It is easy to acknowledge that college football is a zero sum game.  The winner wins, the loser loses, and there really are no such things as moral victories.  There is certainly an element of truth in this philosophy.  Many of the ranking systems used in the game, both in the FBS and FCS, fail to account for the circumstances of wins and losses.  At the end of the day, the voter and/or computer sees a W, or an L next to your team.

WR Darrin Peterson pulled in 5 catches for 106 yards in his first action as the Flames' starting wide out.

WR Darrin Peterson hauled in 5 catches for 106 yards in his first action as the Flames’ starting wide out.

However, when an FCS team such as Liberty travels to play an FBS foe, the stark black and white nature of college football can easily fade to subtle grays; especially for the undermanned FCS squad.  Such was the case for the Flames on Thursday night against Kent State.  LU came into the game a two-plus touchdown underdog.  They faced a team that went 11-1 in the regular season the previous year.  They were traveling to Ohio to play a collision sport against a squad with 22 more scholarships to use.

Despite all of that, Liberty proved they belong on the field with a team like Kent State.  For a program with such public FBS aspirations, every contest against a team from the next level is a crucial measuring stick.  It is not only a chance to test where the program stands versus the FBS, it is a chance to make a statement to the world.  In this case, an FBS world that has so far ignored, ridiculed, and shunned Liberty University and all it stands for.  While nothing makes a statement like a win, anybody that paid attention to Thursday night’s contest had to have noticed that Liberty University is ready for the next level.

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Clifton Richardson emerged as a force Thursday night

There is an individual element to these contests as well.  Keep in mind that very few players grow up aspiring to make it to the FCS ranks.  These young men grew up wanting to play on the big stage with the Alabama’s, and USC’s of the world.  While matching up against a Mid-American Conference opponent isn’t the same as playing against the Crimson Tide, the opportunity still gives players a chance to prove something to schools that may have passed them over.  Thursday night certainly was a statement for some of the Flames.

Aaron Dial, a scrappy 5’11” 195 Lbs. Safety, had a huge game in the spotlight after several seasons of reserve player status.  Dial registered 7 solo tackles, and 1 assisted in a performance that had to turn some heads.  Red Shirt Sophomore QB Josh Woodrum looked poised against a strong and persistent Kent State pass rush.  Josh completed 14 of 22 passes for 189 yards and 1 touchdown.  More importantly, the young quarterback showed strong leadership command on the field, protected the football, and made some great down field throws.  Sophomore wide out Darrin Peterson also showed he belonged, seeing his first action as the Flames’ number one passing target.  The talented Peterson, an Alabama native who had interest from Auburn, pulled in 5 passes for 106 yards.  Perhaps the most noticeable  to Flames Nation was the performance of UVA transfer Clifton Richardson.  Richardson looked the part of a former 4-star recruit, showing a combination of power and speed Liberty fans haven’t seen since Rashad Jennings stepped into Williams Stadium.  Clifton carried the ball 12 times for 49 yards behind an offensive line that struggled to make holes all night, and you always got the impression that Richarson was a block or two away from breaking off the big run.  Finally, Gabe Henderson, a former Kent State commit, found the end zone for Liberty’s only touchdown of the night.  For a player that has at times struggled to find a role and meet expectations, that touchdown catch had to feel good.

So while the Liberty players and coaching staff would no doubt say that they are disappointed in the loss, make no mistake about it.  Thursday night was a victory for the program, and a performance to build upon for the remainder of this young season.  The Flames will no doubt face tough situations in games of greater significance this season, perhaps against a former head coach in Richmond, or even at Williams Stadium against their biggest rival, with a playoff appearance on the line.  Hopefully in those moments, Liberty’s players will have confidence knowing that as individual players, and as a team, they belong.