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
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...
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
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
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)
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
The Flames begin their final run to the finish with their next to last home game as the Presbyterian Blue Hose come to Williams Stadium and the Flames celebrate their sixth Military Appreciation Day
Liberty returns to action after ending their two game losing skid with a 45-35 victory over first year Big South program Kennesaw State. Josh Woodrum threw for 230 yards and 4 TDs, becoming the all time leader in passing yards, breaking a 20 year old record held by Robbie Justino. Darrin Peterson caught three of those passes, including an 80 yarderto give JW the record.
The defense was tested by the Owls' triple option attack, but rose to the occasion, holding KSU under their season average on the ground. The running game for the Flames made a return appearance, as Des Rice and Todd Macon led the way, combining for 160 yards and 2 TD.
BJ Farrow, like Rice an LCA product, picked up his first collegiate TD in the third quarter before the Flames went exclusively to the run game.
Chima Uzowihe and COrbin Jackson combined for the lone sack on the night, and senior Jimmy O'Grady led the way with 15 tackles.
Grades:
Offense: A
Much more balance to the Flames' attack against the Owls as the running and passing games weere on display. Woodrum had an outstanding game and the success of the run game has already been mentioned.
Defense: B-
Triple option teams are tough to game plan for, especially when you are up against a disciple of Paul Johnson, currently the head coach at Georgia Tech. The boys in the front seven did well, only allowing a few big runs from KSU
Special Teams: INC
I can't really grade the special teams this week because there really wasn't much action in that area outside of Damian King making a few kick returns
Now on to this week's matchup:
Presbyterian 1-7 (0-3 Big South)
vs.
Liberty 4-4 (1-2 Big South)
Matchup
Location: Williams Stadium, Lynchburg, VA
Series: 13th Meeting
Last Meeting: 28-7 Liberty (11/1/2014)
Kickoff: 3:30 PM
Radio: The Journey FM Radio Network/Liberty Flames Sports Network (Liberty)
Alan York play-by-play; 103.5 FM/Presbyterian Blue Hose Radio Network (Presbyterian) Eric Thacker play-by-play
Coaches: Turner Gill (4th Season at Liberty 25-18 Record), Harold Nichols (7th Season at PC 160-56 Record)
Last Week: Liberty Bye, Presbyterian L10-14 vs. Gardner-Webb
This is an important game for Liberty. The Flames need a lot of help, but there is still an outside chance that they can earn the automatic bid from the Big South, but in order to do that, they need to win out, and they cannot overlook the Blue Hose. Charleston Southern plays Kennesaw State this week before welcoming the Flames, so the magnitude of that game will be determined before the Flames get back to the locker room at halftime, but Liberty has to take care of their own business this week, and knowing the magnitude of these last three games, I think they will
After 8 games, the Flames finally got to their bye week. I think this came about 2 weeks too late in my view, especially given the two inexplicable losses to Gardner-Webb and Monmouth in back to back weeks. Would the Flames have done better in those two games? I certainly think its probable. Anyway, here are my grades for the Flames heading into the final 3 games of the year:
Offense: C+
Josh Woodrum has pretty much had to carry this side of the ball with the struggles in the run game. Following the Kennesaw State win last week, he owns just about every passing record in school history (he probably will get the passing TDs record in the next few weeks), and could become the first FCS QB in state history to throw for over 10,000 yards, a situation that benefits from his being a four year starter (the first in recent memory).
The biggest issue that I have seen though, is the issue with his leadership and media presence. In reading comments on the FlameFans message board following his last couple pressers leading up to the KSU game, fans took issue with his seemingly "throwing others under the bus" and not taking personal responsibility for the play on the field. Some recent comments he made calling out the Liberty Flames Nation blog (run by two members of FlameFans), especially did not go over well.
If Woodrum wants to see his teammates step their game up in these final 3 games, he is going to have to lead by example. To do that, he will not have to get in their faces or slap any helmets...He will have to make plays. Make better throws on the deep ball, spread the ball around to other receivers
The biggest reason for the low grade for the offense, comes from the running game. The Flames came into the year with this as probably their biggest strength, but Liberty has gone for less than 100 rushing yards in 5 of 8 games, and the leading rusher, redshirt senior Des Rice, entered last week with only 497 yards.
That said, the offensive line has to take a good bit of the blame for the rushing woes as well. With a number of players injured, including opening day starter Lucas Holder at center, the depth along the line has been severely tested. With 9 of the linemen on the roster redshirt sophomore or younger, and a few verbal commitments on the line as well, this is a group that has potential for much improvement.
Defense: B-
Some might see this grade as being a tad generous (especially one poster in particular on FlameFans), but the defense has been what has carried the Flames in at least 2 of the Flames' 4 wins. Chima Uzowihe and Erwin Dessources have led the way, and Virginia Beach product Javon Majors has stepped up in his first year playing after a 2014 redshirt. The player I think has a chance to be a real star on the line in the future though, is JaRon Greene. The junior out of Beaumont, TX has 26 tackles through 8 games and 2 sacks, and probably will be the leader of the line group following the graduation of the previously mentioned Uzowihe and Dessources.
The linebackers have underwhelmed this year outside of top tacklers Jimmy O'Grady and Nick Newman. This is a fairly young group behind them as well so I expect to see a lot of improvement after spring ball 2016.
The defensive backs have been very feast or famine this year. The group has 5 INTs this year (3 from freshman Chris Turner), but they have been burned on a number of long pass plays, something that they will have to work on with some fine vertical threats in both the Coastal Carolina and Charleston Southern receiving units.
Special Teams: B-
John Lunsford...has been a conundrum wrapped in an enigma. He set the FCS career record for 50+ yard field goals last week against Kennesaw State, but he has struggled on his intermediate kicks (between 30 and 50 yards). He still has a chance to be drafted next year into the NFL because scouts will see how much of a weapon he can be.
Trey Turner, the former preferred walkon, has had another outstanding season, averaging 39 yards per punt, which is good for tops in the Big South, and is one of only two punters in the conference to go over 60 yards with a punt on the year.
the biggest issue has been the punt returns. Zac Parker had a crucial fumble in the loss to Gardner-Webb, but did finally get his first return TD prior to that fumble.
Damian King has been a breath of fresh air for the kick return unit, showing his speed every time he touches the ball of a kickoff, nearly breaking a couple in the last few games. He is someone that teams will no doubt game plan for in the kicking game.
The goal for the Flames is simple: Just win baby. They are a long shot for a playoff berth at this point in the season following those two gutting losses, but if they win out, they will have a pretty stout resume to show to the selection committee.
Next week the journey continues as the Flames host Presbyterian for Military Appreciation Day
