LIBERTY INCREASES COVID TESTING THIS WEEK

The Liberty football team has conducted weekly COVID-19 testing since September and have been testing a minimum of twice each week and most weeks there have been three tests in a week.

“This week, I think it has more to do with the state of New York,” Freeze says in regards to the increased testing. “We’re adding some at our decision. We were scheduled to do Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. We’re going to add one on Thursday and I know on Friday before we get on the plane, an antigen test. Then, the ACC people come to the hotel, I think that Friday, and do another one.”

This week, the Flames will be tested four times – Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Liberty uses Radeas Labs in North Carolina to conduct COVID testing.

On Thursday, Freeze mentioned that his team will be tested four times instead of the five teams he mentioned previously in the week.

“We did have five scheduled, but I believe now instead of two Friday, we’re just going to have one Friday,” said Freeze. “I think we’ve been very blessed with the results as this bubble principle that we’ve instilled for our team around academics, food, practice, meetings, I think it’s been as successful as could be. We took another test this morning and have another one tomorrow. We will keep our fingers crossed and keep praying that those results continue to be very favorable.”

MACK RETURNING TO HOME STATE

Liberty running back Joshua Mack is returning to play in his home state for the first time since 2017, but never as close as he will on Saturday when he will be about 90 minutes from his hometown of Pittsford, New York.

When he was at Maine, Mack played in New York when the Black Bears faced Albany in 2017 and Stony Brook in 2016.

“I talked to him in the locker room after the game and he’s excited about going back to his home state,” Freeze said this week referencing the post game of this past week’s game against Louisiana-Monroe.

DEMARIO DOUGLAS LEADS THE NATION IN PUNT RETURNS

Liberty wide receiver and punt returner Demario Douglas currently leads the nation in punt returns as he’s averaging 20.7 yards per return. Obviously, those numbers were strengthened this past weekend when he put up 107 punt return yards on his 3 returns, including a long of 73 which went for a score.

“Last year, he was the scout team punt returner,” said special teams coordinator Tanner Burns. “We struggled tackling him a little bit. He’s a tough cover. He makes guys miss all the time, every day.”

TOM SARGEANT ADDED TO RIMINGTON AWARD WATCH LIST

This week, Liberty center Thomas Sargeant was one of several FBS players added to the Rimington Trophy Watch list, an awarded presented annually to the most outstanding center in Division I.

Sargeant has started every game at center for the Flames since his redshirt freshman season in 2017.

INJURY REPORT

Liberty WR Noah Frith is doubtful this week, as is S Tim Kidd-Glass. Frith suffered a hamstring injury late in the game against Florida International. With him expected to miss this week, it would make sense for the Flames to hold him out of next week’s game against Southern Miss with a bye week following to allow him full time to recover.

The NC State transfer, Kidd-Glass has been unable to play so far this season. At the beginning of each week, it sounds like the coaching staff is hopeful he will be able to play, but that has not been the case to this point.

OL Bryce Mathews is good to go this week.