty’s obvious success in the matchup. Everyone in the Big South knows how difficult it is to go to Lynchburg to face the Flames.

But since that last visit in 2012, Gardner-Webb has gone through a coaching change and it’s a completely different mindset the past two years under Coach McCray. I actually think the coaching staff is trying to make the current group of players more aware of what the history of the series is, and how important this contest is in terms of the conference.

FTF: What is the key both offensively and defensively for the Bulldogs in order to come out with that victory on Saturday?

AF: GWU can’t allow Liberty’s offensive line to just pound away up front, then when the ‘Dogs are forced to adjust, give up a big play in the passing game. Gardner-Webb just has to plug up the gaps on first-down running plays and put the Flames behind the chains a bit so Liberty can’t just roll up so many first downs and wear them down as the day goes along.

Offensively, GWU needs to be able to run the football enough to set up its play-action passes to Cook, plus the two tight ends (Mike Estes and Seth Cranfill) they often have on the field together.

FTF: What do you think will be the matchup we need to keep an eye on on Saturday?

AF: I think it will be how Liberty handles those two tight ends in passing situations. Cook will receive an awful lot of attention from the defense, maybe even double-teaming him on key possession downs. The ’Dogs have been able to work around that in recent games because Beatty has had the time to locate those tight ends, each of whom has good hands, and distribute the football accordingly.

Fan the Flames Football Forecast: Gardner-Webb

After a much needed bye week, the Liberty FLames, after their first win over an FBS program since 2010, enter into the final sprint of the season as they open Big South play against a familiar first opponent...

 Gardner-Webb (4-3, 0-0)

vs. 

Liberty (4-3, 0-0)

This is the third time in four years that the Flames have  opened the lid on conference play against the boys from Boiling Springs. The last time the two teams met in Lynchburg, it was homecoming 2012. The Runnin Bulldogs did just that, sprinting to a 28-10 lead, before the Flames scored 32 of the last 39 points, capped off by a 5 yard TD pass from Josh Woodrum to Brandon Apon late in the 4th quarter to give (at the time) first year head coach Turner Gill his first victory as Liberty head coach. Woodrum finished with his second 300 yard game in three outings that day, and after starting the year 0-4, that win catapulted Liberty to 6 wins in their final 7 games on the way to their 7th consecutive winning season.

Both teams come in on a high, Liberty off the aforementioned win over the MOuntaineers, and Gardner-Webb winners of 4 of their last 5 games,including a win over Virginia University of Lynchburg (from the USCAA last I checked), as well as their second win over a SoCon squad in former Big South member VMI in Lexington last week.

With the improved play from the Big South, these next 5 games have an even greater importance, since this probably will be the Flames only chance at making the FCS playoffs this year. All six squads come in above the .500 mark after non-conference play, as well as three squads having already opened conference play in Coastal Carolina, Presbyterian (next week's opponent) and Charleston Southern.

Matchup:

Location: Williams Stadium, Lynchburg, VA

Series: 20th Meeting (Liberty leads 11-8-1)

Last Meeting:24-0 LU 10/26/2013

Kickoff:; 3:30 PM

Radio: Victory FM Radio Network (Liberty) Alan York play-by-play, Runnin Bulldogs Radio Network (Gardner-Webb) Fabian Fuentes play-by-play

Television: ESPN3 (National) Mike Hogewood play-by-play, Liberty Flames Sports Network (Liberty) Mike Tilley play-by-play

Coaches: Turner Gill (3rd Season at Liberty, 17-12 Record), Carroll McCray (2nd  Season at Gardner-Webb, 11-8 Record)
Last Week: Liberty BYE. Gardner-Webb 47-41 2OT vs. VMI

 The boys from Boiling Springs come in on a hot streak, winners of 4 of 5, the only blemish being a 37-14 loss to The Citadel down in Charleston. Redshirt senior QB Lucas Beatty had a career day, finishing with 430 yards, narrowly missing the single game passing yardage record by 57 yards. The running game is somewhat questionable with the status of starting tailback Juanne Blount uncertain according to Liberty beat writer Chris Lang on his blog. If Blount can't go, fellow senior JJ Hubbard (who served as the Wildcat QB against Liberty in 2012) will probably have to answer the call, along with freshmen Khalil Lewis and Kerry Bernard.

Prediction

Liberty has not lost to a team outside of Coastal Carolina at home since 2006, and outside of the comeback win in 2012 and a loss to GWU in Danny Rocco's first season at the helm, the games have not been close. the two prior trips to Liberty Mountain saw GWU outscored 70-24, including a 40-14 pasting in 2010. If Liberty comes out fast against the Bulldogs, the Flames defense should be able to put a muzzle on Lucas Beatty and the offense and come away with a two or three score victory

Liberty 31
Gardner-Webb 14

Thursday or Friday I will have my interview with Alan Ford, GWU beat writer from the Shelby Star so keep a lookout for it.

Fan the Flames Review: Appalachian State

Liberty bounced back from a tough double OT loss at home last week to score the last two touchdowns in a high scoring affair down in Boone and pick up the program's third win ever over a Division I-A/FBS opponent 55-48 in OT.



Josh Woodrum bounced back in a big way after having his string of 300 yard passing games snapped last week, finishing with 356 yards and 3 TDs through the air and the tying TD in the fourth quarter on the ground. DJ Abnar, after a tough first half, finished with 129 yards rushing and one of the most vicious hits I have seen from a Flames running back since I started following Liberty football in 2002 (Seen at 5:22 of this video, credit to the Liberty Flames Athletics Youtube page):

















The pass defense was again torched, as freshman taylor Lamb threw for 397 yards and consistently beat the young Flames DBs deep after Liberty tried to prevent the quick passing game that had plagued them the last two games. Tyrin Holloway did have an interception and Jacob Hagen was...well...Jacob Hagen, forcing a fumble and snagging the game clinching pick in overtime.

Special teams...was special again as Dakota Kelly muffed a punt for one Mountainner TD and John Lunsford whiffed on an onside kick attempt to open the game and ASU scored on the very first play from scrimmage. Lunsford did atone somewhat, nailing two field goals  while missing another 57 yarder weeks after nailing one against Bryant.

This was an important win for the Flames, though. With this being the last game before the bye week, Liberty could ill afford to go into it on a three game skid, but the boys from Lynchburg made the one play that mattered, something that was missing from last week's game, and now they prepare for the final run as the Gardner-Webb Runnin Bulldogs to open Big South Conference play for the 4th time since 2006 and third time in 4 seasons.


Inside the Numbers

Here are some interesting numbers from this past week

103- the two teams combined for 103 points, the second consecutive season that Liberty has been in a game where both teams did that (Liberty and CCU combined for 107 last season, also an overtime game, 2 overtimes to be precise)
4- Josh Woodrum tossed his 4th 300 yard passing game of the season, and in the process moved to 4th all time in career passing yards, passing former Flames standout Antwan Chiles
7- With his 356 yards, Woodrum tied Phil Basso for second all time in 300 yard passing games with 7, and moved within striking distance of the all time record of 11 set by Robby Justino.
14- DJ Abnar became the 14th different Flames running back to post consecutive 100-yard rushing games and the first since Aldreakis Allen in 2011.
48- Liberty scored an offensive TD for the 48th consecutive game, a streak dating back to the 2010 season (when Liberty lost 10-3 to JMU, also the last time the Flames failed to reach double figures in points).

With the bye week coming this week, I will post my midseason report card on Friday, and hopefully get a midseason review from Flames beat writer Chris Lang as well as my midseason MVPs for both offense and defense.

Fan the Flames Football Forecast: Appalachian State

The Liberty Flames came up just short against Danny Rocco and the Richmond Spiders, falling 46-39 in double overtime, despite an outstanding game from Darrin Peterson (who currently leads the nation in receiving yards at the FCS level) and a school record 60 yard field goal from John Lunsford as time expired in regulation. Josh Woodrum had a solid game, finishing with 193 yards passing and a career high 98 yards rushing and 5 total TDs, although his streak of 300 yard games came to an end.

Not much time to lick the wounds this week as the Flames play their second FBS opponent:

 Appalachian State (1-4, 0-2 Sun Belt)

 vs.

Liberty (3-3, 0-0 Big South)

This is the last non-conference game of the season for the Flames, and with the loss to Richmond, and the struggles of the Mountaineers in their first season at the FBS level, this game lost a lot of its luster, but, with the bye week coming up, this is a chance to get some positive momentum before opening conference play against Gardner-Webb in two weeks

Matchup:

Location: Kidd-Brewer Stadium, Boone, NC

Series: Tenth Meeting (ASU leads 7-2)

Last Meeting: 29-22 ASU 09/21/2002

Kickoff:; 3:30 PM

Radio: Victory FM Radio Network (Liberty) Alan York play-by-play, Appalachian Sports Network/IMG College, David Jackson play-by-play

Television: ESPN3 (Announcers TBA)

Coaches: Turner Gill (3rd Season at Liberty, 16-12 Record), Scott Satterfield (2nd Season at Appalachian State, 5-12 Record)
Last Week: Liberty 39-46 2OT vs. Richmond. Appalachian State 21-47 vs. South Alabama

The Mountaineers have fallen on hard times since their threepeat from 2005-2007 as NCAA I-AA/FCS national champions. After the departure of legendary head coach Jerry Moore following the 2012 season, Satterfield, who returned that year to be the offensive coordinator and assistant head coach, was hired. Expectations were very high in Boone for a team that had won or shared the Southern Conference title 7 of the past 8 years before receiving an invitation to the FBS Sun Belt Conference in 2013. ASU struggled to a 4-8 record in a transitional year, and now come into their homecoming weekend losers of four of their first five games (the lone win coming against Campbell in week 2).

Liberty comes in losers of back to back games, the most recent a heartbreaker in front of a record homecoming crowd in Lynchburg. While it won't have as much play as it could have as far as an at-large berth is concerned, this is still an important game for the Flames. With the bye week coming next week as noted at the top of this week's post, Liberty doesn't want to go into the downtime on a three game losing streak. As Jon Manson noted on the Liberty Flames Nation blog, going into the bye on a three game downer could really kill this team's confidence, while a win (especially over an FBS) could give them a much needed boost, especially against one of the teams that was picked over the Flames when the Sun Belt looked to expand.

Prediction:

Liberty needs this game as much if not more than App State does (which still isn't much after the Richmond loss), and with the Flames ability to be competitive against FBS schools, that keeps them in this one, but if the front 7 can't get any legitimate pressure and the DBs make plays instead of giving a ton of space as they have the last couple weeks, the Flames will be headed back to Lynchburg with their 8th straight defeat in this series. I am picking ASU in a close one as I did before the season, but I would not be surprised if the Flames get a victory

Liberty 24
Appalachian State 28

Fan the Flames Review: Richmond

It was an electric atmosphere at Williams Stadium in Lynchburg as the Liberty Flames took the field for their annual Homecoming football game against the RIchmond Spiders. Josh Woodrum had another outstanding game, and though his streak of 300 yard passing games game to an end, he finished with 5 total TDs and John Lunsford set a new school record with a 60 yard field goal as time expired before the Flames fell in double overtime 46-39.

Here is the video of Lunsford's record breaking kick courtesy  of the Liberty Flames Sports Network Youtube page:

Lunsford's kick, the second time in three games where the junior has broken the school record for longest field goal, made #4 on Sportscenter's Top 10, the first time that Liberty football has made an appearance in the nightly countdown

Inside the Numbers

Here are a few numbers of note from the game last week:

20,838- The Richmond game was seen by a record 20,838 fans at Williams Stadium, the first time ever that 20,000 people were gathered outside of graduation. The previous record was 19,314 in 2010 against Savannah State

0- Liberty failed to convert a third down going 0/10, the first time the Flames failed to convert on third down since 2002

4- Darrin Peterson garnered his fourth straight 100+ yard receiving game, becoming the first since I believe Pat Nelson to accomplish that feat

6- The aforementioned field goal by Lunsford ranks as the 6th longest field goal in NCAA history at the I-AA/FCS level
14- Josh Woodrum and Darrin Peterson have connected 14 times including three more this past Saturday

I'll have a preview of the final non-conference game for the Flames against newly minted FBS member Appalachian State tomorrow

Fan the Flames Review: Indiana State

The Liberty Flames went to Terre Haute, Indiana and spun their tires in the home of the world famous Action Track, falling to the Indiana State Sycamores for the second time, 38-19

Josh Woodrum finished with 308 yards through the air, his third straight game with 300+yards,  although most of it came with the outcome of the game largely decided. He also threw two very costly interceptions, part of a 4 turnover day for the offense.

The other unfortunate outcome of the game was a rash of injuries, as backup running back Todd Macon, linebackers Jimmy O'Grady and Nick Sigmon, and third string running back Joshua Smith all are out this week, with Smith out for the remainder of the season.

Inside the numbers

Here are some interesting numbers from last week's matchup:

6- Despite the loss, Josh Woodrum finished with his third straight 300 yard passing game, and his 6th of his career, passing Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Mike Brown and former Flame Biff Parson. With his next game, the Cave Spring product will tie Phil Basso for second all time in 300 yard passing games, 4 behind all time leader (and 2013 Liberty Hall of Fame inductee) Robby Justino, who finished with 11 career 300 yard games.
11- With an 8 yard connection in the 4th quarter, Josh Woodrum and Darrin Peterson connected for the 11th time as a QB/WR connection. Hopefully in a future post I will be able to go over the all-time list for touchdown connections between
2- With a 300 yard performance against Richmond, Woodrum will become only the second player ever to pass for 300 yards or more in 4 consecutive games, joining Justino, but would be the first to do it in a single season
With two touchdown passes, Woodrum would also tie former Flames signal caller Antwan Chiles for 5th on the all-time career list for touchdown passes

Will have a preview of the Richmond game up tomorrow night and Friday I hope to have my interview with college sports writer John O'Connor from the Richmond Times-Dispatch