Game Day Central: Gardner-Webb
10/7/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
Game Day Central Page
All the links you need to follow Saturday's Game
• ASN TV Clearance List (No Live Streaming)
• Live audio (LFSN Radio)
• Gardner-Webb information & directions
• Game Day tickets
• And more
Liberty Football Game Notes:
No. 15/15 Liberty vs. Gardner-Webb
Game Time:
7:00 p.m. (EST)
Official Kickoff:
7:04 p.m. (EST)
TV Coverage:
American Sports Network (ASN)
• American Sports Network Clearance (TV listing)
• WSET - Channel 13 (13.2) - Lynchburg, Roanoke, Danville
• WFFP - Lynchburg, Roanoke, Danville
Play-By-Play Broadcaster: Mike Tilley
Color Commentator: Nate Ross
Sideline Reporter: None
Radio Coverage:
Liberty Flames Sports Network – Radio
LFSN Radio Network Affiliates List
• Pregame: 5:30 p.m. (EST)
Play-By-Play Broadcaster: Alan York
Color Commentator: Paul Rutigliano
Sidelines: Nick Pierce
Pregame: Nick Pierce, Matt Camire and Kevin Keys
First and 10 – Saturday's Top Storylines
1. Coming off of a win over FBS Georgia State, No. 15/15 Liberty will open its quest for its fourth straight Big South title at Gardner-Webb on Saturday.
2. Saturday's game will be the 22nd gridiron meeting between the Flames and Runnin' Bulldogs. Liberty has won eight straight matchups with Gardner-Webb, including four in a row in Boiling Springs. See page 3 of the game notes for more matchup information.
3. Liberty will aim for its eighth win in its last nine Big South Conference openers. See page 3 of the game notes for more on the Flames' history in Big South openers.
4. The Flames, playing their third consecutive road game, are 5-3 in their last eight contests away from Lynchburg and have won five straight Big South road games, dating back to 2012.
5. Liberty is 37-6 in Big South games since the start of the 2007 season. See page 4 of the game notes for more "Quick Hitters," highlighting the Flames' success in recent years.
6. Josh Woodrum needs 259 passing yards to become the second QB in Liberty and Big South Conference history with 9,000 career passing yards. See page 4 of the game notes for other milestones in reach on Saturday.
7. Desmond Rice was named Big South Offensive Player of the Week on Monday, after rushing for 87 yards and 3 TDs at Georgia State. See page 7 of the game notes for more information on Rice.
8. John Lunsford earned several conference and national awards after helping seal the win at Georgia State with a 56-yard field goal. See page 9 of the game notes for more information on Lunsford.
9. Liberty is 3-0 this season when outrushing its opponent and 0-2 when being outrushed. See page 10 of the game notes for more about "Liberty's record when ..."
10. The Flames lead the Big South with 257.2 passing yards/game. They will go up against a Gardner-Webb pass defense that ranks No. 5 nationally, allowing only 132.5 yards/game. See page 14 of the game notes for Liberty's NCAA and Big South statistical rankings.
"4 Downs" with the Runnin' Bulldogs
1 - Liberty has won eight straight meetings with Gardner-Webb, which is tied for the longest win streak against a single opponent in Big South football history. The Flames have won the eight matchups by an average score of 35.9-11.3, highlighted by a trio of shutouts. Since Gardner-Webb led Liberty 28-10 during the third quarter of their 2012 contest, the Flames have outscored the Runnin' Bulldogs, 90-7.
2 - Gardner-Webb is the second most common opponent in Liberty football history (trailing Charleston Southern), as the Runnin' Bulldogs and Flames have squared off 21 times in a series that dates back to 1976. This will be the 16th straight season that Liberty and Gardner-Webb have faced each other on the gridiron.
3 - During the last three Liberty-Gardner-Webb matchups, Liberty running backs (Aldreakis Allen and Desmond Rice) have combined for two touchdown passes, while Gardner-Webb quarterbacks have totaled one touchdown pass. Josh Woodrum has thrown for five touchdowns.
4 - Liberty has been victorious in each of its last four visits to Spangler Stadium. In three of those contests, the Flames have held the Runnin' Bulldogs without a touchdown. Additionally, Gardner-Webb is Liberty's fourth consecutive opponent entering its matchup with the Flames off of a bye week.
Milestone Watch
1.5 - Chima Uzowihe needs 1.5 sacks to reach 25 for his career and tie his season high of 8.0 sacks set in 2014.
2 - With 2 field goals made, John Lunsford will overtake Daniel Whitehead for second place in program history for most career field goals made.
2/8/168 - Darrin Peterson needs 2 receiving yards to leapfrog Kelvin Edwards (1982-85) for second place on the Flames' all-time list, 8 yards to move into the Big South's career top 5 for receiving yards and a huge 168-yard day to break Chris Summers' Liberty record of 2,712 career receiving yards.
6 - With 6 more tackles, Wesley Scott will become the third active Flame with 100 career stops, joining Nick Newman and Chima Uzowihe.
25 - D.J. Abnar (24 career touchdowns) and Darrin Peterson (22) are both within striking distance of scoring their 25th career touchdown on Saturday.
259 - Josh Woodrum needs 259 passing yards to become the second QB in Liberty and Big South Conference history with 9,000 career passing yards.
A Liberty Win Would ...
• Mark the Flames' ninth consecutive victory over Gardner-Webb, making Liberty the first Big South team ever to defeat a conference opponent nine straight times.
• Be the Flames' fifth straight triumph over Gardner-Webb in Boiling Springs.
• Improve the team's record to 6-3 in its last nine road games.
• Enable the Flames to open Big South play with a victory for the eighth time in the last nine seasons.
• Mark the Flames' sixth straight Big South road win, dating back to 2012.
• Give the Flames their best record through six games (4-2) since the 2010 Liberty squad started out 4-2.
• Give the Flames back-to-back victories for the first time this season.
