Fan the Flames Preview: #BEATCOASTAL

This is the final game preview post of the year for me, as the Flames welcome the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers for their final visit to Williams Stadium as a member of the Big South, with CCU accepting an invitation earlier this year to join the Division 1-A/FBS Sun Belt Conference in all sports (football playing as an FCS independent in 2016).

The Flames will be coming off a disappointing 31-24 loss in Charleston to the Charleston Southern Buccaneers, their first loss in North Charleston since 2005. Josh Woodrum did become the first QB in Liberty and Big South history as well as Virginia state history (at the FCS level) to throw for over 10,000 yards in a career. Darrin Peterson caught a TD pass from Damian King on a WR option to break the Liberty career TD record he shared with Chris Summers.

I'll keep it brief so I have a chance to offer some comments on the seniors at the end of the post, so we dive right in:

 #4 Coastal Carolina 9-1 (4-1 Big South)

vs.

 Liberty 5-5 (2-3 Big South)

After Liberty knocking off Coastal in Conway and the both teams winning playoff games (with CCU going all the way to the quarterfinals), the expectatins were very high for his matchup this year in Lynchburg. So much so, that the game was picked up by ESPNews marking the first ever appearance for Liberty football on one of the main members of the ESPN family of networks. Unfortunately, disappointing losses to Gardner-Webb and Monmouth took a lot of the luster off this one, but this still will be a game to watch as CCU plays its final game in the Big South before beginning the move to FBS next year.

Matchup

Location: Williams Stadium, Lynchburg, VA

Series: 13th Meeting

Last Meeting: 15-14 Liberty (11/22/2014

Kickoff: 7:00 PM

Radio: The Journey FM Radio Network/Liberty Flames Sports Network (Liberty) Alan York play-by-play; Chanticleer Sports Network (CCU) Joe Cashion play-by-play

Television: ESPNews/National Alex Faust play-by-play

Coaches: Turner Gill (4th Season at Liberty 25-19 Record), Joe Moglia (4th Season at CCU, 27-7 Record)

Last Week: Liberty L 24-31 vs. Charleston Southern, Coastal Carolina W 45-13 vs. Kennesaw State

The FLames may not have anything to play for (as noted by the CoastalFans.com blog), as far as the playoffs are concerned, but there is stil something to play for. With a win, the flames clinch their 10th consecutive winning season (longest active streak in the Big South).

I picked Liberty in this one all the way back in August, and I still think the Flames will want to go out as winners this year and go into the rebuild in the offseason on a high note

Liberty 42
Coastal Carolina 35

Now for a word about the seniors playing their final game tomorrow night:

DJ Abnar- While his career came to an end with an ankle injury earlier this year, the RB from the heart of Seminole country gave Flames Nation plenty of highlights, starting with his electrifying kick return in 2012 against Gardner-Webb. that play gave a glimpse of the kind of gamebreaker he could be. He proved in 2014 that he can be a feature back after 2013 starter Des Rice (more on him later) went down with a knee injury and true freshman Todd Macon injured himself as well. He had the "hit of the year" when he mowed down an Appalachian State defender in Boone last year.
Jonathan Burgess- the transfer from D2 Virginia State made an immediate impact, starting 9 games his first year in a Liberty uniform on the way to second team all-conference and all-state, then moving up to first team in 2014. He was part of a stalwart offensive line that year, helping Liberty finish second in the Big South in total offense and paving the way for the first 1000 yard rusher since Rashad Jennings.
Gerald Holt- A key reserve on the defensive line, Holt helped Liberty to be one of the top defensive line units in the Big South
Miles Hunter- Another key reserve on the defense who has seen his tackle numbers steadily increase over his last 4 years after redshirting in 2011
Austin Kaigler- A talented RB out of Alabama, Kaigler was an integral part of the team preparations, and had himself a few highlights as well, including a career high 3 TDs in 2013.
Dakota Kelly- the younger brother of Flames star Patrick Kelly made his mark on the field, but made an even bigger mark in the classroom as he likely will graduate in 3 years as a criminal justice major
Ryan McCarter- His was a career of
"what might have been" as the reserve wideout struggled with injuries, but he was a supportive teammmate from the sidelines
Desmond "Des" Rice- The senior running back from across campus at Liberty Christian Academy bided his time, contributing each of his first two years before becoming the full-time starter in 2013, where he finished just short of 1000 yards and earning Big South all-conference honors. After missing all of 2014 due to a knee injury, he came back with a vengeance in the opener against Delaware State, and despite a less than stellar season, has left his mark. 
Malaki Roy- The talented WR from MD assisted on the scout team and hopefully will get a chance to get on the field in his final home game
Zach Schreiber- the transfer from McDaniel College battled injuries much like McCarter
Max Sommer- the German came to Lynchburg as a defensive lineman but made the switch to offensive line in 2013 and became a key reserve before earning a starting job at tackle in 2014. He was part of an outstanding group, along with Burgess, just missing out on all-conference honors
Nolan Spicer- The defensive tackle from PA has struggled with injuries in 2015, but has been a key reserve on an outstanding defensive unit, including being part of the first all-unit Big South Defensive Player of the Week award last year.

The last four have made their mark in the record books at Liberty and will be sorely missed on the field:


John Lunsford- the man known as "Legatron 2.0" has spoiled Liberty fans with his booming kickoffs and seemingly limitless field goal range, capped by setting a school and conference record with a 60 yard field goal as time expired against Richmond:

The biggest complaint against him though, is his inconsistency on the mid-range field goals, something he will have to work on if he is going to find a landing spot at the next level, but he certainly gave Flames fans plenty to cheer about over the last 4 seasons

Darrin Peterson- the 6-2 WR from Alabama will go down as the most exciting receiver in a Liberty uniform, breaking all sorts of records and showing that he can make big things happen every time the ball comes his way. He has two TDs of 80 yards or more, including one in the Homecoming win over Kennesaw State this year, and will leave the mountain as the all-time career leader in yards, receptions AND TDs.

Chima Uzowihe- Thy say everything is bigger in TX, and that certainly can be said of the play of the senior defensive end from Houston. He will finish as the all-time career sack leader at Liberty, and, while some say he saved Turner Gill's job and Liberty's season in 2014, he had one of the biggest special teams plays in Liberty history down in Myrtle Beach last year (start at 2:00):

Josh Woodrum- Say what you will about him, but Josh Woodrum, the product of Cave Spring High School in Roanoke, will leave Liberty Mountain as the all-time leader in psasing yards, and second all time in TDs. He is the first QB in Big South and Virginia state history (at the FCS level) to throw for over 10,000 yards and one of the winningest QBs in school history. Star crossed as he may be for his issues with the media, he will certainly be missed after the clock hits all 0's tomorrow night.


Thank you Liberty football class of 2016, its been an awesome ride