Fan the Flames Football Preview: Akron

 After coming OH so close against Wake Forest, the Flames return to the friendly confines of Williams Stadium and welcome another first-time visitor in the Akron Zips, the second team from the MAC to come to Lynchburg since the move to FBS (Buffalo visited in 2019)

Akron (1-2)

vs.

Liberty (2-1)

Liberty and Akron meet for the first time in 20 years this Saturday night. The Zips hosted the Flames in 2002 when Liberty was still an FCS program. Akron won that game 49-21, but the Flames have come a VERY long way since that meeting, and the Zips have been one of the worst teams in FBS in the last 10 years. Dating back to 2003, Akron has finished with a sub-.500 record 13 times, including 3 seasons of 1-11 and an 0-12 season in 2019. Liberty hopes to even things up this week, and expect the Flames to be favored in this one.

Matchup

Location: Williams Stadium, Lynchburg, VA

Series:  Akron leads 1-0

Last Meeting: October 12, 2002 (Akron 49-21)

Kickoff: 6:00 p.m.

Radio: The Journey FM Radio Network/Liberty Flames Sports Network (Liberty) Alan York play-by-play; Akron Zips Radio Network (Akron) Mike Skoczen play-by-play

Television: ESPN+/Liberty Flames Sports Network, Matt Warner play-by-play

Coaches: Hugh Freeze (4th season at Liberty 29-11 record), Tom Arth (4th season at Akron 4-29 record

Last Week: Liberty lost to Wake Forest 37-36, Akron lost to Tennessee 63-6

Akron has not gotten their offense going outside of a 30-23 win over St. Francis in the opener. Granted, their last two games were against Power 5 schools on the road, but the offense has to travel to have any success and if the Zips don't find a way to move the ball against a very good Liberty defense, this could be another blowout. 

Liberty 49

Akron 14

Fan the Flames Football Preview: Wake Forest

 Well folks, after a three-year hiatus, I am back. Thank you to Jacob Bleymaier and The Point for giving me an opportunity to return to my roots and write about Liberty Football. After taking the first couple of weeks to get things somewhat settled, I am back in action so let's open this week with a quick recap of the Flames' home opener against UAB.

Kaidon Salter opened the game as the starter and with the exception of a couple plays near the goal line, carried the load for Liberty all night, finishing 13/25 for 202 yards while adding  89 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries as the defense bowed up and made the plays when it mattered and LU won 21-14

The Blazers' double-barreled rushing attack of Dewayne McBride and Jermaine Brown Jr, did finish with 285 yards and 2 TDs, but the Liberty defense forced four fumbles and extinguished the Blazers when it mattered most. Robert "Rocket" Rahimi and "The General" Javon Scruggs each had 6 tackles and a fumble recovery to lead the way.

Now on to the biggest game of the year for the Flames thus far...

#18 Wake Forest (2-0)

vs.

Liberty (2-0)

The Liberty Flames make their first trip to Winston-Salem since 2012 to face off with the Demon Deacons. This is also the first road game for Liberty against a ranked FBS opponent since their own move to FBS. This is also the first time LU has traveled to a ranked ACC school since 2014 when they traveled to North Carolina in 2014 (a game the Flames lost 56-29). Wake Forest is coming off an outstanding 2021 season, winning 11 games, qualifying for the ACC Championship game (where they lost to Kenny Pickett and Pittsburgh), and winning the Gator Bowl over Rutgers 38-10. 

The Deacs are red hot on offense, led by Sam Hartman, who returned to the program after contemplating going to the NFL, and they have scored 40+ points in wins over FCS (and former Big South rival to Liberty) VMI and Vanderbilt from the SEC. 

On paper, this sounds like it would be a blowout loss for Liberty, but we all know football games arent played out on paper, or on internet message boards. Kaidon Salter is improving as he acclimates to being "the guy" under center for Liberty, but head coach Hugh Freeze knows he has weapons at his disposal and has a defense that has gotten after it in the first two games, with LU currently in the top 5 in the country in a number of defensive categories.

Matchup

Location:Truist Field at Wake Forest, Winston Salem, NC

Series:  Wake Forest leads 3-0

Last Meeting: September 1, 2012 (Wake Forest 20-17)

Kickoff: 5:00 p.m.

Radio: The Journey FM Radio Network/Liberty Flames Sports Network (Liberty) Alan York play-by-play; Wake Forest Radio Network (Wake Forest) Stan Cotten play-by-play

Television: ACC Network, Mike Corey play-by-play

Coaches: Hugh Freeze (4th season at Liberty 28-11 record), Dave Clawson (9th season at WF 53-48 record

Last Week: Liberty d. UAB 21-14, Wake Forest d. Vanderbilt 45-25

If you followed the chatter on the message boards and social media communities for both schools, you'd think that Wake Forest would roll over Liberty like their first two opponents. The thing that Liberty could use to their advantage though is Wake hosts Clemson in their ACC opener next Saturday night, and while not as dominant as the team when Trevor Lawrence and Deshaun Watson (both now in the NFL) were calling signals for the Tigers, Wake Forest could be looking ahead because Clemson has won 13 straight meetings in this series, and this may be one of the best opportunities for a win in that series. With that in mind, it would be a prime opportunity for the Flames to pull an upset.

Liberty cannot afford a slow start offensively though if they want to pull that off. This is a Wake Forest team that has scored LESS than 30 points just twice in the last 16 games. If Liberty's defense eats like they did against UAB and forces a LOT of turnovers, this could be a very low-scoring game. Otherwise, this one could get ugly very quickly.

Liberty 27

Wake Forest 24

Fan the Flames 2019 Season Postmortem

Well the 2019 season came to a close last Saturday and what  finish it was. Stephen Calvert finished his final game in a Liberty uniform with 270 yards and 2 touchdowns, Frankie Hickson finished with 125 yards and became the first Liberty back since Rashad Jennings with back-to-back 1,000 yard rushing seasons and the Liberty defense held one of the top rushing offenses in the country to 154 net yards rushing and one touchdown to win the FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl 23-16 in Orlando, Florida.

This put a bow on a season that exceeded expectations. Liberty ended a string of six-win seasons, won the first bowl game in school history, and saw a number of records broken.

The season began with the first ever Power 5 team to come to Lynchburg in Syracuse, and Liberty head coach Hugh Freeze battling an infection that left him in a hospital bed coaching from the press box and a 24-0 Liberty loss, the first shutout against the Flames since 2005. After another loss to Louisiana down on the bayou, the Flames ripped off seven wins in the next 10 games, Freeze returned to the sidelines and thanks to Memphis (who lost in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl 53039 to Penn State as I write this), qualified for the first bowl in school history.

I said on the A Sea of Red Forums, that this is a special time and Liberty is a special place, and this has a chance to be a great program that can become a cornerstone of athletic success for everyone to build on. Liberty will have to replace major players on offense in Calvert, record setting favorite target Antonio Gandy-Golden and Hickson, but there are very talented players looking to be the "next man up" at all three areas and I look forward to seeing the Flames in spring ball and as we head toward the 2020 opener at Virginia Tech.

Fan the Flames Bowl Game Preview: FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl

The Liberty Flames become the fifth team to play in a bowl game in their first year of bowl eligibility today as they take the field for the final game of year one of the Hugh Freeze era down in Orlando Florida...

Liberty (7-5, FBS Independent)

vs. 

Georgia Southern (7-5, 5-3 Sun Belt)

Liberty joins Appalachian State, and today's opponent among those five teams. Georgia Southern was one of the blue blood 1-AA/FCS programs when they relaunched their football program in 1981, winning six national championships before making the move to FBS following the 2012 season along with Appalachian State (who is playing in the New Orleans Bowl later this evening). The Eagles have rebounded nicely in the second full season under Chad Lunsford after winning only five total games under Tyson Summers after winning the GoDaddy Bowl in 2015. Liberty 's story has been well documented under first year head coach Hugh Freeze, who took two years off following his ouster at Ole Miss. The Flames won exactly six games four straight seasons under former head coach Turner Gill, and five of his seven seasons at the helm ended with exactly 6 wins. Hugh Freeze improved the record from the previous year at each of his previous stops in the first season (though the vast majority of his victories at Ole Miss have since been vacated by the NCAA as a result of violations) and improved it at Liberty as well (albeit by one victory). 

Let's take a look at the game itself

Matchup

Location:Exploria Stadium Orlando, FL

Series:  First Meeting

Last Meeting: First Meeting

Kickoff: 2:30 p.m.

Radio: The Journey FM Radio Network/Liberty Flames Sports Network (Liberty) Alan York play-by-play; Georgia Southern Sports Network, Danny Reed play-by-play

Television: CBS Sports Network, Carter Blackburn play-by-play

Coaches: Hugh Freeze (First season at Liberty 7-5 record) , Chad Lunsford (2nd* season at GSU 19-12 record

Last Week: Liberty d. New Mexico State 49-28, Georgia Southern d. Georgia State 38-10

If there is one thing that the Eagles are known for, especially post-Paul Johnson, it is the triple option. Georgia Southern finished 8th in the nation in rushing with 261.5 yards per game and six different players rushing for 100 or more yards at least once in a game, including quarterback Shai Werts. Liberty finished the regular season 100th in FBS in rushing yards allowed at 192.5 yards per game. Liberty's strength is the passing game, finishing 21st in the regular year with just south of 291 yards passing per game, with Stephen Calvert resetting the passing annals in school history after finishing with 3,393 yards in his senior campaign.

This has been an interesting one to handicap for me. My heart wants me to go with Liberty, since it is my alma mater, but they will be facing a well-oiled machine in the Georgia Southern triple option and I expect Werts as well as top running back Wesley Kennedy to get quite a bit of activity against the Flames' front seven.

Liberty 28
Georgia Southern 37

THE FLAMES ARE GOING BOWLING!!!

The Liberty Flames made history today as they accepted an invitation to the Cure Bowl in Orlando Florida Sunday afternoon

LIBERTY is going bowling for the first time in school history as the Flames accept an invite to the Cure Bowl, will face Georgia Southern. More here:https://t.co/rgNiBjLnML pic.twitter.com/mRwzaEs8pj

— A Sea of Red (@ASeaofRed) December 8, 2019

Making history. #RiseWithUs #TougherTogether

🎟: https://t.co/GuUBTNh403 pic.twitter.com/qwWeVg0Kdg

— Liberty Football (@LibertyFootball) December 8, 2019

Liberty finished the 2019 regular season with a 41-7 win over New Mexico State in Lynchburg to become bowl eligible, but had to wait until Memphis defeated Cincinnati in the American Conference championship game to earn a New Year's Six invitation to the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium December 28.

Liberty will face old FCS foe Georgia Southern, now a member of the Sun Belt Conference, at Exploria Stadium in Orlando December 21 at 2:30 p.m. The game will air on CBS Sports Network.

Fan the Flames Beat Writer Interview: Bye Week Part 2 (Liberty)

Liberty came up on the short end of a 31-24 score in Provo last week in front of a national TV audience on ESPNU against BYU. Despite the loss, Liberty presented themselves very well against a very good Cougars team and still position themselves for a possible bowl game invitation with two games remaining.

With Liberty on a rare second bye week, I had a chance to chat with Jon Manson from A Sea of Red, another independent website about Liberty Athletics. You can check out their outstanding content at www.aseaofred.com. Here is what he had to say:

Fan the Flames:Thanks for taking the time to chat on this bye week. As Liberty heads into the final games of the season (next week against UVa and the finale against New Mexico State), would it be fair to say that Liberty has played above expectations, met expectations or below expectations in the first year under Hugh Freeze?
Jon Manson, A Sea of Red: The Flames have met expectations so far. They've won the games they were supposed to win and lost the ones they were expected to lose. The team's performance against BYU was better than expected, and the Flames still have a chance to exceed expectations with a win at Virginia next week. Most that follow Liberty closely would have predicted a 7-5 record prior to the season, as I did, and that is certainly the most likely finish for the team.
FTF: Despite a rough stretch the first two games against Syracuse and Louisiana (the former of who has seen quite a downturn following their very successful season a year ago), Buckshot Calvert has just about claimed every career passing record Liberty has to offer (save completion percentage and passing efficiency) and just about every single season passing record as well. Where would he (or should he) rank in the pantheon of all-time Liberty quarterbacks?
ASOR: He's the best ever. I don't see how you can make the case for someone else with all he's done. Plus, he's done it the past two years against FBS competition. The season he's having this year, is one that could be considered the best single season by a Liberty quarterback ever. It's just that he's being overshadowed by the greatness that is AGG.
FTF: Liberty needs a single win in the remaining two games to claim bowl eligibility for 2019. What do you think the team's mindset is heading into a very difficult venue in Charlottesville next week to begin this final two game stretch?
ASOR: They will be laser focused and expecting a win. Liberty proved against BYU it can compete with most teams and Virginia is no different.
FTF: Would this season be considered a success even without a bowl victory or bowl appearance?
ASOR: Without a bowl victory, certainly. Without a bowl appearance, it would leave a sour taste in everyone's mouths. If the Flames finish 6-6 that would be a huge let down, but getting to 7-5 should be seen as a success even if Liberty doesn't get a bowl invite.
FTF: What sort of performance do you think Antonio Gandy-Golden will need not only in these last two games, but also in the Senior Bowl and in a likely trip to the NFL Scouting Combine next year to cement himself on day one or early on day two of the NFL Draft?
ASOR: I don't think the last two games matter too much. If he were going against like first or second round pick Bryce Hall against Virginia, that would be a huge test, but Hall is out with an injury. The Senior Bowl will be huge for him. A good performance there and he will be sitting pretty for a first or second day selection.
FTF: With the recent changes at head coach at both Florida State and Arkansas, two Power 5 programs, Hugh Freeze's name has come up as a possible candidate. Do you think he would jump ship at one of those or another Power 5 head coaching position should it come up in this offseason?
ASOR:  If he's offered an SEC head coaching job this offseason, yes I would expect him to leave, but I don't think he will be offered a head coaching job at an SEC school this offseason.
FTF: Who are players that we need to watch out for as we come to the close of the 2019 season heading into the offseason and looking at 2020?
ASOR: Quarterback and wide receiver will be the biggest question marks. How will Malik Willis and Johnathan Bennett fare at QB, and who could step in to try to help soften the loss of AGG. But no reason to talk about 2020 right now, there's still plenty to play for this year. Buckshot and AGG don't walk in the door every day.

Fan the Flames Football Preview Game #10: BYU

Matchup

Location:LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, UT

Series:  First Meeting

Last Meeting: First Meeting

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.

Radio: The Journey FM Radio Network/Liberty Flames Sports Network (Liberty) Alan York play-by-play; BYU Sports Network, Greg Wrubell play-by-play

Television: ESPNU, Mike Corey play-by-play

Coaches: Hugh Freeze (First season at Liberty 6-3 record) , Kalani Sitake (Fourth season at BYU 24-23 record)

Last Week: Liberty d. Massachusetts 63-21, BYU d. Utah State 42-14

BYU is one of the best known independent programs in FBS next to Notrre Dame, though the Cougars have only been an independent since 2011 after a lengthy membership in the Mountain West Conference as well as its precursor, the WAC. BYU has a pair of very athletic quarterbacks Jaren Hall and Baylor Romney (nephew to former presidential candidate and current US Senator from Utah Mitt Romney), both of whom have seen time for the Cougars after sophomore Zach Wilson, who began the season as the starter, went down with an injury against Toledo. Expect both to be in action tonight under the lights tonight.

For Liberty to have a chance in this game, they will need to play very much like they did against Baylor in 2017...fast. Get the ball out of Buckshot's hands quickly and into his playmakers in AGG, Noah Frith, Kevin Shaa and others. Also, they will need a bigger contribution from the run game as well.

I expect BYU to win this game, but I picked Baylor when Liberty went down to Waco, and I would not be surprised to see the Flames shock a national TV audience once again and punch their ticket to a bowl game this holiday season.

Liberty 28
BYU 52

Fan the Flames Football Preview: Maine

Liberty returns to action this week needing three wins in its final six games to become bowl eligible. Why three? Because this week's opponent cannot count toward bowl eligibility because Liberty already defeated Hampton from the FCS Big South Conference this year.
The Flames are on a four game winning streak after sweeping New Mexico and New Mexico State in consecutive weeks.

Maine (2-4, 0-3 Colonial Athletic Association)

vs. 

Liberty (4-2, FBS Independent)

Matchup

Location:Williams Stadium, Lynchburg, VA

Series:  Second Meeting

Last Meeting: Maine 42-20 (10/10/92)

Kickoff: 6 p.m.

Radio: The Journey FM Radio Network/Liberty Flames Sports Network (Liberty) Alan York play-by-play; Black Bear Sports Network (Maine) Rich Kimball play-by-play

Television: Liberty Flames Sports Network/ESPN +, Matt Warner, play-by-play

Coaches: Hugh Freeze (First season at Liberty 4-2 record) , Nick Charlton (First season at Maine, 2-4 record)
Last Week: Liberty BYE, Maine lost to Richmond 24-17

This is a game where Liberty has everything to lose and nothing to gain as far as postseason ambitions. Having already defeated Hampton earlier in teh season, this game cannot count toward the six-win bowl threshold, but a loss, with trips to UVA and BYU on the horizon, could be a major blow. Maine. who went to the FCS semifinals last season, is in a pretty significant hole themselves, as according to Mike Lowe of the Portland Press-Herald when I talked to him earlier this week, "Maine is one loss away from seeing its playoff hopes end".
Liberty is well aware of the history of FCS teams beating FBS teams because they WERE the FCS team beating FBS teams like Baylor in 2017. Liberty will not overlook tjhe Black Bears, especially with former Maine running back in the Flames backfield for this one.

Liberty 42
Maine 21

Fan the Flames Beat Writer Interview: Mike Lowe (Maine)

As the Liberty Flames get back to the business of football on the field, they welcome the first CAA program to Williams Stadium since the move up to FBS as the Maine Black Bears make their first ever trip to Williams Stadium.  Who better to talk to than the man with the "dirty job" (Not quite...that guy starts with an R) of following the Black Bears:

Fan the Flames: Maine came into this season following a trip to the FCS Semifinals in 2018. How has the season been compared to expectations after last year?

Mike Lowe, Portland Press-Herald: It’s been an extremely disappointing season for the Black Bears, who returned eight starters on defense and seven on offense. Expectations were very high. But after a season-ending injury to middle linebacker Deshawn Stevens in the opener, the defense has struggled, especially against the run. And  when the run defense has been good, the secondary has given up huge explosive plays. Offensively, they weren’t able to run the ball effectively until just recently. The passing game has been the one bright spot, and now QB Chris Ferguson is injured.

FTF: With coach Charlton taking over following 2018, does that take a lot of the emotion out of the fact that former Maine Black Bear Josh Mack is facing his former team Saturday?

ML: Not really. Many of the defensively players were here when Mack was here. They’re all looking forward to getting a couple of hits on him. They know his style and look forward to seeing him. As one player said, “There’ll be a lot of love. After the game.”

FTF: How do the Black Bears regroup after a tough loss against Richmond at home?

ML: They don’t have a choice. At 2-4, Maine is one loss away from seeing its playoff hopes end. The players know this. They need to get back to playing sound football and try to control the tempo.

FTF: What is the key to combating Liberty's passing attack, particularly the Stephen Calvert-Antonio Gandy-Golden connection?

ML: Maine needs to get a pass rush, something that hasn’t happened much this season. They play a lot of man-to-man defense in the secondary and have some very good cover corners. But the pass  rush has been ineffective most of the season, giving opposing quarterbacks plenty of time to find open receivers.

FTF: What is the key for Maine at quarterback with either freshman Joe Fagnano or junior Chris Ferguson under center, given the very raucous environment at Williams Stadium?

ML: If Fagnano plays, it will likely be a more basic offensive approach, a lot less gadget plays. Maine has to run the ball effectively. That’s the key no matter who is in at quarterback. They need to take the pressure off whoever is in and eat time off the clock.

FTF: Maine comes in allowing an average of 27.2 points per game, and faces a Liberty team that averages 24.7 points per game, but dropped 62 on Hampton in their previous matchup against an FCS team, and last year scored 48 on Homecoming in a win over Idaho State. What will be the key for the defense when facing an offense that potent?

ML: Maine’s defensive success always starts with the front seven. They need to control the line of scrimmage and keep Liberty from setting the tempo. They’ve also given up a lot of long touchdown passes this year. So the secondary has to step up as well. This is a very big challenge for the defense.

Fan the Flames Beat Writer Interview: Damien Sordelett

With the Liberty Flames on a bye week as they reach the halfway point in the 2019 season, I thought that this week I would take a minute and talk to the guy who follows them from Las Cruces to Lexington...

Fan the Flames: How surprised are you at the Flames results through the first half of the season?

Damien Sordelett, Lynchburg News and Advance: I’m not surprised at all with the 4-2 record. The manner in which Liberty got there, yes, I am surprised. My thoughts before the season were the offense would continue shining and the defense would make gradual improvements. The fact it has been reversed is something not many saw coming. The defense has been the best surprise so far with its strong play and ability to not break, especially in the red zone. Take away the game at Louisiana and this defense has really been the unquestioned bright spot for this team. In one of the several radio interviews I did leading up to the season, I mentioned this team has the potential to go 8-4 with the way the schedule was laid out, 6-6 at worse. With Rutgers having its issues and BYU’s quarterback situation still up in the air when the Flames make the trip to Provo in early November, it’s not out of the realm of possibility to see eight or nine victories this season. But back to your original question, no, I’m not surprised at all with the record.

FTF: Which players have stood out for you on offense? defense?

DS: On offense, wide receiver Antonio Gandy-Golden and running back Joshua Mack have easily stood out so far. Mack has really rebounded from the fumble on his second carry against Syracuse and is showcasing how dynamic of a threat he is in the offense, and Gandy-Golden continues to shine. Defensively, cornerback Kei’Trel Clark and nose guard Ralfs Rusins are the two who have stood out the most. Clark, a true freshman, has been arguably the team’s best cover corner and his ability to take away one side of the field has allowed the defense to continue to shine without Bejour Wilson and Emanuel Dabney. Rusins is a dominating force inside and has made a huge impact in the run defense. His ability to get a push up front has been a reason why this defense has been rather good in short-yardage situations.

FTF: How high of a ceiling does Antonio Gandy-Golden with his name starting to come up in quite a bit of NFL Draft discussion?

DS: I’ve seen projections ranging for the first or second day for Gandy-Golden, and I’m going to side with those projections. You can’t teach 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, and his gymnastics background allows him to do so much more as a receiver than others his size bring to the table. His biggest growth this season is the ability to plant his foot on a route and get open that way. Going back and watching replays of games has proven he has added another dimension to his game that will serve him well at the next well.

FTF: To what do you attribute the success of the defense this year, especially the last two weeks after allowing 103 points the first 4 games?

DS: Liberty has allowed 40 points in its three victories against FBS teams (Buffalo, New Mexico and New Mexico State), and most of the points allowed against Hampton came in the second half when the Pirates had their first-string defense in and the Flames were playing youngsters. The key to that success has been red zone defense (sixth in the nation) and turnovers forced. I mentioned this in the first question that Liberty’s ability to bend but not break has been vital to the team’s success on defense. Forcing two turnovers inside the 10-yard line against New Mexico State is the main reason the Flames left Las Cruces with a victory.

FTF: Who had really opened your eyes on offense and defense this year? (Outside of SBC, AGG, JL) 

Wide receiver Kevin Shaa has been a nice surprise on offense, considering we heard a lot about him last season before he unexpectedly asked to redshirt the final eight games of the season. He gives Liberty’s a dynamic outside receiver who is quick in open space. The slot receivers (DJ Stubbs and Damian King) already bring that, so adding a similar element creates several mismatches the offense can utilize during the season. Defensively, free safety JaVon Scruggs has really emerged as a quality tackler. Safety is Scruggs’ natural position and he is not afraid to tackle, so seeing him fly around and finish plays is something the defense was missing last season.

FTF: If you could give a grade A-F to the offense, defense, special teams and team as a whole through the first 6 games, what grade would you give them?

DS: 

Offense: B

There is definitely more this unit can do, especially in the red zone. There is no reason this offense should rank near the bottom in the nation in red zone efficiency. If Liberty is going to play complementary football this season, each drive that reaches the red zone needs to end with touchdowns. That opening drive against New Mexico State is a classic example of what can’t happen for this team: 13 plays, reach the 12-yard line, and then penalties and self-inflicted wounds force a 50-yard field goal attempt that clanked off the right upright. Liberty’s margin of error is slim to begin with, so minimizing those mistakes is crucial moving forward.

Defense: A-

What more can you ask from a unit that statistically was one of the worst in the nation each of the past two seasons? The players are flying around and making plays, which wasn’t the case previously.

Special Teams: Inc

There’s not enough there for me to really give a grade. Alex Probert hasn’t had many opportunities for field goal tries, Aidan Alves is punting well, and the return game could have more to show for it if not for penalties. Maybe we’ll see more in the upcoming weeks to give a grade to this unit.

Fan the Flames Football Preview Game #6: New Mexico State

Liberty hits the halfway point of the 2019 season with another trip to scenic Las Cruces, NM following an unusually low scoring affair at Williams Stadium between two teams who dropped 50 points in their last games, as Liberty held off New Mexico 17-10.

Stephen Buckshot Calvert finished 24/36 for 306 yards with two touchdowns while Maine transfer Joshua Mack finished with 95 yards on 14 carries, and Antonio Gandy-Golden continued to add to his NFL Draft stock with 6 receptions for 144 yards and a touchdown, which was significant because he passed Darrin Peterson for the all-time record in receiving touchdowns with 28.

The Liberty defense stepped up in a major way last week as they held the Lobos to 362 yards of offense, a team that averaged 482 yards prior to coming to Lynchburg. Austin Lewis and Ralfs Rusins each had 1.5 tackles for loss and .5 sacks as the defense routinely swarmed the backfield and Tevaka Tuioti could not get on track.

This was the third straight win for Liberty, the first time the Flames had a streak of at least 3 wins since 2017 (when they had two).

There is no rest for the weary though as they have one more game before a well-deserved bye week:

Liberty (3-2, FBS Independent)

vs.

New Mexico State (0-5, FBS Independent)

Liberty makes the second of two trips to the Land of Enchantment as they complete a two-year home and home series with the Aggies (NMSU travels to Lynchburg for the Flames' season finale November 30). Last year's trip to Las Cruces was a back and forth affair with the teams combining for 89 points, 1,085 yards of offense, including 767 passing yards and 6 touchdowns by quarterbacks Stephen Calvert and Josh Adkins, and while there were only two ties and one lead change, lots of excitement down to the end. Here's the matchup for this week's meeting

Matchup

Location:Aggie Memorial Stadium, Las Cruces, NM

Series: Third Meeting

Last Meeting: Liberty 28-21 (11/24/2018)

Kickoff: 8 PM (6 PM local time)

Radio: The Journey FM Radio Network/Liberty Flames Sports Network (Liberty) Alan York play-by-play; New Mexico State Radio Network/Learfield IMG College (New Mexico State) Jack Nixon play-by-play

Television: New Mexico State Sports Network/FloSports, Adam Young play-by-play

Coaches: Hugh Freeze (First season at Liberty 3-2 record) , Doug Martin (Seventh season at NMSU, 20-58 record)
Last Week: Liberty d. New Mexico 17-10; NMSU lost to Fresno State 30-17

New Mexico State is winless on the year (and a regular part of ESPN's Bottom 10) and has not had an above .500 regular season since 2002 (the Aggies won the 2017 Arizona Bowl to finish 7-6). and has only scored more than 10 points once (last week vs. Fresno State) and allowed 50 or more points three times, including a season high 62 against Alabama.
On paper this looks like a romp for Liberty, but last year, NMSU came into the first game in Las Cruces at 1-4 and averaging 16.4 points per game before scoring 49 against Liberty. The Flames will need to start fast and keep one foot on the gas, and the other on the metaphorical throat of the Aggies for 60 minutes to leave with a victory and keep the good vibes going after getting a couple of key commitments for the 2020 recruiting class this week.

Im gonna go with the Flames in this one, and I hope the score isn't even this close

Liberty 38
New Mexico State 27

Fan the Flames Football Preview Game #5: New Mexico

Last week the Liberty Flames won their second consecutive game, 62-27 over the FCS Hampton Pirates, their first victory over Hampton since 1996. Antonio Gandy-Golden tied Darrin Peterson for the all-time record in receiving touchdowns with  27 after two scores. Stephen Buckshot Calvert threw for 319 yards and those two touchdowns to extend his school record for touchdown passes in a career to 71 (a fitting number given when Liberty was founded). Brandon "Pop" Robinson led the Flames in rushing with 105, including an electrifying 75-yard touchdown in the 4th quarter. The Flames will need more from the running backs in this last in a three-game homestand before heading out to Las Cruces, NM for their first road game since week 2.

New Mexico (2-1, 0-0 Mountain West)

vs.

Liberty (2-2, FBS Independent)

The Flames welcome the Lobos in the second of a two-game series after the Flames went out to Albuquerque in 2018. New Mexico is the first-ever team from the Mountain West to make the trip to Liberty Mountain and Williams Stadium, the third first-time FBS opponent to make the visit after Syracuse in week 1 and Buffalo two weeks ago. Here is a breakdown of the matchup:

Matchup

Location:Williams Stadium Lynchburg, VA

Series: Second Meeting (Liberty leads 1-0)

Last Meeting: Liberty 52-43 (9/29/2018)

Kickoff: 6:00 PM

Radio: The Journey FM Radio Network/Liberty Flames Sports Network (Liberty) Alan York play-by-play; Lobo Radio Network (New Mexico) Robert Portnoy play-by-play

Television: Liberty Flames Sports Network/ESPN + Matt Warner play-by-play

Coaches: Hugh Freeze (First season at Liberty 2-2 record) , Bob Davie(8th season at New Mexico 35-55 record)
Last Week: Liberty d. Hampton (FCS) 62-27; New Mexico d. New Mexico State 55-52

This is a key game for Liberty as noted by our friends at A Sea of Red Liberty athletics blog, as this is the third in a run of seven consecutive games where Liberty is favored according to ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI), and seven straight very winnable games for the Flames in this first year under Hugh Freeze. With only the HAmpton game serving as a counter for bowl eligibility, and the Flames heading to BYU and Virginia in November, it is paramount that there be no "WTF" games during this stretch if there is a chance for LU to go bowling this year. The Lobos have scored a LOT of points under coach Davie, scoring 55 in their win over in-state rival New Mexico State, and 39 in edging FCS Sam Houston State in their opener, and scoring 40 or more points in all three of their victories in 2018.

I expect a ton of fireworks on the field as well as off, as the two teams combined for 95 points in their meeting last season, and with the over/under on this matchup at 72 1/2 and Liberty as a 7 1/2 point favorite heading into today, Vegas expects the offenses to put on quite a show. Im picking the Flames in this one to start fast, and keep the Lobos at arm's length and get a win

Liberty 63
New Mexico 41

Fan the Flames Football Preview Game #4: Hampton

The Liberty Flames got the first win of the Hugh Freeze era last week with a 35-17 victory over the Buffalo Bulls inside of Williams Stadium last Saturday night. Stephen Calvert threw for 325 yards and 4 touchdowns, two to his favorite target Antonio Gandy-Golden, who caught 8 passes for 174 yards.

Let's take a look at this week's game:

Hampton (2-1, 0-0 Big South)

vs.

Liberty (1-2, FBS Independent)

Liberty welcomes the Hampton Pirates to Williams Stadium for the first time since 1998 when the Pirates come for Family Weekend. The Pirates have actually won the last two meetings with the Flames, when Liberty was an FCS independent in 1997 and 1998.

Matchup

Location:Williams Stadium Lynchburg, VA

Series: Seventh Meeting

Last Meeting: Hampton 21-0 (10/10/1998)

Kickoff: 6:00 PM

Radio: The Journey FM Radio Network/Liberty Flames Sports Network (Liberty) Alan York play-by-play; Hampton Pirates Radio Network (Hampton), Richie Summerville play-by-play

Television: Liberty Flames Sports Network/ESPN + Matt Warner play-by-play

Coaches: Hugh Freeze (First season at Liberty 1-2 record) , Robert Prunty (Second season at Hampton, 9-4 record)
Last Week: Liberty d. Buffalo 35-17; Hampton d. Howard 41-20

Fan the Flames Beat Writer Interview: Stephen Bailey (Syracuse)

After a long hiatus, Fan the Flames is back and better than ever as the Liberty Flames enter into their first full season at the FBS level.

The Flames get a big test for their opener this year as they welcome the #22 ranked Syracuse Orange as the first-ever P5 program to come into Williams Stadium, and I had a chance to talk to Stephen Bailey, Syracuse writer for Syracuse.com You can follow him on Twitter @stephen_bailey1

Fan the Flames: Syracuse is coming off one of the best seasons in recent memory for football and comes into this matchup ranked for the first time since 2001 when Paul Pasqualoni was head coach. What is the mood and mindset like around Syracuse in Dino Babers' 4th season?
Stephen Bailey: Syracuse enters 2019 extremely confident. Coming off the school’s first 10-win season since 2001, the Orange returns talent and experience at most position groups. It also faces its softest schedule since joining the ACC. Internally, this is a group that was almost entirely recruited by Babers. The whole coaching staff from a year ago is back. Continuity in scheme and culture has been established.
FTF: The Orange lost probably one of the best quarterbacks in their recent history with the graduation of Eric Dungey. What is the feeling around his replacement Tommy Devito?
SB: It’s funny. It really doesn’t feel like a quarterback transition is going on. Part of that is because DeVito stepped in last year and pushed Dungey for his starting job. As a redshirt freshman, DeVito flashed his top-end arm talent in victories over North Carolina (2OT) and Florida State. I think those shared winning experiences are what has led the team to embrace him so easily. There’s no shortage of confidence in that regard. It will be interesting to see how Syracuse utilizes DeVito’s arm and the versatility it returns at running back and tight end as the season goes on.
FTF:  This is the first trip for the Orange to Lynchburg and the first G5 road game for Syracuse since 2016. What is the attitude of the team heading into this game? Is there confidence bordering on overconfidence or is it a more businesslike approach?
SB: Babers has made it clear that he respects Hugh Freeze as a coach and that he does not want his team to take the game lightly. The hardest part for the Orange is preparing for an opponent that doesn’t have any game film. Add on to that the unclear status of Malik Willis and I think SU’s players are heeding their coach’s warning. While a bit of overconfidence is possible, I think this Syracuse team is just too good and too hungry to get trapped on Saturday.
FTF: Syracuse finished with 10 wins last year, the most wins since 2001. The next season the Orange finished 4-8 and did not garner another winning season until 2010. What will Syracuse need to do to prevent another letdown similar to that?
SB: Basically, keep DeVito upright. With loaded position groups at running back, defensive line, secondary and special teams, the floor for this team is probably around five or six wins barring catastrophe. While the team may have overachieved last year, there’s no denying the progress Babers has made in building a stronger, faster and deeper roster. Another 10-win season would be exceeding expectations, but not be a crazy margin.
FTF: Syracuse travels to Maryland the next week after leaving Lynchburg. How important is it for them to not be caught "looking ahead" to that game or the week 3 showdown in the Carrier Dome with defending CFP National Champion Clemson?
SB: I think that’s a  Week 2 storyline. Babers and his staff have been preaching the one-game-at-a-time mindset at every opportunity. But players know what the Clemson game means – there’s no shaking that. I don’t think Syracuse is looking two weeks down the line to the extent that the team will come out flat in Lynchburg. In College Park? Now that’s a scenario I could see unfolding.

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Fan the Flames Beat Writer Interview: Damien Sordelett (Liberty Bye Week)

As we pass the halfway point of the 2017 season and Liberty prepares to begin its final season of Big South football I thought I'd take a minute and talk about the first half and who better to ask than the man who has followed them the whole way, Damien Sordelett of the Lynchburg News and Advance (a paper I wrote for as  a freelance writer from 2009-2012):

Fan the Flames: What have been the biggest positives and negatives that you've seen in the Flames so far this year?

Damien Sordelett: The biggest positive is undoubtedly the season-opening victory at Baylor. It is a program-defining victory that thrust the football program into national prominence and, in a way, verified the program was prepared to play against the big boys of college football in the Bowl Subdivision. That game was big for the program to establish itself in front of a national audience.

The biggest negative has to be inconsistencies on both sides of the ball. For three weeks the offense was in rhythm and the defense had difficulties preventing big plays and getting off the field. The roles have been reversed in the past two weeks with opposing defenses figuring out how to stymie the Flames offense, and the Liberty defense making adjustments to limit big plays and contain the running game.
FTF: If you had to name an MVP for the first half, who would it be and why?
DS: Buckshot Calvert. He and Monmouth quarterback Kenji Bahar are the two front-runners for Big South Conference offensive player of the year honors. The two are ranked first and second in total offense per game and the only ones averaging more than 200 yards per game. Even though Calvert has had back-to-back subpar performances, he still has thrown 14 touchdown passes, completed more than 60 percent of his passes and been a big reason why the Flames had so much success offensively through the first three weeks.
FTF: Who has surprised you the most?
DS: The biggest surprise player so far this season is cornerback Jeremy Peters. The coaching staff raved about his toughness, ability to cover any type of receiver and leadership. The hamstring injury he suffered in last season’s opener at Virginia Tech really prevented us from seeing what he could do on a weekly basis. His performance at Baylor and the subsequent games have really established him as one of, if not, the best cornerbacks on the roster with his sure tackling, physical nature and ability to take away half of the field. His emergence has given the team a cornerback opposite of Chris Turner so the safeties and linebackers can focus more on stopping the run game. 
FTF: What do the Flames need to work on to prevent "mental autopilot" in the second half of the year and prevent results like the loss to St. Francis last week?
DS: Play with a sense of urgency. There was no urgency shown in the first half against the Red Flash, at least not the type shown against Baylor, Morehead State, Indiana State and Jacksonville State. The team can’t assume it will win just by showing up against an inferior team with fewer scholarships. That resonated the most after getting a chance to rewatch the game against St. Francis. Ideally, the Flames need to come out offensively like they did against Morehead State and look to score early and put the dagger in after 15 minutes. The defense also came out with the same urgency against the Eagles and forced three-and-outs.
FTF: How has Stephen Calvert grown in your view from last year when he became the starter in midseason to this as the full-time #1?
DS: Calvert is more comfortable in his decision making. There are times when he wants to extend plays and make something out of nothing, and that comes with being a sophomore and still being young in the offensive scheme. He has some tendencies that still need to be ironed out from that perspective -- looking to extend plays by a second or two when throwing the ball out of bounds will prevent him from taking a big hit the biggest tendency needed to be corrected -- and the bye week will serve as the best opportunity to watch film and see where he can improve. Calvert has more command of the offense and you can tell his receivers, running backs and linemen have the trust in him to make the right decisions. 
FTF: This has been a topic of significant debate on the message boards, but with the back to back losses, do you think that Coach Gill's job is on the line these last 6 games?
DS: Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. publicly said last December that he wanted to give Gill and athletics director Ian McCaw one season together. McCaw told me during the summer that everyone associated with athletics -- administrators, coaches, players, everyone -- had to step up and perform better in every aspect with the move to the FBS. You’ve got to imagine Gill’s job status is under a microscope because performing at the same level as the previous two seasons will not cut it when competing against FBS programs. The next six weeks can be very telling to what direction this program goes heading into 2018. If the Flames reel off six straight victories and show continual improvement, then I feel Gill’s job should be secured. However, if the Flames have uneven performances and lose a game or two, then I imagine there will be a lengthy conversation to discuss the future of the program. 
FTF: To wrap on an up note, what has been your favorite moment of the first five games?
DS: The Baylor game, for sure. It wasn’t the game entirely. McLane Stadium is the nicest stadium I have been to, period, and I had an opportunity to tour the stadium with Todd Patulski, Mickey Guridy and Dan Deter from Liberty before kickoff to see everything that went into the building of the $266-million facility. It is truly top-notch and something they have in mind for what Williams Stadium could look like in the next couple of seasons. There won’t be all the bells and whistles of McLane and Williams with the current infrastructure limiting what can be done, but there are elements that can be implemented to make the experience of being at Williams Stadium that much better for everyone involved. The game itself was a unique experience with seeing how it unfolded. There was a moment when Baylor took a lead late in the third quarter, and normally that would lead to blowout losses in the past. But this game was different in seeing the offense still methodically move the ball and find the end zone in a performance that turned into a typical Big 12 showdown.

Fan the Flames Beat Writer Interview: Jake Oswalt (St. Francis (PA))

This week I had a chat with Jake Oswalt from Mainline Sports as we get set for Saturday's matchup
Fan the Flames: What has it meant to see Coach Villarial take St. Francis from where they were 8 seasons ago to the FCS playoffs? What changes have you most noticed from the program as he has been at the helm?
Jake Oswalt: Chris Villarrial has engineered one of the most impressive
turnarounds in all of FCS football. SFU was one of the worst programs
that failed to produce a winning record from 1993 until the 2015
season. Having been from the Loretto area, there is a clear
night-and-day difference under Villarrial's guidance. The entire
culture has changed. The team expects to win Northeast Conference
titles now, instead of hoping to have a winning record.
To illustrate the program's ascension, SFU went 12-81 (.129 winning
percentage) in NEC play from 1996-2009. After going 2-14 in
Villarrial's first two years in conference play, the Red Flash have
gone 17-13 over the last five years in the NEC. SFU won its first NEC
title last year and earned its first FCS Playoff bid.
Villarrial and his staff has dramatically increased the talent level.
This year, San Francisco 49ers safety Lorenzo Jerome became the first
player from Saint Francis to play in the NFL since 1952. The program
is built on physicality on both sides of the ball. The administration
has invested in providing better facilities, while this coaching staff
has implemented creative schemes to stay among the NEC's elite. Over
the last few years, Saint Francis has been able to compete with teams
in the top FCS conferences, yet they are still searching for a
program-defining victory.

FTF: What is the mindset of the team as they make the trip to Lynchburg before the bulk of NEC play begins?
JO: This Saint Francis team will be unphased coming into Liberty. SFU
has played in road games at Albany, Fordham, James Madison, Montana,
Towson, Villanova and Youngstown State since 2014 and remained
competitive in those games. The Red Flash have no problem playing the
underdog role. SFU will be looking to get back in the win column after
losing on a last-second field goal to Towson at home on Sept. 16.
After a bye week, I'm sure the players have that loss on the back of
their minds.
FTF: Who is the player we need to most watch out for from the Red Flash on Saturday night?
JO: Keep your eyes on wide receiver Kamron Lewis. The junior is a
highlight-reel waiting to happen. Lewis was named as the NEC Offensive
Player of the Year after hauling in 75 passes for 1,478 yards and 11
touchdowns. Through three games, Lewis has received plenty of
attention but has compiled 17 catches for 264 yards and four
touchdowns. Listed at 6-foot-4, Lewis is a red zone threat. He caught
two touchdowns on fades against Towson.
FTF: What's the matchup that we need to be watching this Saturday night?
JO: The Liberty passing game against SFU's passing defense looks to be
a critical matchup. Liberty averages 359.5 passing yards per game,
while SFU allows 183.3 yards through the air per contest. SFU has a
veteran secondary with three seniors in cornerbacks Malik Duncan and
Jalen Wells and safety Delondo Boyd. Towson's Jabari Greenwood caught
13 passes for 151 yards against SFU on Sept. 16. It looks as though
Liberty's Antonio Gandy-Golden will provide another test as he has 28
catches for 499 yards and four touchdowns.
SFU loves getting after the quarterback with its various blitzes so
providing Stephen Calvert time will be key. SFU has picked off five
passes and recovered five fumbles in three games. Saint Francis has
only allowed one touchdown through three games. Opponents have only
produced one touchdown in 10 red zone trips against SFU's defense.
FTF: What do you think is the key for the Red Flash against the Flames
JO: The key for Saint Francis will be to establish its running game and
keep the crowd out of it. Although Houston transfer Bear Fenimore has
provided steady play at quarterback, SFU wants to have a balanced
offense with an efficient running game. The play-action passing game
has helped Saint Francis win two of its first three games. SFU needs
to stay ahead of schedule offensively to allow its defense time to
rest, as they will face its toughest test as of yet.

Fan the Flames Game #5 Preview: St. Francis (PA)

The Liberty Flames look to get back on the winning track in front of the home crowd on Liberty Athletics Hall of Fame Weekend after suffering the first setback of the 2017 season.

Last week Liberty made only its second trip ever to JSU Stadium to face the #5 Gamecocks. Unfortunately the running game played like it was stuck in concrete and despite Stephen Buckshot Calvert throwing for 285 yards (his 5th 250+ yard performance in 6 games going back to last season), the Flames were snuffed out and suffered a 31-10 setback.

While Jacksonville State offensive leader Roc Thomas was somewhat held in check by the defense, The Gamecocks still were able to make explosive plays including an 80 yard TD in a second quarter that gave JSU the lead for good. Carrington Mosley was the leading rusher with 36 yards on 14 carries. Antonio Gandy-Golden had another eye-popping night finishing with 126 yards on 7 receptions, although BJ Farrow had the only TD on the night, a 65 yarder midway through the third quarter.

There is no rest for the weary though as the Flames welcome their newest members in the university's athletics hall of fame:

St. Francis (PA) 2-1 (1-0 Northeast Conference)

vs.

 #22 Liberty 3-1 (0-0 Independent)

The Saint Francis Red Flash make their first trip inside Williams Stadium since 2007 when they come for the third ever meeting between the two teams. The last two meetings...well...they have not been close, with the Flames outscoring the Red Flash 120-17. This is not the same SFU squad though as 8th year coach Chris Villarrial, a former offensive lineman with the Chicago Bears and Buffalo Bills, took the Red Flash to the NEC title and their first ever NCAA playoff bid in 2016, and back to back winning seasons for the first time since 1991-1992. 

The Red Flash are significantly improved, but they feasted on below average teams in the non-conference with wins over a D2 in Lock Haven, followed by a win over a below average Wagner team, before losing by two to Towson from the CAA on a last second field goal. FBS transfer Bear Fenimore, who transferred from Houson of the AAC, has thrown for just south of 800 yards in three games. This will be the best defense that they will face this year in my opinion.

Matchup

Location:Williams Stadium Lynchburg, VA

Series: Third Meeting

Last Meeting: Liberty 52-7 (09/04/2010)

Kickoff: 6:00 PM

Radio: The Journey FM Radio Network/Liberty Flames Sports Network (Liberty) Alan York play-by-play; No known Saint Francis radio

Television: Liberty Flames Sports Network/ESPN 3 Mike Tilley play-by-play

Coaches: Turner Gill (6th Season at Liberty 37-25 Record), Chris Villarrial (8th season at SFU 33-47 Record
Last Week: Liberty l. Jacksonville State 31-10, Saint Francis l. Towson 16-14

Fan the Flames Beat Writer Interview: Joe Medley (Jacksonville State)

THis week is the biggest game of the year for the Liberty Flames down in Jacksonville and who better to talk to than Joe Medley beat writer for the Anniston Star.

Fan the Flames: First and foremost thanks for taking the time to do this with me. Even though it's only two games in, what differences can you see between Levi Jenkins and 2017 starter Bryant Horn?
Joe Medley: The main difference between Eli Jenkins and Bryant Horn is that Jenkins was more of a running threat, in that he could "house" opponents. He could go 80 yards and beat a defense. He could be the primary ball carrier, depending on how defenses played JSU. Horn's runs are more the changeup, most effective in getting first-down yardage.

FTF: How has the team stayed focused coming off a very early bye week after the loss to Georgia Tech?

JM: JSU has gone game, open date, game and open date. JSU coach John Grass joked this week that his team might be the most rested and healthy in college football. His main concern has been making sure the Gamecocks do things in practice to maintain a feel for game speed. As for focus, they just came off a 37-10 loss. It was to a Power Five opponent, but JSU has come to expect better showings in those games. Now, they face a team that is making the FBS transition and beat a Power Five opponent.

FTF: Who has taken up the slack in the receivers following the graduation of leading receiver Josh Barge?

JM: The answer is nobody, at least to that level. Grass has referred to this receiving corps as more blue-collar. Krenwick Sanders (Wisconsin transfer) and Shaq Davidson (South Carolina transfer) each have a touchdown catch. Jamari Hester (6-7, 210) is talented but has had issues with drops in the first two games. What was interesting in the Georgia Tech game was how JSU expanded its use of running back Roc Thomas in the passing game, sending him in down-field patterns.

FTF: How good is Roc Thomas? Is he someone that we could see on Sunday next year?

JM: Thomas is a home-run threat, capable of making tacklers miss. He made as many as nine miss on highlight-reel runs in high school. What he's trying to show this year --- and Grass, who was his first high school coach, has gone to bat for him this way --- is that he can get it done between the tackles. He was a legit five-star talent out of high school, so there's every chance he could play on Sundays.

FTF: This is a two part question. First, What's the matchup that we need to be watching this Saturday night? Second, What do you think is the key for the Gamecocks against the Flames in what could be a very high scoring game Saturday night?
JSU's corners against Liberty's receivers. JSU must make Stephen Calvert, known for quick throws, hold onto the ball longer than he wants. JSU wants to give Darius Jackson and the pass rush time to affect Calvert. Also, JSU's linebackers have been known to drop into coverage and get picks. Sam linebacker Jonathan Hagler had a pick-6 against Chattanooga. Will LB Joel McCandless has two career interceptions, including a pick-6 at Eastern Kentucky last year. Mike LB Quan Stoudamire has a breakup and a PD this year. Look for them to try to squeeze underneath windows.