Game Day Central: James Madison
9/14/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Game Day Central Page
Note: Includes all important Game Day links (Live Stats, Live Video, Williams Stadium info, Directions, Parking, Ticket information, etc.)
Games Notes:
James Madison Game Notes
Television Coverage:
Provided by the Flames Sports Network
Liberty Channel - Local Coverage
(WTLU regionally in Lynchburg market)
Game Will be Carried Live
WSET 13.2 - Local/Regional Coverage
(WSET 13.2 is the Digital 2 station for WSET - Channel 13 in the Lynchburg/Roanoke markets)
Game Will be Carried Live
ESPN3.com - National Coverage
(Web-based internet stream from ESPN)
Game Will be Carried Live
MASN - Local/Regional Coverage
Game Will be Carried Same Day Delayed
Game will air at 11:30 p.m. (9/17/11)
JCTV - National Coverage
Game Will be Carried on a Delayed Basis
Christian Television Network - Regional Coverage
Game Will be Carried Live
Additional Live Coverage:
WFMZ - Channel 69 (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Radio Coverage:
Provided by the Flames Sports Network
Pregame Tailgating Show:
5:30 p.m.
Broadcast - Kickoff:
7 p.m. vs. James Madison
Flagship Station:
Victory FM (88.3 FM WRVL)
Network Affiliates:
Full List of Victory FM Network Affiliates
Today's Game
No. 22/20 Liberty closes out a brief two-game homestand by hosting No. 13/14 James Madison at Williams Stadium in a clash between a pair of Top 25 Commonwealth programs this Saturday evening.
Similar Paths
Liberty and James Madison enter tonight's match-up with identical 1-1 records, both gained by pursuing very similar paths. The pair of teams both opened the season with loses to ACC programs, with Liberty dropping a 43-21 decision at N.C. State and James Madison falling, 42-10, at North Carolina. Last weekend, Liberty opened its 2011 home slate with a 38-7 victory over defending NEC champion Robert Morris, while the Dukes scored a 14-9 win over NEC foe Central Connecticut State.
National Spotlight
Saturday's match-up between No. 22/20 Liberty and No. 13/14 James Madison is one of two meetings between nationally ranked FCS programs around the country. The other will take place in Missoula, Mont., when defending national champion No. 10/10 Eastern Washington travels to Washington-Grizzly Stadium to face No. 12/11 Montana.
Streaking Flames
Liberty opened up the home portion of its 2011 slate, last Saturday, with a 38-7 victory over Robert Morris, a 2010 NCAA FCS Playoff participant. The victory pushed Liberty's winning streak to nine straight inside of Williams Stadium, which is currently tied for the fourth-longest home winning streak in the country by FCS programs.
The Last Time
Liberty is currently on a nine-game winning streak inside Williams Stadium, which is the fourth longest FCS home winning streak in the country. The last team to upend Liberty at home was James Madison, when the No. 6 Dukes bested both the Flames and a soaking rain storm to secure a 24-10 victory on Sept. 26, 2009.
Looking for No. 200
The Flames enter tonight's match-up with James Madison with an overall program record of 199-198-4 in 39 years of gridiron action, meaning a win over the Dukes on Saturday would be the program's 200th overall victory.
Offense Abounds
During the Flames' current nine-game home winning streak, Liberty has continued to frequently put points on the scoreboard. Last weekend, Robert Morris was the first team during the nine-game run to hold Liberty below the 40-point mark, 38-7. During Liberty's current nine-game home winning streak, the Flames are averaging 48.89 points scored per game.
Big Plays, Big Numbers
Robert Morris finished last weekend's game with 14 more offensive plays than Liberty, 69 to 56; however, Liberty still managed to outgain the Colonials by 121 total offensive yards (355 to 234). Liberty took advantage of the times it held the ball, averaging 6.3 yards per play, while holding Robert Morris to a 3.4 average yards per play.
Dominating Defense
Liberty controlled Robert Morris for most of the night, last weekend, inside of Williams Stadium, securing a 38-7 home opening victory over the Colonials. Liberty kept Robert Morris from crossing the 50-yard line until midway through the third quarter, while holding the Colonials to 234 total offensive yards during the game.
One of the Best
The Flames held Robert Morris to 234 total offensive yards, last Saturday, en route to their ninth-straight victory inside of Williams Stadium. The total marked the 24th time the Flames have held an opponent to less than 300 total offensive yards in a game under sixth year head coach Danny Rocco. Liberty now ranks No. 14 nationally in total defense (276.0 yards allowed per game).
Picking Off Passes
Liberty's secondary was busy last Saturday night, as they helped limit Robert Morris' offensive attack by intercepting three passes during the game. The trio of picks marked the 23rd time Liberty has finished a game under sixth-year head coach Danny Rocco with more than one interception in a game and the sixth time with three or more picks.
Honors Abound
Following a 38-7 victory over Robert Morris, Liberty secured two of the four weekly Big South player honors handed out by the league this week. Quarterback Mike Brown was named Offensive Player of the Week for the ninth time of his career, while defensive back Kevin Fogg secured his first career weekly accolade by being named the league's Big South Defensive Player of the Week.
Mr. Consistency
Mike Brown has proven to be one of the most dependable FCS quarterbacks in the country during the last several seasons, and nothing changed against Robert Morris, last Saturday. For the 13th-straight game, Brown posted more than 200 passing and total offensive yards in a game. The Walter Payton Award candidate led Liberty to a 38-7 victory over Robert Morris, finishing with 252 total offensive yards (43 rushing and 209 passing). He currently ranks No. 9 nationally in total offensive yards per game (304.0).
Big Time Boots
For the eighth game in a row, dating back to the 2010 season, punter Mike Larsson finished a contest with a punting average above the 40.0 mark. Against Robert Morris, Larsson had five punts for 206 yards, averaging 41.2 yards per punt, with three of his five punts pinning the Colonials inside their own 20-yard line.
Fogg Has His Way
Kevin Fogg had a breakout game against Robert Morris, as the junior became the sixth player in program history and the first since 2004 to intercept two passes in a game. The defensive back also finished the contest with five tackles for the second week in a row and recorded his fourth career tackle for a loss.
Sweet 16
During the closing minutes of Liberty's 38-7 victory over Robert Morris, two-time All-America kicker Matt Bevins nailed a 23-yard field goal to give the Flames their final three points on the night. The kick marked the 16th-straight Bevins has knocked down in a row and pushed his school record to 57 career field goals.
