Here’s a few quick hit notes following the Flames’ nail-biting 17-10 loss to Kent State Thursday night:
Offensively
- Liberty looked like they were breaking in new receivers and running backs in the 1st half. Until the defensive recovered that fumble late in the 2nd quarter, the offense, and offensive line in particular, looked atrocious. They obviously turned it around though late in the 2nd quarter, and that carried into the 2nd half.
- Clifton Richardson looked the part. The UVA transfer finished with 49 yards on 12 carries. He and Allen should form a deadly tandem for the majority of the season. Des Rice will make a perfect 3rd down back.
- Loved what I saw out of Darrin Peterson despite those 2 “drops” in the last minute. The sophomore receiver finished with 5 catches for 106 yards, all of which came in the 2nd half.
- Dante Shells and Gabe Henderson showed well in the 2nd half as well, combining for 5 catches for 55 yards including Henderson’s touchdown catch.
- Woodrum finished a solid 14/22 for 189 yards and 1 touchdown. He was poised the majority of the game, and did not make any critical mistakes.
Defensively
- Hello Aaron Dial! Dial finished tied with a team high 8 tackles on the night. Impressive performance from the safety who had very limited playing time coming into the game.
- If you could take away the first and last drives, Liberty’s defense was nearly flawless. Unfortunately, those 2 drives were the difference.
- Liberty held Kent State to 167 rushing yards, not bad at all.
Other
- The team finished with just 4 penalties, impressive for a season opener on the road.
- Grant Bowden was terrific as his 6 punts went for nearly 40 yards per including one downed inside the 10 yard line.
- John Lunsford did a great job on his kickoffs, kicking them out of the end zone, save for that one “squib kick” which didn’t make much sense to me.
We will have a full recap in the morning.
