Week 3: Know the Enemy – Liberty Flames

by | Sep 17, 2015

liberty

Liberty University

Lynchburg, VA

Founded: 1971
Enrollment: 14,500
Nickname: Flames
Big South Champs: 2007-2010, 2012-2014

  • HEAD COACH: Turner Gill, 4th season at Liberty (24-15-0)
  • CONFERENCE: Big South Conference
  • STADIUM: Williams Stadium (19,200)
  • 2015 PRESEASON POLL: 2nd Place
  • 2014 RECORD: 9-5 (4-1 Big South) 1st Place
  • 2015 RECORD: 1-1 (0-0 Big South)
  • SERIES HISTORY: Montana leads the series 1-0
  • LAST MEETING: Sept 15, 2012 – Montana won in Missoula 34-14.

Liberty Football Schedule/Results

Liberty has played two games so far in the 2015 season.  The first game Liberty hosted FCS Delaware State and handled the Hornets easily, winning 32-13.  Last week, the Flames traveled to West Virginia to take on the FBS Mountaineers.  For those of you who don’t know, the Mountaineers head coach Dana Holgorsen adopted some of Stitt’s plays back in 2012 in an Orange Bowl matchup against Clemson where the Mountaineers absolutely demolished the Tigers 70-33.  Liberty was no match for West Virginia in a 17-41 loss.

Below is Liberty’s full schedule as well as last year’s season results, and a list of conference championships.

Record: 1-1 (0-0 Big South) | Home: 1-0 | Away: 0-1 | PF: 49 | PA: 54

2015 Schedule/Results
DATE Opponent RESULT RECORD
Sat, Sept 5 vs Delaware State W 32-13 1-0 (0-0)
Sat, Sept 12 @ West Virginia L 17-41 1-1 (0-0)
Sat, Sept 19 vs #8 Montana 5:00 PM MT
Sat, Sept 26 @ Southern Illinois
Sat, Oct 3 @ Georgia State
Sat, Oct 10 @ Garnder-Webb
Sat, Oct 17 @ Monmouth
Sat, Oct 24 vs Kennesaw State
Sat, Nov 7 vs Presbyterian
Sat, Nov 14 @ Charleston Southern
Thu, Nov 19 vs #2 Coastal Carolina

2014 Schedule/Results

DATE Opponent RESULT RECORD
Sat, Aug 30 @ #23 North Carolina L 29-56 0-1 (0-0)
Sat, Sept 6 @ Norfolk State W 17-0 1-1 (0-0)
Sat, Sept 13 vs Brevard W 56-31 2-1 (0-0)
Sat, Sept 20 vs Bryant W 38-21 3-1 (0-0)
Sat, Sept 27 @ Indiana State L 19-38 3-2 (0-0)
Sat, Oct 4 vs Richmond L 39-46 2OT 3-3 (0-0)
Sat, Oct 11 @ Appalachian State W 55-48 OT 4-3 (0-0)
Sat, Oct 25 vs Gardner-Webb W 34-0 5-3 (1-0)
Sat, Nov 1 @ Presbyterian W 28-7 6-3 (2-0)
Sat, Nov 8 vs Monmouth W 34-24 7-3 (3-0)
Thu, Nov 15 vs Charleston Southern L 36-38 7-4 (3-1)
Sat, Nov 22 @ Coastal Carolina W 16-15 8-4 (4-1)
Sat, Nov 29 @ James Madison – 1st Round W 26-21 8-4 (4-1)
Sat, Dec 6 @ Villanova – 2nd Round L 22-29 8-4 (4-1)

** denotes playoff game

Liberty Championships

No. Year Record Selector
1 2007 8-3 Big South Conference Champions
2 2008 10-2 Big South Conference Champions
3 2009 8-3 Big South Conference Co-Champions
4 2010 8-3 Big South Conference Co-Champions
5 2012 6-5 Big South Conference Co-Champions
6 2013 8-4 Big South Conference Co-Champions
7 2014 9-5 Big South Conference Co-Champions

Liberty made it’s first appearance in the FCS Playoffs in 2014.

Playoff Appearances
No Year Round & Opponent Results Record
1 2014 1st Round @ James Madison 2nd Round @ Villanova W 26-21 L 22-29 1-1

Offensive/Defensive Breakdown

Below are the stats for the Griz and Liberty offense/defense from the last two games and how each team compares.

(Stats research from Brint Wahlberg)

Offensive Stats Montana Liberty
Passing Yards 394 234
Rushing Yards 108 160
Total Offense 502 394
Defensive Stats Montana Liberty
Pass Defense 127 270
Rush Defense 280 107
Total Defense 407 377
Other Stats Montana Liberty
Offensive Points Scored 28.5 ppg 24.5 ppg
Defensive Points Allowed 27.5 ppg 27 ppg
Turnover Margin -4 +3
Fieldgoal % 80% made 33% made
T.O.P 24:33 33:38
Red Zone Defense (Touchdowns) 80% Allowed 67% Allowed
Red Zone Offense (Touchdowns) 44% 60%

Offensive Top Performers

Montana Passing

COMP ATT Yards AVG TD INT
Brady Gustafson 70 119 787 6.6 4 4

Montana Rushing

Carries Yards AVG TD Long
John Nguyen 33 156 4.7 0 41

Montana Receiving

Rec YDS AVG TD Long
Jamaal Jones 17 205 12.1 1 28
Ellis Henderson 12 180 15 2 62
Reese Carlson 7 80 11.4 0 31

Offensive Top Performers

Liberty Passing

COMP ATT Yards AVG TD INT
Josh Woodrum 40 64 468 7.3 3 1

Liberty Rushing

Carries Yards AVG TD Long
Desmond Rice 31 176 5.7 2 29
D.J. Abnar 18 96 5.3 0 24

Liberty Receiving

Rec YDS AVG TD Long
Darrin Peterson 12 147 12.3 2 26
Zac Parker 12 101 12.6 1 60
B.J. Farrow 4 70 17.5 0 20

Prediction:

Execute, execute, execute. That will make the difference between a Griz win and a Griz loss. Road games are always tough to come away with wins, but if we see the Montana team who took down NDSU in week 1 show up, the Griz will beat Liberty. If the Griz who played Cal Poly show up against Liberty, the Griz will lose. With the Griz getting a second “mini-fall” camp thanks to the early-season bye week, the team was able to rest up and focus on eliminating mistakes. The defense should once again be great as they have been the first two games this year and give the offense the chance to put up points. We’ll take the Griz in this one, winning 31-21.

GO GRIZ!! BEAT LIBERTY!!

 

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Athletics: liberty.edu/flames | gogriz.com
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