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.