Buckshot vs Bear

The matchup between quarterbacks this weekend features Liberty’s Buckshot (Calvert) and Saint Francis’ Bear (Fenimore). We all know the story of Buckshot and how he was named after NASCAR driver Buckshot Jones. Well, Bear Fenimore is named after the legendary coach Bear Bryant. Fenimore, a transfer from the University of Houston, is 54/84 passing for 764 yards, 8 touchdowns, and 1 interceptions in 3 games for the Red Flash this season. He redshirted in 2014 and did not see any action in either 2015 or 2016 at Houston before transferring this offseason.

“He’s a smart young man,” Liberty defensive coordinator Robert Wimberly said of Fenimore. “He goes through his progression reads. He does a great job going through his progressions. It’s not too many guessing games you can play with him, he will hurt you. We’re going to have to do some multiple defenses and start strong against him. When he starts fast and gets in a rhythm, he can have great composure in the pocket to where if you bring pressure it doesn’t overwhelm him, but if we’re able to confuse him a little bit early, we’re going to really rely on our great crowd with the fan noise to hopefully make him feel uncomfortable.”

Faulks & Turner battling for starting CB spot

Coming into the season, the Flames were led by veteran corners Jeremy Peters and Chris Turner. Turner was coming off consecutive Big South second-team all-conference selections and 17 starts in his first 22 games with the Flames, but late in the Indiana State game with the game on the line he was benched in favor of the younger Jimmy Faulks. Then, Faulks got the start last week against Jacksonville State; however, on this week’s depth chart Chris Turner is again listed ahead of Faulks on the depth chart. Is this just a good old fashioned competition or is there something else going on?

“Sometime things adjust, sometime things change, as we, the coaching staff, talk in the middle of the week, talk at the end of the week,” Coach Gill said of Turner and Faulks. “Right now, Turner is starting. Could that change? Maybe, maybe not. We always want competition at every position. We’re going to play the best people that give us the best chance to be successful on the field. When we’re in the game, sometimes you talk about it, you make decisions at the end of the game, you come back and discuss more things about it. The bottom line is, we’re always going to come together and say who gives us the best chance to be successful, those are decisions we have to make as coaches.”

The sophomore Faulks has definitely made an impression on the coaching staff early this year, and he is making a very strong case for not only playing time but to replace a two time All-Conference performer in the starting lineup.

“He’s coming along, he’s building our confidence in him,” Wimberly said of Faulks. “He’s a student of the game, he’s been studying film. He was even on the sideline (during the Jacksonville State game), it wasn’t nagging me, but I appreciate it. He was telling me what the receiver was getting ready to do. ‘Coach, watch the splits, coach here he comes, coach here comes the slant,’ and I’m trying to give signals. ‘Coach, you may want to think about this.’ I’m very excited to see where he’s come from as a freshman that really didn’t understand as much football, but Coach Roberts has done a great job. Now, he’s giving me hints of what to expect. I think that shows maturity of him. He still has to improve some technique things, but his love for the game is growing and growing and that’s fun to see.”

Saint Francis’ head coach has NFL pedigree

Saint Francis is led by 8th year head coach Chris Villarrial. Villarrial played his college football at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a Division II school in Indiana, Pennsylvania. After being drafted in the 5th round of the 1996 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears, he had a long and successful career with the Bears and Buffalo Bills. In 2009, he joined the Saint Francis staff as Offensive Coordinator and became the head coach in 2010. Each year he has been head coach, the team’s overall record has improved, beginning with a 1-10 mark in 2010. In 2016, he led the program to a 7-5 record and first ever trip to the FCS Playoffs.

“He has done a terrific job,” Gill said of Villarrial. “He’s improved each year with his football team. Last year was the first time they’ve played in the playoffs, and that’s a tremendous honor for them. It also was the first time they’ve won the title in their conference. He has a great pedigree, been in the NFL for 11 years, from a small college to playing big time football. He’s an offensive line guy, he knows what he’s doing and how he’s doing it.”

Injury update

Wide receiver Lionell McConnell had surgery to repair an injured knee suffered against Baylor earlier this week. He will miss the entire 2017 season. Defensive lineman Ralfs Rusins and Ethan Crawford are both out this week due to lower body injuries suffered against Jacksonville State, no timetable was given for their return although each are likely going to be out for an extended period of time. Cephas Reddick, who missed the Jacksonville State game, is listed as probable for this weekend’s game with Saint Francis.

My prediction:

Liberty 37, Saint Francis 24