The Liberty Flames (5-1, 3-1 CUSA) are back in action against Jacksonville State (4-3, 3-0 CUSA). The Flames and Gamecocks are scheduled to meet at Williams Stadium on Wednesday, October 30 at 7 PM. The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
The Flames have recorded 12 straight home victories. However, they are seeking their first ever triumph over Jax State in Lynchburg after losing to the Gamecocks 42-13 in 1982 and 48-19 in 2016. This will be the sixth meeting between these two programs, with the Gamecocks holding a 4-1 series edge.
Liberty picked up its first win in the series last year, dominating the second half in the contest played in Alabama. The Flames outscored the Gamecocks, 21-3, after intermission on the way to a 31-13 victory. Quinton Cooley finished the game with 28 carries for 163 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Under third year head coach Rich Rodriguez, the Gamecocks were one of the surprise teams in all of FBS football a year ago. Their first season at the FBS level and in Conference USA, Jax State finished 9-4 overall and 6-2 in conference play, advancing to the New Orleans Bowl.
Based off that success, many anticipated Rodriguez and the Gamecocks to be primed for success again this year and compete for the conference title. Things didn’t start out strong though. Jax State opened the year at 0-3, following up that season opener with a 49-14 loss to Louisville and a double overtime loss at Eastern Michigan.
Since then, the Gamecocks are rolling. They have won four straight, winning by an average score of 50.7-16, blitzing past Southern Miss, Kennesaw State, New Mexico State, and Middle Tennessee. Granted, those teams are a combined 6-23 on the season.
“They play fast,” Liberty head coach Jamey Chadwell said of Jax State. “They are very aggressive on both sides of the ball, and they are arguably playing the best ball in our league right now. They’re not going to come up here, especially after watching us last week, they’re going to come up here excited. If they can come up here and get a victory, that gives them one up in the league as far as having a chance to do what they want to do.”
Much of the change in success for the Gamecocks can be attributed to head coach Rich Rodriguez finding his quarterback. Tyler Huff, a transfer from Furman, has been on fire. In 7 games played, he has completed 99 of 152 passes for 1,406 yards, 8 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. He also has 654 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns on 94 rushing attempts.
He was the Southern Conference Player of the Year last season for Furman, leading the Paladins to two 10-win seasons and the 2023 SoCon Championship. This is his sixth year playing college football, as he spent his first three seasons at Presbyterian before transferring to Furman.
Huff was injured late in JSU’s win last week over MTSU, missing the fourth quarter. It sounds like the injury isn’t very serious and Rodriguez said earlier in the week that he thinks he will play against the Flames.
“He felt a little twinge or something there in his legs,” said Rodriguez of his quarterback.
If Huff is unable to go, Logan Smothers is the next quarterback up. Smothers has plenty of experience, having played in five games this season and in 17 contests over the past two years. This year, he completed 7 of 13 passes for 61 yards while rushing 16 times for 133 yards and a touchdown. Smothers rotated in and out of the lineup with starter Zion Webb at quarterback for the Gamecocks last season and began this year as the team’s starter.
Regardless of who plays at quarterback, Rich Rod’s teams always feature a QB that can move the ball with his legs. It has been a staple of his high-tempo offense and Huff has been really good at it throughout much of this season.
Jax State rushed for a season high 438 yards during its 42-20 win over Middle Tennessee last Wednesday. The Gamecocks joined Liberty as the only CUSA teams to post 400-yard rushing efforts since the start of 2023. The Flames did so twice a year ago. Jax State ranks No. 5 nationally in rushing this season while Liberty is currently No. 10.
The Gamecocks have been the best offensive attack in the conference this season, leading the league in points per game, rushing offense and total offense. Liberty ranks second in the CUSA in each of those marks.
Tre Stewart leads the team in rushing with 107 carries for 682 yards and 11 touchdowns. He leads CUSA in rushing yards and touchdowns while Huff is third. Liberty’s Quinton Cooley is second. Stewart is in his first season with the Gamecocks. He transferred from Limestone where he rushed for 2,994 yards and 24 touchdowns across three seasons.
“Tre has been phenomenal,” Rodriguez said of his running back. “He gets better and better each week. First year in the system. He’s comfortable with what we’re doing now, but I think every game we play he gets even more confident.”
The rushing attack is obviously what gets the Gamecocks going, but Cam Vaughn and Michael Pettway are their top two receivers. Vaughn has 24 receptions for 348 yards and 1 touchdown this season while Pettway has 17 receptions for 327 yards and 3 scores.
JSU Is allowing 405.6 yards of total offense each game, which ranks 7th in CUSA currently. The Jax State defense has also turned things around after the early season losing streak.
In their first three losses, the Gamecocks were giving up 47 points per game, but in the four game winning streak, they are allowing only 16 points per game. Much of that turnaround success has to do with the offense’s ability to stay on the field and being able to play from ahead.
“It’s a huge challenge for us,” said Chadwell. “More than anything, we’ve got to do a better job of playing the game we’re capable of. This is going to be the best opponent we’ve seen all year long. We’re going to have to raise up our level if we’re going to have a chance to come out with a victory.”
PREDICTION
Liberty 31, Jacksonville State 27
Line: Liberty -2
Picks results this year:
Straight-up: 5-1
ATS: 5-1
