The Liberty Flames (2-0) are back at home as they play host to the Old Dominion Monarchs (1-1). Kickoff from Williams Stadium in Lynchburg, Virginia is scheduled for 6 p.m. EST on ESPN3.

The all-time series between the in-state FBS program is tied at one game a piece with each team winning on their home field. The Flames and Monarchs last met in 2018 in what was Liberty’s first ever game as an FBS opponent. Liberty dominated that game winning 52-10. The Flames jumped out in front early and never looked back

ODU would finish the 2018 season with a 4-8 record and just 2-6 mark in Conference USA play. In 2019, the Monarchs struggled to a 1-11 campaign with the only win coming in the season opener against FCS Norfolk State in a come from behind 24-21 win. At the conclusion of the 2019 season, head coach Bobby Wilder was let go. Wilder was the leader of the ODU football program since it was restarted in 2009 and helped guide the school from its time as an FCS member into the FBS CUSA. He was 77-56 during his tenure at Old Dominion.

Former Penn State offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Ricky Rahne was tabbed as Wilder’s replacement in December 2019. Rayne played quarterback in college for Cornell before making coaching stops at Holy Cross, Cornell, Kansas State, Vanderbilt, and Penn State. He did not coach in his first game for the Monarchs until just a couple weeks ago against Wake Forest as ODU cancelled the 2020 football season due to COVID.

The Monarchs opened the Rahne era with a 42-10 loss at Wake Forest in a game they railed 28-3 at halftime and 35-3 entering the 4th quarter. ODU would rebound and pick up their first win against FCS Hampton last week, 47-7. ODU has rushed for 251.5 yards per game and 5.4 yards per rush through their first two games, as the Monarchs like to pound the ball on the ground.

“It starts with their offensive line,” Liberty head coach Hugh Freeze said of ODU. “It is physical and they cover you up. Then, they run all the power, counter reads, quarterback plus one runs, things that are creating extra gaps. They have a really, really good scheme for run game.”

Rahne has gone to the transfer portal to bring in a quarterback to begin his tenure in Norfolk. Former Central Florida quarterback D.J. Mack, Jr. has transferred back to his hometown after playing in 19 games and starting three for the Knights. In his first two games at ODU, Mack has completed 18 of 43 passes for 201 yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions. He’s also rushed 20 times for 70 yards and three touchdowns.

“Offensively, their quarterback, he’s another dual-threat guy,” Freeze said. “They are a quarterback plus one run team. That is hard to prepare for. Plus, he’s got a solid arm also. OLine is enormous, very physical. Tight ends are solid players too. They are a good team.”

Elijah Davis leads ODU in rushing with 178 rushing yards and 8.9 yards per rush. The Lynchburg native from Heritage High School is banged up this week and his status for Saturday’s game is currently unknown. Jon-Luke Peaker rushed 18 times for 141 yards last week against Hampton.

Zack Kuntz leads the Monarchs with 6 receptions and 80 yards. 15 different players have caught at least one pass, but nobody has more than the 80 yards receiving so far through two games.

“Anytime you’ve got the ability to run the quarterback, it puts a stress on defenses,” Liberty defensive coordinator Scott Symons said. “They’ve got a very talented athlete at the quarterback position that can run it and throw it. Obviously, that is a part of their offense, running the quarterback, a big part. Big OLine and they are going to try to move us around and push on us. We’ve got to take the fight to them. I do think it’s going to be a very physical football game.”

NOTABLES

  • Liberty has won a program record 12 consecutive home games at Williams Stadium dating back to 2019. That is the sixth longest active home winning streak in the FBS.
  • The Flames have outscored opponents 553-220 during the 12 game home winning streak with 10 out of the 12 games being decided by two scores or more and four decided by 40+ points.
  • Saturday will mark the 50th career game for Liberty C Thomas Sargeant and WR DJ Stubbs with Sargeant looking to make his 50th consecutive start at center.
  • Dating back since Nov. 30, 2019, Liberty has not trailed by more than seven points at any point in any game, a span of 15 games, the second longest active streak of any FBS team. Alabama has the longest streak having never trailed by more than seven points in any of its last 19 games.
  • ODU is the first of four Conference USA opponents on the Flames’ schedule this season. Liberty has won three straight meetings with CUSA foes and is 4-1 all-time versus CUSA opponents.
  • The Flames are looking for its second straight win against a team it also defeated in 2018, the first season of FBS football, having defeated both Troy and Old Dominion that year.
  • Liberty’s defense is currently ranked 10th nationally for points allowed (10.0) and 14th for yards allowed (250.5) so far this season. The Flames are also ranked 10th nationally in holding opponents to just 53.5 rushing yards per game.

QUOTABLES

Hugh Freeze – “Glad we are back at home. I wish it was an early kick with us having to play Syracuse next Friday night so that we could get a little more rest because that will be a tough turnaround, but we’re glad we’re at home. We need our crowd to show up, our students and our fans. It needs to be an advantage to play at home. Looking forward to it.”

DC Scott Symons – “I don’t know much about the rivalry here. I do know they are down the road from us, but I know they’re going to be ready to play us and we’re going to have to be ready to play them. They see this as a huge opportunity to come in here and take a game from us.”

Malik Willis on ODU’s defense – “They do a lot well. They are a good team. We’ve just got to focus on what the game plan has in store and keep working hard.”

TJ Green on ODU’s defense – “They get to the ball well. They are a good defense. I feel like it’s going to be a real good game. I’m excited to play in this game. It’s going to be a good game, it’s going to be good for the offense, and I know the defense is going to go out there and make plays. It should be a good one.”

DJ Stubbs on ODU – “They look a little bit different (than in 2018). Yeah, they have a player here and there that was playing in 2018, but it looks like a pretty good defense.”

Chris Megginson on ODU RB Elijah Davis – “He’s a great person, great kid. Knowing him ever since we grew up, he’s not a selfish person. He’s always caring about others. He’s a family person. He’s always looking out for family and friends whenever he can to help other people.“

Duron Lowe on ODU’s offense – “We’re going to scheme up on what they like to do, their base schemes, and try to stop everything they want to do.”

PREDICTION

Liberty 38, Old Dominion 14

The Flames won’t be taking their in-state FBS opponent lightly. After the close game last week, look for Liberty to come out and look to make a statement in this one.