News and Notes from the N.C. Central Game
9/13/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Before a record-setting crowd at Williams Stadium on Saturday night, No. 24 Liberty opened up the home portion of its 2009 schedule with a 35-10 victory over visiting North Carolina Central.
Liberty's defense made its presence known in the contest, helping the Flames even their record at 1-1 on the season, following the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
Due to continued technical difficulties, LibertyFlames.com will not be able to bring you video from head coach Danny Rocco's postgame press conference. The web site hopes to work out the issues this upcoming week and have Rocco's postgame video comments following Liberty's matchup with Lafayette this upcoming weekend.
News and Notes:
• The contest marked the beginning of the 21st year of football at Williams Stadium, and the win ups Liberty's record to 16-4 in home openers at the on-campus facility (Note: Liberty did not play its 1989 home opener at William Stadium, as the facility opened up on Oct. 21 of that year.)
• The victory over the Eagles gave the Flames seven-straight home opening victories and moves Liberty's overall home opening record to 23-13-1.
• The Flames are now a perfect 4-0 under head coach Danny Rocco in home openers and have outscored their opponents by an average of 28.8 points per game during those quartet of games (149 points for to 34 points against)
• The game was played in front of 16,112 fans, marking the largest home crowd in program and Big South Conference history (besting Liberty's previous attendance record of 15,631 against William & Mary on Oct. 14, 2006).
• The 16,112 attendance total for Liberty's game against North Carolina Central was the eighth highest attendance total this past weekend in all of NCAA FCS football.
• Following the record-setting attendance total, Liberty currently ranks No. 4 nationally in filling stadium capacity (134.27 percent).
• Liberty held North Carolina Central to 213 total offensive yards, marking the fourth fewest total offensive yards allowed under head coach Danny Rocco.
• Liberty returned to its more traditional offensive style during the contest, rushing for 231 yards, four touchdowns and averaging 6.8 rushing yards per carry.
• The 231 rushing yards marked the 16th time (in 36 games) that Liberty has rushed for 200 or more yards under head coach Danny Rocco.
• The Flames scored four rushing touchdowns against North Carolina Central, marking the 10th time Liberty has scored four or more rushing touchdowns in a game under head coach Danny Rocco.
• Liberty has rushed for a touchdown in 31 straight games and for at least one rushing touchdown in 34 out of 36 games under head coach Danny Rocco.
• Liberty had a third less penalties during its contest against North Carolina Central as compared to its opener against West Virginia. Liberty was whistled for nine penalties for 80 total penalties yards against the Mountaineers, while being called for just three infractions for 32 yards against the Eagles.
• Liberty picked off two North Carolina Central passes during the contest, marking the 13th time under head coach Danny Rocco the Flames have finished a game with multiple interceptions.
• The Flames finished the game against the Eagles with four sacks for a loss of 30 total yards, marking the fifth time under head coach Danny Rocco the Flames have finished a game with four or more sacks (four times with four sacks and once with five sacks).
• Liberty remains perfect on the year on fourth-down conversion attempts, as Mike Brown picked up three yards on a fourth-and-one play during Liberty's opening drive of the third quarter.
• Liberty is now 3-for-3 on fourth-down plays in 2009 and is one of 24 teams in the country to remain perfect on fourth-down plays this year.
• Liberty caused North Carolina Central to turn the football over five times on Saturday (three fumbles and two interceptions), marking the fifth time under head coach Danny Rocco the Flames have finished a game causing five turnovers.
• B.J. Hayes became the 30th player in program history to rush for a 100 yards in a game, as the sophomore led all running backs with 129 rushing yards on 11 carries against North Carolina Central.
• B.J. Hayes scored on a 74-yard rushing touchdown during the fourth quarter, marking the sixth longest scoring run in program history.
• B.J. Hayes' 74-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter is now tied for the 10th longest rushing play in Big South Conference history (along with Gardner-Webb's David Montgomery who rushed for 74 yards against Jacksonville on Sept. 8, 2007).
• Mike Brown had a career day under center, finishing the contest by completing 10-of-12 passing attempts for 71 yards (he came into the game having completed 2-of-4 career passing attempts for 25 yards).
• Mike Brown and Dominique Jones both had career firsts on the same play when Brown found Jones open for a one-yard scoring pass in the third quarter. The throw was Brown's first career touchdown pass and Jones' first career touchdown reception.
• Matt Bevins missed a 24-yard field goal attempt in the first quarter, ending the sophomore's streak of seven-straight successful field goal attempts.
• Doncel Bolt had a career day, leading the Flames with 10 tackles, including a half sack (three yards), a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a quarterback hurry. The middle linebacker came into the contest with 23 career tackles in 13 career appearances.
• Wes Cheek finished the game with his second career interception, while recording back-to-back eight-tackle performances.
• Asa Chapman also had a career outing, finished the game against the Eagles with seven assisted tackles (the nose guard came into the game with 11 career tackles in 12 career appearances).
• Daryl Robertson capped off the individual career defensive performances, as the defensive lineman finished the game with six tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss (18 yards), two sacks (17 yards), a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and two quarterback hurries.
Liberty's defense made its presence known in the contest, helping the Flames even their record at 1-1 on the season, following the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
Due to continued technical difficulties, LibertyFlames.com will not be able to bring you video from head coach Danny Rocco's postgame press conference. The web site hopes to work out the issues this upcoming week and have Rocco's postgame video comments following Liberty's matchup with Lafayette this upcoming weekend.
News and Notes:
• The contest marked the beginning of the 21st year of football at Williams Stadium, and the win ups Liberty's record to 16-4 in home openers at the on-campus facility (Note: Liberty did not play its 1989 home opener at William Stadium, as the facility opened up on Oct. 21 of that year.)
• The victory over the Eagles gave the Flames seven-straight home opening victories and moves Liberty's overall home opening record to 23-13-1.
• The Flames are now a perfect 4-0 under head coach Danny Rocco in home openers and have outscored their opponents by an average of 28.8 points per game during those quartet of games (149 points for to 34 points against)
• The game was played in front of 16,112 fans, marking the largest home crowd in program and Big South Conference history (besting Liberty's previous attendance record of 15,631 against William & Mary on Oct. 14, 2006).
• The 16,112 attendance total for Liberty's game against North Carolina Central was the eighth highest attendance total this past weekend in all of NCAA FCS football.
• Following the record-setting attendance total, Liberty currently ranks No. 4 nationally in filling stadium capacity (134.27 percent).
• Liberty held North Carolina Central to 213 total offensive yards, marking the fourth fewest total offensive yards allowed under head coach Danny Rocco.
• Liberty returned to its more traditional offensive style during the contest, rushing for 231 yards, four touchdowns and averaging 6.8 rushing yards per carry.
• The 231 rushing yards marked the 16th time (in 36 games) that Liberty has rushed for 200 or more yards under head coach Danny Rocco.
• The Flames scored four rushing touchdowns against North Carolina Central, marking the 10th time Liberty has scored four or more rushing touchdowns in a game under head coach Danny Rocco.
• Liberty has rushed for a touchdown in 31 straight games and for at least one rushing touchdown in 34 out of 36 games under head coach Danny Rocco.
• Liberty had a third less penalties during its contest against North Carolina Central as compared to its opener against West Virginia. Liberty was whistled for nine penalties for 80 total penalties yards against the Mountaineers, while being called for just three infractions for 32 yards against the Eagles.
• Liberty picked off two North Carolina Central passes during the contest, marking the 13th time under head coach Danny Rocco the Flames have finished a game with multiple interceptions.
• The Flames finished the game against the Eagles with four sacks for a loss of 30 total yards, marking the fifth time under head coach Danny Rocco the Flames have finished a game with four or more sacks (four times with four sacks and once with five sacks).
• Liberty remains perfect on the year on fourth-down conversion attempts, as Mike Brown picked up three yards on a fourth-and-one play during Liberty's opening drive of the third quarter.
• Liberty is now 3-for-3 on fourth-down plays in 2009 and is one of 24 teams in the country to remain perfect on fourth-down plays this year.
• Liberty caused North Carolina Central to turn the football over five times on Saturday (three fumbles and two interceptions), marking the fifth time under head coach Danny Rocco the Flames have finished a game causing five turnovers.
• B.J. Hayes became the 30th player in program history to rush for a 100 yards in a game, as the sophomore led all running backs with 129 rushing yards on 11 carries against North Carolina Central.
• B.J. Hayes scored on a 74-yard rushing touchdown during the fourth quarter, marking the sixth longest scoring run in program history.
• B.J. Hayes' 74-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter is now tied for the 10th longest rushing play in Big South Conference history (along with Gardner-Webb's David Montgomery who rushed for 74 yards against Jacksonville on Sept. 8, 2007).
• Mike Brown had a career day under center, finishing the contest by completing 10-of-12 passing attempts for 71 yards (he came into the game having completed 2-of-4 career passing attempts for 25 yards).
• Mike Brown and Dominique Jones both had career firsts on the same play when Brown found Jones open for a one-yard scoring pass in the third quarter. The throw was Brown's first career touchdown pass and Jones' first career touchdown reception.
• Matt Bevins missed a 24-yard field goal attempt in the first quarter, ending the sophomore's streak of seven-straight successful field goal attempts.
• Doncel Bolt had a career day, leading the Flames with 10 tackles, including a half sack (three yards), a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a quarterback hurry. The middle linebacker came into the contest with 23 career tackles in 13 career appearances.
• Wes Cheek finished the game with his second career interception, while recording back-to-back eight-tackle performances.
• Asa Chapman also had a career outing, finished the game against the Eagles with seven assisted tackles (the nose guard came into the game with 11 career tackles in 12 career appearances).
• Daryl Robertson capped off the individual career defensive performances, as the defensive lineman finished the game with six tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss (18 yards), two sacks (17 yards), a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and two quarterback hurries.
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