• The Flames will start conference play off 1-0 with a great all around win against Gardner-Webb.
  • At this point, Liberty’s best shot at the playoffs is through the automatic Big South bid, so this game signifies almost a fresh start for the Flames.

Offense

  • Liberty was able to get off to a hot start, scoring on three of their first four drives. Gardner-Webb looked like they were overmatched from the get go.
  • Dante Shells led all receivers with 106 yards. This is the second straight game in which he has been the Flames’ leading receiver. If he continues to catch the ball, Liberty’s aerial attack looks pretty scary.
  • D.J. Abnar rushed for 137 yards on 27 attempts. He is the first Flame to rush for 100 yards in three straight games since Rashad Jennings.
  • Being so thin at running back, I’m not sure why Abnar was in the game as long as he was. He left the game with an ankle injury on a fourth-and-one play when the Flames were up 34-0 in the fourth quarter. It’s hard to say why the Flames were going for it on fourth down, with a 34-0 lead, at all.
  • Stephon Masha was the second leading rusher, running 3 times for 41 yards. If Abnar is out next week, he could be our lead back.
  • Woodrum was not particularly sharp. He had three or four overthrows, but looked good rushing again. He tallied his seventh rushing touchdown of the year.
  • Jaquan Glover made his first reception of the year, then went on to be Liberty’s second leading receiver and score a touchdown.
  • Liberty had two touchdown’s called back. The first was a pass from Gabe Henderson to Darrin Peterson. Peterson made a great play on the ball and took it 71 yards for a touchdown, but was called for pass interference. The second touchdown called back was on a sweep play to D.J. Abnar in which Dexter Herman was called for holding.
  • Overall, it was a pretty good outing from the offense, but they probably should have capitalized on a few more drives. It could have come back to hurt them against a better opponent.

 

Defense

  • It seems like a different defense shows up every week. The same defense that gave up 637 yards to Appalachain State two weeks ago held Gardner-Webb to just 56 yards today.
  • Is Nick Sigmon really that vital for the Flames? It seems that way based on the defense’s performances. Good thing we have him back.
  • Defense continually gave the offense great field position. Even when the D didn’t force turnovers, the Flames were starting drives in Gardner-Webb territory.
  • This is Liberty’s second shutout of the season, the first time the Flames have had two shutouts in the same season since 2008.
  • Liberty held the Runnin’ Bulldogs to negative yards well into the second half. They would finish with 56 total yards on 55 plays, and -17 total rushing yards.
  • The defensive line provided great pressure. Some names that come to mind are Toby Onyechi and Chima Uzowihe.
  • Chima Uzowihe had three sacks on the day. He only had 3.5 coming into the game.
  • Kenny Scott had a great day in coverage, only giving up one reception for 16 yards to Kenny Cook, who had 251 yards last week.
  • Really it’s pretty had to find someone on the Flames’ defense who didn’t play a great game. The unit was phenomenal all around.

 

Special Teams

  • Special teams was pretty meh this week. They didn’t make any big plays or have any crucial mistakes.
  • There was one “leaping over the over the protective shield” call on a punt that gave Gardner-Webb a first down, but I doubt this will ever be a problem again.
  • John Lunsford kicked his 82-85th consecutive XPs today. 85 consecutive is a new school record.