In a virtual Big South Conference Championship elimination game, the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (3-4, 1-1 Big South) welcome the Liberty Flames (3-4, 2-0) to Brooks Stadium on Saturday afternoon for a 3:30 kickoff.

Joe Moglia replaced David Bennett this past offseason. Moglia, also the Chairman of TD Ameritrade, is in his first season as a head college football coach. Moglia has re-energized the Coastal team and fan base, and they have their eyes set on another Big South Championship.

Coastal Head Coach Joe Moglia

“All I gotta do is say Coastal and that gets everybody excited.” That’s how Turner Gill described the rivalry game. This rivalry has been incredibly even over its history. Liberty currently leads the series 5-4, and have won 4 of the past 5 games. However, Liberty is just 1-3 all time in games played in Conway with the lone victory coming in 2010.

Coastal is coming off an impressive 34-7 victory over VMI in Lexington last Saturday. The victory was Coastal’s first in the conference this season, and keeps them in line for an opportunity at the Big South Championship and auto bid to the playoffs. Coastal will need help to win the auto bid since they lost to Stony Brook a couple weeks ago.

Coastal QB Aramis Hillary

Coastal Carolina senior quarterback Aramis Hillary is #22 in all of FCS in total offense. He is a dual threat as he has over 200 yards rushing and 1600 yards passing. Liberty coach Turner Gill stated that Liberty’s defense must “get him uncomfortable.” Hillary also has 11 passing touchdowns and 4 interceptions with a completion percentage of 63%. Hillary also has 159 consecutive pass attempts without an interception.

Liberty’s head coach Turner Gill stated Coastal is a “very, very talented football team” and one key element to the game Saturday will be Coastal’s kickoff return. Gill said he was “really concerned” about their ability to return kicks. Coastal ranks #13 in the country in kickoff return yards per kickoff.

Prediction:
Liberty and Coastal always have exciting matchups, but the games are not always close. The home team is 7-2 in the 9 game history. This game will more than likely be decided in the 4th quarter, and it is difficult to overcome the home field advantage in close rivalry matchups. Add the senior quarterback matching up against a freshman, and Coastal may have a little bit more in their advantage than Liberty. Hopefully this prediction is wrong.

Liberty 28
Coastal 38

Go Flames!