Liberty (8-0, 6-0 CUSA) will play host to Louisiana Tech (3-6, 2-3) for homecoming on Saturday evening. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will be televised on CBSSN and will mark the first ever meeting between the two programs.
Sonny Cumbie is in his second year as head coach of the Bulldogs. The former Texas Tech quarterback guided LA Tech to a 3-9 record last year and 2-6 mark in Conference USA play.
This season, the Bulldogs have losses to SMU, North Texas, and Nebraska in the non-conference portion of their schedule. In league play, they defeated FIU in the season opener and won at UTEP at the end of September. Since that win, Louisiana Tech has lost three straight, falling at Western Kentucky (35-28), at Middle Tennessee (31-23), and against New Mexico State (27-24) with all of those defeats coming by one score.
“We know they’re very capable,” Liberty head coach Jamey Chadwell said of Louisiana Tech. “They have good players offense and defense. They are playing for bowl eligibility so they are hungry. I hope our guys, our mindset, we are not satisfied where we’re at.”
Quarterback Hank Bachmeier suffered a right shoulder injury in the game against North Texas and missed three games. He has returned the past two contests, the losses against Middle Tennessee and New Mexico State. On the season, Bachmeier has completed 106 of 157 passes for 1,172 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions.
“He’s got good players to throw to,” said Chadwell of Bachmeier. “Their scheme is good. Our biggest thing is, we’ve got to tackle better. I think you can try to slow down a quarterback, you’re not going to stop Hank. They are good. You’re not going to stop them, but you’ve got to try and slow them down. We’ve got to tackle better and not allow them to extend drives. We are going to have to do a good job in trying to affect him in different ways whether that is blitzing or something. If we let him just sit back there, we are going to be in trouble.”
Smoke Harris is his most favorite target and a dynamic playmaker for the Bulldogs. He has 62 receptions for 637 yards and 3 touchdowns this season. Louisiana Tech attempts to get him the ball in space in both the passing and the rushing game.
“If you look at their scores, with the exception of really SMU, every game they have won or they’ve had a chance to win,” said Chadwell. “It’s been close games. I think they have some explosive players on offense. The injuries have caused them some issues quarterback wise, but they’ve got some explosive players. They are phenomenal on special teams. Kick return, punt return, Smoke Harris is tremendous. That is our biggest challenge to date from a special teams standpoint.”
A first team all-CUSA selection a year ago, Harris also factors into the return game. As the team’s punt returner, he has averaged 9 yards per return on his 22 punt returns with a long of 67 and a touchdown.
“He’s tremendous. Our punting team hasn’t been our best attribute, we’re protecting but maybe from a kicking standpoint, we haven’t played up to our ability there. It is a challenge. It is something you have to prepare for because he can change the game. The thing with him, it doesn’t matter who’s around him, he’s going to catch it and make people miss. There are videos where he is running through tackles left and right. We will have to have a good plan there because he can change a game.”
Cyrus Allen is the team’s second leading receiver with 29 catches for 487 yards and 2 touchdowns. Tyre Shelton is averaging 95 yards rushing per game. He has toted the rock 68 times for 475 yards and 5 touchdowns.
“Defensively they have a couple guys that can lock you down at corner,” said Chadwell. “Then, they are really good in the box. It is one of the better defenses we have seen this year. We are going to have to have a really good plan to try and execute. They can get after the passer but they really do a good job covering. I think they are top 20 in the country from a pass defense standpoint. That’s hard to do in this league because a lot of people throw it.”
The Bulldogs have struggled to stop opposing team’s rushing attack. They are allowing 202.1 rushing yards per game which ranks 123rd in the country out of 130 teams. The Flames will certainly test that aspect of the game, as Liberty ranks 2nd in the country with 280,6 yards rushing per game.
“I have a lot of respect for Coach Cumbie and how they play,” said Chadwell. “They compete. Every game they have been in it. They’ve got three games to get bowl eligibility. This is his second year. They are going to be ready to play and we know we have to come ready to go. We can’t take anybody lightly. We’re not good enough to do that. We have to play good to win.”
PREDICTION
Liberty 35, Louisiana Tech 21
Line: Liberty -16.5
Picks results this year:
Straight-up: 8-0
ATS: 4-4
