END OF AN ERA

Saturday’s contest between Liberty and UMass figures to be the last one between the two programs for the foreseeable future. The Flames and Minutemen became frequent opponents on each other’s schedule over the past several years as both teams were FBS Independents. Now, Liberty is in its second season in Conference USA and UMass will join the MAC next season.

This year marks the seventh consecutive season the two teams have met on the gridiron. Liberty is 5-1 against UMass, having won five straight meetings and scoring 42 or more points every time it has faced the Minutemen.

UMass is the only opponent Liberty has faced during each of its seven FBS seasons, dating back to 2018. Liberty has only defeated on FBS opponent (New Mexico State – 6 times) more often in program history than UMass (5 times).

FINDING THEIR IDENTITY

Following Liberty’s win over Middle Tennessee this past Saturday, Liberty head coach Jamey Chadwell stated the team was focused on getting back to its identity on offense, based on the team’s rushing attack.

The Flames ran for 339 yards, a season-best, against the Blue Raiders. Following that performance, Liberty now ranks No. 2 in CUSA with 242.4 yards rushing per game, which is good enough for No. 7 nationally. Last year, Liberty led the nation in rushing.

The Flames have rushed for 300 or more yards eight times under Chadwell, going 8-0 in those games. Throughout his coaching career, Chadwell’s teams are 34-0 when rushing for 300 or more yards.

“Trying to control the line of scrimmage and being able to use the run game to open up a lot of passing games and play actions and different things,” Chadwell said this week when asked about getting back to their identity on the ground. “With all the different injuries and the different things that we’ve had, it’s been an up and down season. Not that we have to run for 300 yards every week by any means, but being able to control it and use the time of possession to rest the defense. Just being able to move the ball and put ourselves in position to score touchdowns consistently is the goal. We’re getting closer to that.”

A lot of that improved success on the ground has come behind an offensive line unit that continues to gel and improve as the season progresses. There were several injuries early in the season, but that unit is now healthy and has more depth than it did in the first few weeks of the season. Even Austin Anderson has returned to action, getting into the game off the bench against Middle Tennessee.

FINDING THEIR JUJU

NC State transfer Juju Gray was expected to be a big part of Libert’s offense entering the 2024 season. That plan got derailed in the season opener against Campbell when the talented and explosive receiver went down to injury.

He missed the next several weeks as he rehabbed his injury, not returning to the field until recent weeks. Even once he got back on the field, the coaching staff kept Gray limited to not reaggravate his injury. In the win at Middle Tennessee, Juju looked like the explosive player the Flames thought they had when he transferred to the team this offseason. Gray finished with two touchdowns, scoring both on the ground and through the air. As we enter the stretch run of the regular season, expect to see Juju featured more prominently in the offensive game plan.

“This past week, limited the things that we’re going to ask him to do, and make sure he can be good at what he does,” Chadwell said of Gray. “As you can see, he’s got a lot of ability, and it’s a shame that he got hurt and was not able to continue improving and really find a role in the offense earlier. I think it would definitely help us, but it was good to have him out there.”

INJURY REPORT

Here’s an update on Liberty’s current injury situation:

  • WR Reese Smith has not played the last three games. He suffered an injury against FIU four weeks ago. Chadwell originally gave him a 2-4 week timeline, but said this week he is still a couple of weeks away from returning, at the earliest.
  • WRs Treon Sibley and Tyson Mobley returned to the field this past week at Middle Tennessee.
  • RB Billy Lucas was held out of the MTSU game despite traveling. He was going to only be used as an emergency back as he fights through an injury. There could be a similar plan with Lucas again this week at UMass.
  • TE Austin Henderson missed the past two weeks with a leg injury. He could return to the action this week but could be held out another week, as well.
  • TE Bo Burklow missed last week’s game with an undisclosed injury. His status this week is currently unknown.
  • DT Jay Hardy was injured in his return to action against Kennesaw State with a high ankle injury. He has missed the past two weeks and is questionable to return this week.
  • S Christian Bodnar has missed the last three games with an illness. He is likely to miss the rest of the season Coach Chadwell said last week, though he has returned to practice.