[El Scorcho]

Bring your post-game thoughts here.

Most importantly, congrats to Coach Rocco and the Flames on a winning season! What a great start to the new era of Liberty Flames Football!

[Stevev]

Like I was saying I never expected this. Their option gave us fits and I think that we have a pretty good defense against the run. I would like to know what variation of the option they ran. Was it the triple option or something. Nice to win a close game and being out played in the second half made a few plays here and there and hung on. I can see why they gave Coastal and Lehigh (last year) fits since they do so many unique things and you tend to get caught up in the military atmospshere. Not a real talented bunch but tough.

[BJWilliams]

I think I heard somewhere that they run a derivative of the Air Force triple option Steve. Im sure Chris could give a more informed idea though

[PAmedic]

THANK GOD! (literally)

just checked in and saw we held on for a very nice win.

I'll tell ya- that Mizzer is everything he was cracked up to be. Thank goodness he's a senior

kudos to the team for holding on- maybe learned how to win today.

To their credit- VMI has been very tough at home this year, esp in conf- nearly beat CCU down there but for last second heroics by Thigpen and co (as per usual)

goes to show nothing is a gimme in this conf anymore , despite everyone else's perception of the BSOUTH.

[El Scorcho]

Just listening to the numbers on the VMI post-game show (video stream), the stats don't sound like we should have walked away with a W today. Was it the sheer will of the players that kept us in this game or what?

[Stevev]

I will have to admit that the Big South is underrated right now. Hopefully Coastal can pull out a win and be fairly represented in the playoffs.

[PAmedic]

last I checked CCU was playing like crap and losing, 17-10, early in the 4th I believe

[Stevev]

They are tied up right now.

[PAmedic]

either way. I'm not impressed.

that team is streakier than ours- by a mile. And they're seniors- no exuse for that kinda problem.

I'm sure they'll pull it out, again, like they always do. And then get crushed in the 1st round of the playoffs.

[PAmedic]

we committed a bunch of stupid penalties ( those unsportsmanlikes are disgraceful after a while- c'mon guys) but so did VMI

Mizzer was unstoppable. Brock threw the ball well and we are great with RAC. #3 had a nice day, and our special teams played well.

[SuperJon]

Like I was Not a real talented bunch but tough.

I completely disagree. Watching this in person, VMI has a talented club. Once they learn how to execute that option even better they'll be very good.

Just listening to the numbers on the VMI post-game show (video stream), the stats don't sound like we should have walked away with a W today. Was it the sheer will of the players that kept us in this game or what?

Kickoff return TD and fumble return TD. That's 14 points right there that the offense didn't have to get.

we committed a bunch of stupid penalties ( those unsportsmanlikes are disgraceful after a while- c'mon guys) but so did VMI

The one at the end of the third quarter on the quarterback was complete and utter horse crap. The ref didn't throw the flag until the quarterback said something to him.



VMI will be good. I want VMI to be good. A rivalry with VMI would be a ton of fun.

I'd never been on campus there and loved it. The amount of tradition they have was great. The chants, all of the cadets coming out of the stands to do pushups when they score, all of it.

Brock had another good game. He's turned the corner.

Zach didn't play nearly enough in this game. Granted, he was hurt in the first half, but there's no reason for him to be off of the field more than two plays in a row. He's too talented.

Manny and Estes went after Rocco with the Gatorade bucket after the game and he zigged and zagged and got away from them. He ran to shake hands with the coaches and was going through the line. Manny and Estes went and got another Gatorade cooler and went and found him in the line and dumped him again.

We tied for 2nd in the conference. Not bad at all.

Good crowd today, a lot of LU supporters. Very little in terms of students but a good amount of LU fans.

Parking at VMI is worse than LU. I got a good workout though and got to become acquainted with downtown Lexington.

Kolegue barely missed the field goal. It was a good kick, just missed right a little bit.

The tribute they did to VMI students and alumni currently deployed was very good.

I loved the dizzy bat field goal kick they did. They had a cadet come onto the field and spin around a bat and then kick a 20 yard field goal. He made it and won $50.

Have the cadets all dressed the same (in their dress uniform) looked awesome. It's amazing how good it looks when everyone is wearing the same color........

I think that's all I got for now.

[auntieann]

Hi Guys, Can't wait until next year.. I am waiting for the PA. boys next year. I have enjoyed chatting with you guys.. Praying for big things next year..

[SuperJon]

The only bad thing about today is I didn't get to see with Greiser's grandma. I talked to her after the game, but I'd sat with her twice at away games and we lost so I wouldn't let myself sit with her.


I think I saw Jim there but I wasn't sure if it was him.

Never saw Hburg but then again, I didn't look too much either because I thought I remembered him saying he'd be on the home side.

[Sly Fox]

Here is the recap from the SIDs:

Flames Finish Season With Third-Straight Victory After 38-32 Win Over VMI

November 18, 2006
Lexington, Va


Zach Terrell's game-sealing touchdown in the fourth quarter

Liberty jumped out to an early 17-point lead and withstood a strong second half effort from homestanding VMI en route to a 38-32 Big South win over the Keydets, Saturday afternoon, at Alumni Memorial Field.

The victory, Liberty’s third straight and second against a league opponent, raises the Flames’ record to 6-5 on the season and 2-2 in Big South play. With the season-ending victory, Liberty’s five-win improvement over last year’s 1-10 season ties for the best turnaround in the nation and gives Liberty’s its first winning season since 2003 and 14th in school history.

For the second-straight week and the fifth time this year, Liberty put points on the scoreboard on its opening drive of the game as the Flames marched downfield 71 yards on nine plays, taking a 7-0 lead on a two-yard rush up the middle by Rashad Jennings.
The sophomore accounted for 46 of those yards on six carries, ending the drive with his 10th rushing touchdown of the year at the 9:59 mark of the first.

The score remained the same until the fourth play of the second quarter as Zac Kolegue connected on a 36-yard field goal with 13:36 left to play before halftime. However, the Flames could have had more as they started the quarter at the four-yard line. But, a false start penalty and an 11-yard sack by Charlie Liesfield and Terrell Allen forced Liberty to settle for just three.

VMI got on the scoreboard on the ensuing drive as Barrett Way capped off an 11-play, 66-yard drive that ate up 5:33 on the game clock with a 31-yard field goal at 8:03 in the period. This marked just the fifth time this year that a Liberty opponent has scored on the Flames during the first 30 minutes of the game.

Liberty quickly answered back on the following drive as Brock Smith completed a pair of short yardage passes to get to midfield, setting up Wynton Jackson who made a one-handed catch over the middle and faked out the lone defender between him and the end zone as the junior’s 43-yard reception gave Liberty a 17-3 at 6:02.

Three plays later, VMI’s Joey Robinson took a pitch on the near side of the field, but E.L. Estes brought him to a stop, forcing him to fumble the ball. Pierre Penn picked up the loose ball and returned it 43 yards for a touchdown, pushing Liberty’s lead to 24-3.

The Keydets cut into Liberty’s lead on their final drive before halftime as backup quarterback Kyle Hughes found Willie Bell open just before the goal line and the wide out dove over the line with 8.9 left. Trey Jacobs was able to get through the line of scrimmage on the ensuing point after attempt and block the kick, leaving the score at 24-9 at the break.

VMI continued to close the gap as the Keydets scored on the opening drive of the second half. VMI kept the ball on the ground for eight-straight plays, including a 12-yard scoring burst up the middle by Sean Mizzer, cutting Liberty’s lead to 24-16 at the 11:12 mark.

The momentum stayed with the homestanding Keydets as after holding the Flames to a three-and-out series, VMI took over near midfield. 10 plays and 57 yards later, Mizzer found a hole over the right tackle for his second rushing touchdown of the afternoon, a one-yard scamper, to pull VMI within two points, 24-22, at the 4:20 mark of the third.

The Keydets went for two and Hughes found Mizzer open in the flat, but Stevie Ray Lloyd tackled the back short of the end zone to allow Liberty to keep a two-point lead.
However, the two-point lead quickly turned into a nine-point advantage after Dominic Bolden found a few holes in VMI’s kickoff return coverage and the sophomore returned the kickoff 97 yards, extending Liberty’s lead to 31-22 with 4:02 left to play in the third.

The return, Liberty’s third kickoff return for a touchdown this season and the second by Bolden, tied Sam Gado’s school record as he returned one 97 yards against Coastal Carolina for a score on October 23, 2003, in Conway, S.C.

VMI continued to keep things interesting as the Keydets pieced together the second-longest opponent drive of the season at 15 plays to slowly move downfield and score on a two-yard run by Derek Smith at 12:25, trimming the lead to 31-29.

Liberty finally got a chance to get its offense back on the field and the Flames ate up some clock as they rushed the ball nine-straight plays to move 50 yards, capped off by a 13-yard burst up the middle by Zach Terrell for a touchdown to give Liberty a 38-29 edge.

The Keydets continued to move the ball on the following drive, but Liberty’s defense was able to keep VMI out of the end zone as the Keydets had to settle for a 43-yard field goal by Way, pulling the home team within six, 38-32, with 2:53 left to play.

After gaining possession of the ball on a on-side kick, Liberty only moved the ball seven yards, but it was the final four up the middle by Jennings on a fourth-and-one play at the VMI 38-yard line that sealed the victory as the Keydets were out of time outs, allowing Liberty to run the clock out.

VMI dominated almost every aspect of the game statistically, except in the point column, as the Keydets out-gained the Flames 381 to 242 yards, had 75 plays to the Flames 44, and finished with a 36:34 to 23:26 time of possession advantage.

Jennings led the Flames with 111 yards on 21 carries, his fifth 100-yard game of the year, giving the sophomore 1,020 yards on the season to make him the sixth player in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. Terrell rushed for 28 yards on six carries and a score, his 13th rushing touchdown of the year, tying him with Glenn Inverso for sixth most rushing touchdowns in a season in school history.

VMI finished the game with 324 rushing yards, the most by any Liberty opponent since William & Mary rushed for 335 yards last year on September 24, with Mizzer leading the team with 171 yards and two scores to push the running back over the 1,000 yard mark on the season (1,022 yards).

Smith finished the game, completing 8-of-12 passes for 127 yards and score. Hughes led the Keydets as he completed 3-of-6 attempts for 57 yards.

Ryan Greiser and Lloyd led the Flames on the afternoon defensively as the pair of defenders finished the game with 12 tackles each. Manny Rojas finished third on the afternoon with eight stops, allowing him to finish his career with 348 career tackles, the second most in Big South Conference history.

Liberty finished the season on a three-game winning streak and the Flames break the school record for fewest points allowed in a season. Liberty allowed just 172 points this season (15.6 points per game), breaking the previous school record of 176 set during the 1979 season when the Flames finished the year with a 9-1-1 record.

http://libertyflames.com/index.cfm?PID= ... 2&TeamID=9

[bozlady]

[SuperJon]

I forgot my camera. I got to the gas station and realized it.

[Sly Fox]

Great pics, bozlady.

[Chris Lang]

Jon,
Zach either separated or fractured his shoulder on his first carry. He still managed to play a little longer and score a TD despite playing in a great deal of pain.

[SuperJon]

That explains it. He was getting worked on right in front of me and it looked like they just put an extra pad there and he went running back in. I didn't realize it was that bad.

[madmat]

I was able to follow the game on the internet video link. It was like watching a slide show of football game in progress, very frustrating. However, I was impressed with VMI's running of the option. A lot of wishbone, unbalanced formations, double slots. The fullback was a weapon running the midline option and the inside veer. I particularly liked their counter option. It is a tough scheme to defend because it causes the defenders to play assignment football, which is tough for our aggressive kids. You have to be able to count and read, and you can amass those kinds of numbers in a hurry. Our defense was on the field for nearly the whole 3rd qtr. Our weapons : bolcen and jackson came up big. Crunch time on the 4th and 1 and we got it which sealed the deal. Tough trying to focus on a crappy internet connection while script ohio is forming on the big screen.

Told some of the players that to maintain your focus and business like demeanor after the big Chaz south win would be another step toward maturation into a championship football team. Also, VMI players would be disciplined, focused, and they would never let up.

Thanks to srs., Your leadership made this turnaround possible.

Pretty cool that we only lose 2 players on offense and 1 on defense for next year. Keep moving forward in the off season, guys!

[whmatthews]

To Liberty's credit, they pushed this game a lot in convocation and on the splash page and I even had profs talking about making the trip down there. It's just a shame it was the day after Thanksgiving break started or I think a lot more students would have been there. I don't know what play Zach got hurt on but he took one hit today that looked pretty bad. At the end of the game the cadets sang the doxology but at the end had a little twist: Praise Father, Son and VMI! (VMI yelled very loud)... I was on the field waiting for lightning to strike. My senior year and out of all four years, definately the best year for football at LU and I can't wait to come back for some of the games next year.

[SuperJon]

Good talking to you today. It woulda been funny to get a picture of the first conversation we had.

[Sly Fox]

Frankly I am a little surprised we weren't better prepared for what VMI ran against us. Our offensive coordinator ran the same schemes at Rice before coming to campus. I'm sure the scout team was well informed. But as long as we pick up the victory (on the road no less) I'll gladly take it.

[Sly Fox]

Here is the complete wrapup from Chris:

Flames rise from the ashes of brutal '05 season

By Chris Lang
Lynchburg News & Advance
November 18, 2006

LEXINGTON - Liberty football had come so far since a dismal 2005 season that the prospect of gaining one yard seemed like a cinch to Flames coach Danny Rocco.

Needing three feet Saturday to finish off VMI and cap his first year as Flames coach with a victory, Rocco didn't flinch. There was no way he going to punt. Just give it to the big guy and let him work.

Rashad Jennings, the 245-pound Pitt transfer, did just that, gaining four yards on fourth-and-1 from the VMI 38 with 1:33 left to seal a 38-32 victory at Foster Stadium, clinching the Flames' second winning season in the last nine years.

It was a stark turnaround from 364 days ago, when Liberty limped out of Norfolk State's Dick Price Stadium after a 34-17 loss, the Flames' 10th straight to end the year.

Instead, LU players celebrated a season-ending three-game win streak, one that included a win over previously undefeated Charleston Southern and a shutout of Western Carolina.

"It's incredible," Liberty quarterback Brock Smith said. "I'm going to have a smile on my face for a while. After a 1-10 season, after Norfolk State last year, we devoted ourselves to not having another season like that. A winning season, 6-5, is not a bad season. If we can turn it around even more next year, we'll be fine."

Liberty (2-2 Big South) had to fend off a game VMI squad, one that ended a trying season on a 10-game skid but left the field with hope for the future. The Keydets, now fully committed to an old-style Georgia Southern option offense, ran for 324 yards, by far the most the Flames have allowed on the ground this year. No other team gained 200 against Liberty.

VMI (1-10, 0-4) rallied from a 24-3 deficit to twice pull within two points, but the Flames came up with two big plays and, for once, finished off a close game.

Liberty lost four I-AA games this season by a combined 13 points, and in each one, if the Flames made a play or two, they could have come out victorious. Saturday, those plays swung in Liberty's favor.

After VMI cut LU's lead to 24-22 on Sean Mizzer's one-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, Liberty's Dominic Bolden returned the kickoff a school-record tying 97 yards for a touchdown. It was Bolden's second return TD this season and Liberty's I-AA-leading third.

"On offense, we were moving the ball," Mizzer said. "But that definitely hurt. Nobody gave up, but you can't let (the kickoff return) happen."

VMI responded with another long scoring drive, a 15-play, 73-yard drive capped by Derek Smith's two-yard TD run to cut the lead to 31-29.

A personal foul on the next kickoff helped Liberty start at midfield, and the Flames capitalized. After driving to the VMI 13, Liberty faced third-and-10. Smith lined up at receiver and Zach Terrell set up at quarterback. With the Keydets worried about a gadget pass play, Terrell was free to scramble 13 yards up the middle for a touchdown that put Liberty up 38-29 with 7:17 left.

Terrell played nearly the entire game in intense pain after hurting his right shoulder on his first carry of day. Team doctors told Terrell after the game he either separated or fractured the shoulder.

"I told coach I was hurting, but I told him I was good to go whenever they needed me," Terrell said. "I had a feeling that was going to be a big play, so I had to suck it up. There was a big crease, so I really didn't get hit."

VMI responded with a 43-yard Barrett Way field goal to cut it to 38-32 with 2:53 left. Liberty's Pierre Penn, who earlier recovered a fumble and returned it 43 yards for a touchdown, pounced on VMI's onsides kick attempt to give the Flames the ball at the VMI 47.

The Keydets held Jennings to four yards on the next three carries, forcing Liberty into fourth-and-6 at the 43. VMI had no timeouts left, so Rocco elected to punt and pin the Keydets deep in their own territory. But just before the snap, three Keydets jumped offsides, giving Liberty a fourth-and-1 and making Rocco's decision to go for the win much easier.

"For us to go on the road and win, go 2-2 in the league and end up tied for second in this league, that's a long way from the cellar," Rocco said. "We're excited about that."

http://newsadvance.com/servlet/Satellit ... th=!sports

Liberty-VMI player of the game and more

Chris Lang
Lynchburg News & Advance
November 19, 2006

Player of the game:

Sean Mizzer
VMI fullback

He ran for 171 yards on 30 carries in his final game as a Keydet and scored two touchdowns to get his team into the game in the third quarter.

Play of the game:

LU 3rd-and-10 at the VMI 13 in the fourth quarter

Liberty quarterback Brock Smith lines up as a wideout and Zach Terrell takes the snap. With VMI fearing the pass, the middle opens up wide and Terrell sprints 13 yards for a touchdown, putting the Flames up 38-29 with 7:17 left to play.

Quotable:

'Our margin is razor-thin; when you give up a special teams touchdown, like we did against Charleston Southern, today we gave up a kickoff return for a touchdown, then had a fumbled pitch for a touchdown. You don't expect that.'

Jim Reid, VMI head coach

Grading the three keys

Stay disciplined. Well, defending the option is easier said than done. Liberty coach Danny Rocco said he was worred all week about defending the Keydets' run game, and VMI pounded out 324 yards on the ground. Liberty did an OK job of making sure VMI didn't break long plays though, making each scoring drive a long, drawn-out affair. Grade: C.

Respect Wilson's arm. This point was moot. VMI QB Jonathan Wilson went out with a concussion on the first drive and didn't return.

Grade: Incomplete.

Hit hard. The Flames caused four fumbles, recovered one and ran it back for a touchdown. VMI had to earn every one of its rushing yards. Grade: B+.

http://newsadvance.com/servlet/Satellit ... th=!sports

[Sly Fox]

And finally, here are the rest of Chris' Game Notes:

On the board

Former Heritage standout Pierre Penn was a man without a position. He has the athleticism of the defensive back and the size of a linebacker, so it took some time for Danny Rocco to figure out where Penn fit best.

Penn slowly worked his way into ample playing time in the Flames' nickel package, and he came up huge Saturday, recovering a VMI fumble and returning it 43 yards for a score, Liberty's first defensive touchdown since the 2003 season.

After Joey Robinson took a pitch to the right, Liberty's E.L. Estes hit him, jarring the ball loose.

"When we were watching film, we saw William & Mary and a couple of other teams blitz the wide side of the field," Penn said. "The coaches told us to be ready for a fumble. When he fumbled, I was right there.

"The funny thing about it was that me and coach (Tom) Clark, our defensive coordinator, were talking and he said we hadn't gotten a defensive touchdown yet. I said, 'you're right, but we can get one.' We went out and got one."

Where's Wilson?

VMI quarterback Jonathan Wilson overthrew his intended target on fourth down on the Keydets' first drive and didn't take another snap.

The senior QB wasn't benched, though. He took such an intense hit on the second play of the drive that it left him with a concussion. Wilson's teammates didn't realize how serious the injury was until they were preparing for their next drive. "We were calling plays and he was like, 'uh, have we ever run that play?'" VMI fullback Sean Mizzer said. "We had been running them the whole week, so we knew that might have been the end of the day for him."

Freshman Kyle Hughes replaced Wilson and completed 3 of 6 passes for 57 yards and a touchdown. He ran for 11 yards on 11 carries.

Tough to defend

Danny Rocco spent all week fretting over how to defend VMI's tricky option offense. He had every right to be worried, and the Keydets showed why Saturday, running for 324 yards on 68 carries.

Mizzer capped his sensational VMI career with a 30-carry, 171-yard performance, one that moved him to second place on VMI's all-time rushing yards list with 3,733 yards. He also is second in 100-yard games with 18.

"I don't think they've played an option team this year and it's really hard to prepare for it," Mizzer said. "We threw the wishbone in there, too, so that was a little bit of a wrinkle. I think it was just a great gameplan by coach (Brent) Davis and the assistant coaches. They weren't able to figure out what we were doing the whole game."

Extra points

At 2-2, Liberty finished in a three-way tie for second place in the Big South with Charleston Southern and Gardner-Webb. *** Still battling a sore right ankle, Rashad Jennings ran for 111 yards on 21 carries and scored his 10th touchdown of the season. *** The all-time Liberty-VMI series is now knotted 3-3. *** Liberty's 38 points were a season high. It was the Flames' best output since scoring 43 at Chattanooga in 2004. *** VMI is 4-29 in the last three seasons and has gone through 11 seasons in its history with 10 or more losses.

http://newsadvance.com/servlet/Satellit ... th=!sports