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