Fan the Flames: Game # 10

I did something similar to this last time with Coastal Carolina but now it has an official name.

I will, starting with this weeks game against VMI, combine my Preview and Prediction into one post.

Liberty is coming off a heartbreaking loss to the Blue Hose of Presbyterian College 31-28, and (random stathound alert) This is actually Liberty's first loss in the state of South Carolina since 2006 (28-26 loss to Coastal). Liberty's playoff hopes took an almost deadly blow with the loss. The Flames still have a small chance of making the postseason but they cannot lose another game (including the very tough season finale at home vs Elon which very well could be for a playoff berth). Now the focus turns up 501 to an old foe...

#25 (7-2, 3-0)

vs.

(3-5, 1-2)

VMI and Liberty...well you cant sugarcoat it...they just dont like each other. The teams have met 7 times with the Flames taking 4 of the meetings including the last 2 in Lexington. VMI is led by converted slotback Tim Maypray who took over the signal calling duties with the injury to starting QB Kyle Hughes early in the season. VMI runs a wishbone offense and that means a lot of running plain and simple. In spite of their record the Keydets have rushed for a staggering average of 337.4 yards per game as a team led by Maypray and his 879 yards (approx 110 yards per game). Liberty is equal to the task running the ball led by Walter Payton Award candidate Rashad Jennings. The Flames have rushed for 2045 yards (227.2 yards per game) while allowing only 960 yards (107 yards per game) while the Keydets have allowed 1327 yards on the ground this year (166 yards per game).

The big issue for the Flames is trying to force VMI into something they do not do all that often...passing the ball. Maypray has only attempted 12 passes on the year (completing 8 for 202 yards and 4 TDs) so getting VMI to pass more than they run would be a definite advantage, although the Flames have had trouble with the short passing game (as evidenced by last week vs Presbyterian and a few other occasions in the Danny Rocco era).

Prediction:

Really how this game turns out will depend on which Flames team we see at Foster Stadium Saturday. If its the team that played last weekend in CLinton, this game will go south faster than a pack of birds in teh wintertime. If its teh team that pounded VMI in Williams Stadium last fall The Flames will dominate. After the Flames lost to Lafayette they came out guns a blazing against Charleston Southern. I think more of the same this week as they see the absolute need to finish this "unfinished business."

Liberty 56

VMI 21

Fan the Flames Prediction: Presbyterian

Im gonna make this quick as Im posting this from WBRG 104.5 and Supertalk 1050 as I get ready to produce a high school game.


Liberty wins...big...nuff said

LU 49
PC 0

Fan the Flames Preview: Game #9

#17 (7-1. 2-0)








vs.






(3-5)

Liberty hits the road for the final road swing of the 2008 season (hard to imagine that we were just discussing the opener not too long ago) as they face the soon to be Big South foe Blue Hose (Presbyterian is not eligible for the conference title this year but their games will affect conference standings)

The Blue Hose come into this week after a 28-24 win over fellow transitioning program North Carolina Central in Clinton followed by a 47-21 loss in Boiling Springs to Big South member Gardner-Webb (in their first season as a member in all sports). The Blue Hose are led by RB S.J. Worrell who leads the Blue Hose with 420 yards on 101 carries (4.2 yard average) and 4 TDs, along with QB Tim Webb who has 1428 yds and 9 TDs. after recovering from a broken neck suffered in the game last year (which the Flames won 48-14 on Homecoming).

Game time is set for 1:30 PM from Bailey Stadium in Clinton, SC. I'll have my prediction up later this week. the game can be heard locally on 88.3 FM and online at www.wrvlfm.com


Fan the Flames

Fan the Flames Recap: Charleston Southern

Liberty came into this week needing to rebound after falling to Lafayette at Williams Stadium and with a number of football alumni (including former coach Sam Rutigliano and All Pro TE Eric Green who both had jerseys retired at halftime), rebound they did. Brock Smith threw for 269 yards and 2 TDs, Rashad Jennings rushed for 2 more and Liberty stifled the Buccaneer passing game and the Flames move to 2-0 in Big South play with a 42-0 victory on Homecoming. This was the second straight win for the Flames on homecoming and the second straight year they scored 42 points (won 42-14 over Presbyterian last year). This also is LU's 5th straight win at home over Charleston Southern and the Flames' 43rd straight win at home when scoring at least 30 points.

Before I go into my stars of the game and key stats, here is a list of teams that Liberty has beaten on this streak I just referenced:

1992
Morgan State
Central Florida
Delaware State

1993
Concord
Charleston Southern

1994
Concord
Catawba
New Haven
Charleston Southern

1995
West Virginia Tech
Morgan State
Wofford
Western Kentucky

1996
Charleston Southern

1997
Glenville State
Elon
Cal Poly

1998
Norfolk State

1999
Fayetteville State
Johnson C Smith

2000
Wingate

2001
Delaware State
Wingate

2002
West Liberty State

2003
Kentucky Wesleyan
VMI
Norfolk State
Coastal Carolina
Hofstra

2004
West Virginia Tech
Charleston Southern

2005
(Only season where LU failed to score at least 30 points in a game at home during streak)

2006
Glenville State
Charleston Southern

2007
Tusculum
Shippensburg
St Francis (Pa.)
Presbyterian
Coastal Carolina
VMI
(Only season where LU has scored at least 30 in EVERY home game)

2008
North Greenville
Glenville State
Stony Brook
Charleston Southern

(The Lafayette game ended a streak of consecutive home games scoring at least 30 points at 9)


Stars of the Game:

1. Jonathan Crawford: J-5 had a career day as he caught 6 passes for 124 yards (career high) and 2 TDs including a 69 yard pass to get things started for the Flames
2. Rashad Jennings: What else is there to say? The senior had another great game and added 2 more TDs
3. Brock Smith: The senior had another efficient game (threw one INT but it was on the last play of the 1st half) and spread the ball around very well passing to 8 different receivers


Key Stats:

Brock Smith: 17-27-269 yards-2 TDs (69 yards, 10 yards)-1 INT, 2 rushes- -5 yards-1 TD (1 yard)
Rashad Jennings: 23 rushes-127 yards-2 TDs (1 yard, 1 yard) 1 catch-8 yards
Jonathan Crawford: 6 catches-124 yards-2 TDs (69 yds, 10 yds)
Dominic Bolden 5 catches-117 yards, 2 rushes-34 yards-1 TD (25 yards)


The Flames head back on the road for two games, starting with a trip to Clinton, SC to face the Presbyterian Blue Hose in Big South play. Kickoff is set for 1:30 PM at Bailey Stadium.

Fan the Flames Recap: Charleston Southern

Liberty came into this week needing to rebound after falling to Lafayette at Williams Stadium and with a number of football alumni (including former coach Sam Rutigliano and All Pro TE Eric Green who both had jerseys retired at halftime), rebound they did. Brock Smith threw for 269 yards and 2 TDs, Rashad Jennings rushed for 2 more and Liberty stifled the Buccaneer passing game and the Flames move to 2-0 in Big South play with a 42-0 victory on Homecoming. This was the second straight win for the Flames on homecoming and the second straight year they scored 42 points (won 42-14 over Presbyterian last year). This also is LU's 5th straight win at home over Charleston Southern and the Flames' 43rd straight win at home when scoring at least 30 points.

Before I go into my stars of the game and key stats, here is a list of teams that Liberty has beaten on this streak I just referenced:

1992
Morgan State
Central Florida
Delaware State

1993
Concord
Charleston Southern

1994
Concord
Catawba
New Haven
Charleston Southern

1995
West Virginia Tech
Morgan State
Wofford
Western Kentucky

1996
Charleston Southern

1997
Glenville State
Elon
Cal Poly

1998
Norfolk State

1999
Fayetteville State
Johnson C Smith

2000
Wingate

2001
Delaware State
Wingate

2002
West Liberty State

2003
Kentucky Wesleyan
VMI
Norfolk State
Coastal Carolina
Hofstra

2004
West Virginia Tech
Charleston Southern

2005
(Only season where LU failed to score at least 30 points in a game at home during streak)

2006
Glenville State
Charleston Southern

2007
Tusculum
Shippensburg
St Francis (Pa.)
Presbyterian
Coastal Carolina
VMI
(Only season where LU has scored at least 30 in EVERY home game)

2008
North Greenville
Glenville State
Stony Brook
Charleston Southern

(The Lafayette game ended a streak of consecutive home games scoring at least 30 points at 9)


Stars of the Game:

1. Jonathan Crawford: J-5 had a career day as he caught 6 passes for 124 yards (career high) and 2 TDs including a 69 yard pass to get things started for the Flames
2. Rashad Jennings: What else is there to say? The senior had another great game and added 2 more TDs
3. Brock Smith: The senior had another efficient game (threw one INT but it was on the last play of the 1st half) and spread the ball around very well passing to 8 different receivers


Key Stats:

Brock Smith: 17-27-269 yards-2 TDs (69 yards, 10 yards)-1 INT, 2 rushes- -5 yards-1 TD (1 yard)
Rashad Jennings: 23 rushes-127 yards-2 TDs (1 yard, 1 yard) 1 catch-8 yards
Jonathan Crawford: 6 catches-124 yards-2 TDs (69 yds, 10 yds)
Dominic Bolden 5 catches-117 yards, 2 rushes-34 yards-1 TD (25 yards)


The Flames head back on the road for two games, starting with a trip to Clinton, SC to face the Presbyterian Blue Hose in Big South play. Kickoff is set for 1:30 PM at Bailey Stadium.

Fan the FLames Prediction: Charleston Southern

I'll make this a quick one. Liberty has beaten CSU 6 of the last 8, and they will be hopping mad after losing at home and they will win handily


Liberty 51
CSU 14

Fan the Flames: Game #8

(3-4, 1-1)

vs.

(6-1,1-0)

After suffering a tough loss, the Flames get back into Big South Conference play as the Buccaneers come a calling. LU has lost two of the last three years on Homecoming (10-7 to VMI in 2005 and 14-13 to William and Mary in 2006), but picked up a solid 48-14 win over eventual conference foe Presbyterian last year. The Buccaneers have not won at Liberty since 2000 and 6 of the last 8 overall in this series have gone the way of the Flames. The Bucs come in led by Clemson transfer Tribble Reese who has throw for over 1000 yards on the season and 11 TDs.

I'll have my prediction posted on Flamefans as well as this site later in the week.

Fan the Flames