Fan the Flames Game #6 Preview: Kennesaw State (Big South Opener)

After a bye week, the Liberty Flames return to the gridiron and make the final run to a playoff bid and it begins just outside of Atlanta.

Two weeks ago the Flames bounced back from their worst home loss in the Turner Gill era against Jacksonville State with a 41-7 win over Robert Morris. Stephen Calvert made his first career start and passed for 340 yards and three TDs setting a freshman record for passing yards in the process. Unfortunately the running game struggled, finishing with only 72 net rushing yards on 30 carries.

The Flames officially finished the first half of the season at 2-3, which is a little behind my expectations for the season at this point, but the major focus is and always has been the conference schedule for this year's squad.

With that, let's take a look at this week's matchup:

 Liberty (2-3, 0-0 Big South)

vs.

 Kennesaw State (4-1, 0-0 Big South)

Matchup

Location: Fifth Third Bank Stadium Kennesaw, GA

Series: Second Meeting

Last Meeting: Liberty 45-35

Kickoff: 7:00 PM

Radio: The Journey FM Radio Network/Liberty Flames Sports Network (Liberty) Alan York play-by-play; Kennesaw State Owls Radio Network

Television: Big South Network/ESPN 3 Evan Lepler play-by-play

Coaches: Turner Gill (5th Season at Liberty 31-22 Record), Brian Bohannon (2nd Season at KSU 10-6 Record

Last Week: Liberty had a bye, Kennesaw State W 49-16 vs. Missouri S&T

Ive mentioned this over on the A Sea Of Red forums, but Liberty has had a very disturbing trend when it comes to first visits to new Big South programs...the Flames have lost their last three times they made their first trek to a new Big South member (2008 vs. Presbyterian, 2009 vs. Stony Brook 2015 vs. Monmouth) and all of those games were decided by only three points.

Kennesaw State comes in on a four game winning streak, scoring at least 40 points in three of those games. The Owls are flying high, leading the Big South in all major team offensive categories. The Flames defense will certainly be tested by KSU's option offense, which comes in averaging around 480 yards per game.

I've seen mixed thoughts about this game on the message forums, but I think that this is a game that Liberty can win, with Calvert leading the way. With a number of offensive linemen out with injury, it will be imperative that the Flames put the pedal to the metal of their new uptempo offense, in order to take some of the pressure off a now very thin unit. That said, I will pick the Flames to get the first of the 5 wins they need to win the Big South outright

Liberty 31
Kennesaw State 21

Fan the Flames Football Preview Game #4: Jacksonville State

After making their first foray into the state of Texas in the 21st century, the Liberty Flames return home to the friendly confines of Williams Stadium for what is probably the biggest nonconference matchup in recent memory.

The Flames fell in a game that was much closer than the final score indicated 29-14 to the SMU Mustangs from the American Athletic Conference from Division I-A/FBS. Starter Stephon Masha struggled in the first half, throwing two interceptions in the first three possessions. True freshman Stephen Calvert came in in the second half and led the Flames to a second half TD, which was also the first of his career, hitting senior Dante Shells to cut the deficit to 5 points. a field goal and a late pick 6 provided the final nargin.

Once again the Flames struggled to move the ball, finishing with only 280 yards of offense, 97 of which came via the ground, the week after the Flames rushed for over 300 yards.

No rest for the weary though because this week is a big statement game for the boys from Lynchburg:

 #4 Jacksonville State 2-1 (0-0 Ohio Valley)

vs.

Liberty 1-2 (0-0 Big South)

Matchup

Location: Williams Stadium Lynchburg, VA

Series: First Meeting

Last Meeting: First Meeting

Kickoff: 7:00 PM

Radio: The Journey FM Radio Network/Liberty Flames Sports Network (Liberty) Alan York play-by-play; Jacksonville State Gamecock Sports Network Dolphins. Mike Parris play-by-play

Television: Liberty Flames Sports Network/ESPN3 Mike Tilley play-by play

Coaches: Turner Gill (5th Season at Liberty 29-20 Record), John Grass (3rd Season at JSU, 22-3 Record)

Last Week: W 27-26 vs. Coastal Carolina, Liberty 14-29 L vs. SMU

Fan the Flames Football Preview Game #2: Jacksonville

The Flames play their first game in Lynchburg since sending Coastal Carolina packing off to the Sun Belt (the Flames play the Chants, playing as a I-AA/FCS Independent in 2016, the last week of the season) last November.

Liberty could use some home cooking after a rough go of it last week in Blacksburg, falling to the Virginia Tech Hokies 36-13. Liberty had its lowest offensive output since 2005 finishing with only 160 yards of offense. Stephon Masha, making his first start since 2014, struggled, on the way to a 9/25 performance and only 70 yards passing. Carrington Mosley, in his first major action as a Flame, led the team with 47 yards on 9 carries.

Let's take a look at this week's home opening matchup:

 Jacksonville (0-0, 0-0 Pioneer Football League)

vs.

Liberty (0-1, 0-0 Big South Conference)

Matchup

Location: Williams Stadium Lynchburg, VA

Series: First Meeting

Last Meeting: First Meeting

Kickoff: 7:00 PM

Radio: The Journey FM Radio Network/Liberty Flames Sports Network (Liberty) Alan York play-by-play; Jacksonville Dolphins Radio Network, Scott Manze play-by-play

Television: Liberty Flames Sports Network/ESPN3 Mike Tilley play-by play

Coaches: Turner Gill (5th Season at Liberty 29-20 Record), Justin Fuente (1st Season at JU, 0-0 Record)

Last Week: Season opener for Jacksonville, Liberty 13-36 L vs. Virginia Tech

This is the second of 4 straight first time opponents for the Flames, and the first meeting with a team in the Pioneer Football League. Jacksonville is a very young squad under former Lenoir-Rhyne head coach Shields, with 52 freshmen players on the active roster. The Dolphins have played football since 1998, winning one Pioneer Football League title in 2008.

The style of offense JU runs should be somewhat familiar to Liberty, as Shields ran the triple option at L-R, a style run for many years by VMI and also by Big South foe Kennesaw State.

Liberty has not lost a home opener since 2012 and has not lost a home opener to a first time opponent in school history. That should make this game good for what ails for the Flames, but they cannot be caught looking ahead to their next two games. on the road at FBS Southern Methodist and back at home against top 5 Jacksonville State.

I expect Liberty to come out with renewed focus and dominate the Dolphins...

Liberty 35
Jacksonville 10

Fan the Flames Football Preview Game #1: Virginia Tech

After a lengthy hiatus, its so good to be back and so good to be ready for some football this weekend as the Liberty Flames kick off their 2016 season against the biggest I-A/FBS opponent in the school's history.

When we last left the Flames they had just knocked off a top 5 Coastal Carolina squad and sent them packing from the Big South as they begin the transition to FBS and the Sun Belt Conference.

A lot has changed since that game...4 year starter Josh Woodrum has graduated (and left as the all time leading passer in Flames football history) along with Darrin Peterson, Chima Uzowihe and a hoest of others, and the Flames find themselves looking up at Charleston Southern in both the rankings and the Big South preseason standings. If Liberty wants to take its place as the alpha dog of the conference again, they are going to do it with a lot of new faces...and that quest starts with this weekend, so let's break down this week's matchup:

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

vs. 

Virginia Tech (0-0, 0-0 ACC)

Matchup

Location: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, VA

Series: First Meeting

Last Meeting: First Meeting

Kickoff: 12:30 PM

Radio: The Journey FM Radio Network/Liberty Flames Sports Network (Liberty) Alan York play-by-play; Virginia Tech/IMG Sports Network (Virginia Tech) John Laaser play-by-play

Television: ACC Network/ESPN3 Tom Werme play-by-play

Coaches: Turner Gill (5th Season at Liberty 29-19 Record), Justin Fuente (1st Season at VT, 0-0 Record)

Last Week: Season opener for both squads

Despite being only 2 hours away from Blacksburg (and only 90 minutes from Charlottesville), this is Liberty's first ever matchup with an in-state FBS team (ODU was transitioning when they met). Liberty has won at least one FBS matchup the last two seasons after winning two FBS matchups total in the previous 41 seasons COMBINED. The Hokies have had great success against the FCS, with their only loss coming to James Madison (in Blacksburg of all places) in 2010. Liberty though, has managed to play up against FBS opponents, particularly P5 schools, despite having no wins against P5 conference teams in school history. Tech is favored by 27.5 points, but Liberty has covered the last 6 times they have played FBS opponents, including two straight up wins (over Appalachian State in 2014 and Georgia State last year).

In my heart I want to pick Liberty to get a major upset win, but having followed VT most of my life as a lifelong Virginian, and understanding that first year head coach Justin Fuente will want to make a statement, I will pick VT to win this one, but Liberty again covers and shows that they do not back down from anyone, even the big bad Hokies, and sets off on another dream season

Liberty 17
Virginia Tech 41

Fan the Flames: 2016 Final Prospect Rundown

With National Signing Day just under 12 hours away, I thought Id run down where we stand at the various positions (check out Liberty Flames Nation for information on the recruiting process including a Signing Day Primer):

QB
Commits: 2 (Rud Yearick- enrolled in school and Stephen Calvert)
Prospects: 2
Offers Pending: 0

RB/FB
Commits: 1 (Mitchell Lewis)
Prospects: 2
Offers Pending: 2

WR
Commits: 2 (Antonio Gandy-Golden and Lionel McConnell)
Prospects: 7
Pending Offers: 6

TE:
Commits: 0
Prospects: 1
Pending Offers: 0

OL
Commits: 4 (Aidan Burroughs, Ethan Crawford, Julio Lozano, Daniel Zapata)
Prospects: 3
Pending Offers: 1

DL (DT and DE)
Commits: 3 (DeCarlo Hamilton (DT), Damian Bounds Jr. (DT) and Michael Anderson (DE)
Prospects: 12 (8 DT and 4 DE)
Pending Offers: 4 (3 DT and 1 DE)

LB
Commits: 1 (Korell Evans)
Prospects: 11
Pending Offers: 2

DB:
Commits: 1 (Solomon McGinty- enrolled in school)
Prospects: 14
Pending Offers: 6

K/P
Commits: 1 (Alex Probert)
Prospects: 2
Pending Offers: 0

ATH
Commits: 3 (Ceneca Espinoza Jr., Jimmy Faulks Jr., and Brandon Tillmon)
Prospects: 8
Pending Offers: 4

Pending Offers does not necessarily reflect the level of interest, just means that LU extended them a scholarship offer