Quick-hit notes following LU’s win over Brevard

Liberty gets the convincing win 56-31 over Division II Brevard in the Flames’ season opener. Here’s a few quick-hit notes following the win:

Liberty jumped all over Brevard from the get go. The Flames scored on their first 3 drives to take a commanding 21-0 lead by the end of the first quarter. The first 3 drives took just 12 plays and covered 200 yards. After BC scored to make it 21-7, Zac Parker took the jet sweep 65 yards to the house to make it 28-7.
D.J. Abnar gashed the Tornados defense all night. He finished with 161 yards and 2 touchdowns on 13 carries.
Josh Woodrum completed 14 of 16 passes. He finished with 327 yards and 4 touchdowns. Josh also ran for 13 yards.
Darrin Peterson finished with 6 receptions and a career high 182 yards and 1 touchdown.
Zac Parker took a jet sweep 65 yards for a touchdown. He really showed off his speed on the play. It should be fun watching him the next couple of years. Every time he comes in the game, the offense looks to get him the ball. In the 3rd quarter, they did use him on a fake jet sweep play action pass that resulted in a 14 yard pass to Dexter Herman.
Liberty finished with 625 yards of total offense at a clip of 16 yards per play.
The Flames are perfect on red zone opportunities this season. Liberty was 5-for-5 entering the game and finished tonight’s game 4-4.

Pretty disconcerting effort by the defense as Brevard was able to move the ball pretty consistently throughout the game against Liberty’s defense. The Tornados stopped themselves on their first 2 drives with unforced fumbles, but responded with touchdowns and a field goal on their ensuing 3 drives to close the first half.
The Tornados picked up where they left off on offense in the 2nd half, marching down the field on 13 plays in 75 yards to bring the score within 11 at 35-24.
Brevard finished with 425 yards of total offense and averaged 4.9 yards per rush. Thankfully, Liberty does not play anymore triple option teams this season. Charleston Southern does use some option in their offense though.
Jacob Hagen seemed to be all over the field. He finished the game with 13 tackles. Dylan Lewellyn led the Flames with 16 tackles.

Lunsford took over the kicking duties following his 2 game suspension and successfully booted several kickoffs out of the back of the end zone. He did get his first opportunity at a field goal on the final play of the first half from 45 yards that he missed wide right. Not a good way to start off the season for Lunsford following his struggles with accuracy last season.
Other than that, the special teams were pretty much a non-factor in the game as both teams marched up and down the field all night.