Liberty has its worked cut out this week when they face #8 Charleston Southern in South Carolina on Saturday.
While the Flames hold a commanding 19-3 lead in the series history, these are not your father’s Buccaneers. Jamey Chadwell, in just his 3rd season at CSU, has established a team that is a Big South power and is working to become relevant nationally. Chadwell and the Bucs have already clinched the Big South Championship and automatic bid, and they will be making the program’s first ever appearance in the FCS playoffs this season. Chadwell sports a 26-8 career mark at CSU and owns wins over the Citadel, Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, and Liberty. For the first time in program history, the Buccaneers have clinched a winning record for the 3rd straight season. While the Flames lost to Monmouth and Gardner-Webb, the Buccaneers blew the doors off the Big South basement dwellers, beating the Hawks and Runnin’ Bulldogs by a combined score of 71-7.
“Jamey Chadwell has done a fantastic job,” Coach Gill said. “In his 3 years in the league, I’ve seen them tremendously improve in all three phases. This year, I think what has put them over the hump has been their defense.” Charleston Southern boasts the #1 rated defense in all of FCS, holding opponents to 250 yards of offense. They are equally stout against the run and the pass, and are holding opponents to a 3rd down conversion rate below 29%. They have scored 4 defensive touchdowns and have 64 tackles for loss and 20 sacks. But if you think the Bucs are one-dimensional, they’re not. They are averaging 31 points per game, one of only 3 Big South teams to average 30 or more points a game this season. Austin Brown has developed into a quarterback that must be feared as much throwing as he is running. Darius Hammond is an explosive athlete who has the ability to take one to the house any time he touches it.
The Flames have faced Charleston Southern 22 previous times, more than any other opponent, but the 23rd time, they will face the best CSU team yet.
