A few quick hit notes following Liberty’s first loss of the season, falling 31-10, to Jacksonville State:

  • The 5th ranked Gamecocks hand Liberty its first loss of the season. The Flames’ offense, who entered the game averaging 536 yards of offense and nearly 50 points per game, was bottled up all night by the JSU defense. Liberty finished the game with 31 rushing yards, 316 total yards, and just 10 points, all season lows.
  • Jacksonville State is a good team, they haven’t lost at home during the regular season since 2013, and head coach John Grass hasn’t loss to a non-FBS team during the regular season.
  • The game had a weird feeling all night, after being delayed for an hour due to lightning. Both teams exchanged 3 & outs to start the game, before the Flames took an early 3-0 lead. JSU responded with 24 unanswered points to put the game out of reach.
  • The play calling on offense was odd for the Flames. Liberty tried to establish a running game, but was unable to do so. Offensive coordinator Joe Dailey continued to go back to the run, and it seemed to get the offense off balance and out of rhythm. Of course, the Gamecocks defense certainly had something to do with it. They are very good. One particular strange series of play-calling was at the end of the first half. Jacksonville State ha just taken a 10-3 lead with just over a minute left to play. Liberty had all 3 timeouts and started the drive at their own 28. The Flames opened up with consecutive runs that picked up 8 yards combined, and Liberty left the clock running. On 3rd and short, with the clock at less than 10 seconds, the Flames threw a hail mary. AGG came down with the ball at the 10 yard line, but the clock was at 0:00.
  • The defense actually played well with the exception of a couple blow coverages. Liberty held Roc Thomas under 100 yards rushing.
  • Tough night for the Flames as they fall to 3-1. Liberty returns home next week to play host to Saint Francis.