3rd down improvement
The most notable improvement for Liberty that helped them beat Appalachian State was their improvement on 3rd downs. In the prior two games, against Indiana State and Richmond, the Flames were a combined 1-for-21 on 3rd downs. It’s nearly impossible to win games against that level of opponent with that poor of a statistic. In contrast, Liberty was 10-for-17 (59%) on 3rd downs in their overtime win against Appalachian State. If they keep that level of production up, the Flames will have a great shot to win each of their Big South games.

Liberty against the Big South
As we prepare to enter conference play, here’s a brief look back at how the Flames have fared against each Big South opponent:

  • Gardner-Webb: Liberty is 11-8-1 all-time, with an 8-4 mark as Big South opponents. Flames have won 7 straight meetings by an average score of 36-13. Liberty’s last loss was October 21, 2006 in Lynchburg, 27-24. LU won 24-0 last year in Boiling Springs. The series is tied, 4-4, all-time in games played in Lynchburg with the Flames taking the last 3 meetings at Williams Stadium.
  • Presbyterian: Liberty is 7-4 all-time, with a perfect 5-0 mark as Big South opponents. The Flames have won 5 straight meetings by an average score of 41-17. Liberty’s last loss was November 1, 2008 in Clinton, 31-28. LU won 35-14 last year. The Flames are 3-2 all time in Clinton with LU winning the last 2 trips to South Carolina including 2 years ago when Coach Gill led LU to a 56-7 win.
  • Monmouth: This will be just the 2nd meeting between the schools and the first as Big South opponents. Liberty won the only previous meeting, 45-15, last season.
  • Charleston Southern: Liberty is 19-2 all-time, with an 11-1 mark as Big South opponents. The Flames have won 8 straight by an average score of 39-13. Liberty’s last loss was November 12, 2005 in Charleston, 31-30. LU won 56-14 last year in Charleston. The Flames are 10-1 all time in Lynchburg against CSU with the only loss coming November 11, 2000.
  • Coastal Carolina: Liberty is 5-6 all-time having lost 2 straight including last year’s 55-52 homecoming loss in overtime. The Flames are 1-4 all-time in Conway including Coach Gill’s only trip to the beach when LU lost 36-12.

GPI Update
We will use this space to update the weekly GPI rankings throughout the football season. Liberty jumps from #37 to #31 following their win over Appalachian State. The Big South remains the 2nd best FCS conference, and Charleston Southern jumped 13 spots, from 46 to 33, following their near upset of Vanderbilt. Other opponents:

  • #9 Indiana State
  • #22 Richmond
  • #34 Bryant
  • #49 Monmouth
  • #65 Presbyterian
  • #79 Gardner-Webb
  • #100 Norfolk State

Other sports update
Your weekly non-football Fall sports update:

  • The men’s soccer team beat Gardner-Webb 1-0 to improve to 1-2 in conference play. The Flames have a big matchup Saturday when they host Coastal Carolina.
  • The women’s soccer team beat High Point 2-0. The Lady Flames are 5-0-1 in the Big South, and are 7-0-1 in their last 8 matchups.
  • The women’s volleyball team has won 8 in a row following wins this past week over Campbell, High Point, and William & Mary. The Lady Flames are 5-0 in conference play and 18-5 overall.
  • The women’s field hockey team beat App State 6-2 before losing to #9 Duke, 2-3, this past week. The Lady Flames face #6 Virginia in Charlottesville tonight before playing host to #1 North Carolina Sunday afternoon at 2pm.
  • The swimming & diving team went 2-0 at a tri-meet held by Oregon State last week. The Flames defeated Oregon State and Seattle. Liberty is now 3-0 on the season.

FlameFans thread of the week
Surely most of you have heard the news of Justin Kintzel leaving Liberty. Well, the news made it to FlameFans as well as sparked a heated exchange, and it’s this week’s FlameFans thread of the week!