LIBERTY FLAMES NOTES:
LIBERTY STORYLINES
• Seeking its fourth bowl game victory in as many seasons, Liberty (8-4) will face MAC champion Toledo (8-5, 5-3 MAC) in the RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl.
• The Flames will attempt to join Appalachian State as the only two teams to win a bowl game during each of their first four seasons of full bowl eligibility.
• Liberty is 0-3 all-time against the Rockets. However, the Flames have won three straight matchups with MAC foes including a 56-20 triumph over Eastern Michigan in the 2021 LendingTree Bowl and a 21-12 home victory over Akron on Sept. 24.
• Co-Defensive Coordinator Josh Aldridge is serving as interim head coach and will make his collegiate head coaching debut. Jamey Chadwell, who was hired as Liberty’s 10th head football coach on Dec. 4, will make his Flames coaching debut in the 2023 season opener.
• After starting 8-1, the Flames lost three straight contests to close the regular season. Liberty has played a nation-leading six games decided by three points or fewer in 2022, going 3-3 in those contests.
• Liberty leads the nation in tackles for loss per game (9.1), led by senior DE Durrell Johnson. The Walter Camp 2nd Team All-American ranks No. 1 nationally with 22.5 tackles for loss. That ranks No. 2 in program history, trailing only Jason Wells’ 25.0 TFLs in 2000.
• The Flames’ leading receiver, Demario Douglas is just 23 yards away from becoming the seventh Liberty player ever to post 1,000 receiving yards in a season.
SERIES HISTORY
Overall Toledo leads, 3-0
Record at Liberty 0-0
Record at Toledo 0-3
Record at Neutral Site 0-0
Current Streak Toledo W3
Last Meeting Toledo 35, Liberty 34
(at Toledo, 10/6/07)
“4 DOWNS” WITH TOLEDO
1 -Although former Coastal Carolina Head Coach Jamey Chadwell was hired as the 10th head coach in Liberty football history on Dec. 4, Co-Defensive Coordinator Josh Aldridge will serve as interim head coach for the bowl game. It will mark his collegiate head coaching debut in his 10th year of coaching overall. It will be the Flames’ final game before joining Conference USA in 2023.
2 – The Flames are facing a MAC opponent in a bowl game for the second straight year and are meeting their second MAC foe this season (also
Akron). Liberty is also scheduled to play two MAC games in 2023 (home vs. Bowling Green on Sept. 2 and at Buffalo on Sept. 16). Both Liberty and Toledo recorded victories over UMass this season. The Flames are 2-0 in bowl games played in Florida, winning the 2019 and 2020 Cure Bowls in Orlando.
3 – Liberty, which has won three straight bowl games, will try to become the first FBS Independent since Army (2010, 2016-18) to win four consecutive bowl appearances. The Flames have used three different starting QBs this sea- son (Charlie Brewer, Kaidon Salter and Johnathan Bennett) for the first time since 2005 (Brock Farrel, Zach Terrell and Brock Smith).
4 – This will mark Liberty’s fourth meeting with Toledo, making the Rockets the most frequently played MAC opponent in program history. The
Flames own victories over four different MAC foes all-time, including Eastern Michigan (2), Akron, Ball State and Buffalo. Liberty has not
lost four games in a row since 2017.
A LIBERTY WIN WOULD…
• Keep the Flames’ record in bowl games perfect at 4-0. They would join Appalachian State as the only two teams to win bowl games during their first four seasons of full bowl eligibility after moving from FCS to FBS football.
• Give the Flames their sixth season in program history with nine or more wins, including the second in the last three years.
• Mark Josh Aldridge’s first victory as a collegiate head coach.
• Be the Flames’ first-ever victory against Toledo, making the Rockets the fourth team Liberty has defeated for the first time in 2022 (also Akron, Arkansas and BYU).
• Represent the Flames’ fourth consecutive triumph against a MAC opponent, improving Liberty’s all-time record versus conference foes to 6-9.
• Give the Flames a 5-1 all-time record when playing in December.
LAST MEETING WITH TOLEDO
OCT. 6, 2007
TOLEDO 35, LIBERTY 34
TOLEDO, OHIO (GLASS BOWL)
• Liberty’s Ryan Greiser intercepted a D.J. Lenehan pass and returned it 35 yards for a TD, giving the Flames a 34-22 lead with 3:10 left in the third quarter.
• Jalen Parmele then posted his second and third rushing TDs of the game during the fourth quarter, sending the Rockets to a come-from-behind win. His game-winning five-yard score with 3:47 left capped a 14-play, 94-yard drive.
• Rashad Jennings paced the Flames’ offense with 24 carries for 160 yards and 2 TDs. Defensively, Stevie Ray Lloyd contributed 15 tackles and a pass breakup.
LIBERTY FOOTBALL BY THE NUMBERS
2: Liberty and Appalachian State are the only two teams to win bowl games during each of their first three seasons of bowl eligibility following a transition from the FCS to the FBS. Liberty was the champion of the 2019 and 2020 Cure Bowls and won the 2021 LendingTree Bowl.
5: Liberty is one of five teams to win a bowl game during each of the last three seasons (2020-22), joining Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky and Louisiana.
5: The 2022 season is Liberty’s fifth as an FBS member, following 30 seasons of competition at the FCS (1-AA) level.
8: Liberty won eight Big South Conference titles (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016).
9: Nine Flames have been selected in the NFL Draft. Most recently, Malik Willis was taken by Tennessee in the third round of the 2022 Draft.
10: Jamey Chadwell is Liberty’s 10th head coach in program history.
10: Liberty has won a program-record 10 games twice, going 10-2 in 2008 and 10-1 in 2020.
10: Ten Flames have been named CoSIDA Academic All-Americans.
16: The Flames have posted a .500 or better record for 16 consecutive years, going 128-70 since the start of the 2006 season.
23: 23 members of this year’s team have completed bachelor’s degrees and are currently working toward master’s degrees.
50: The 2022 campaign is Liberty’s 50th football season.
25,000: The seating capacity of Williams Stadium was expanded to 25,000 for the 2018 season.
BOWL GAME EXPERIENCE
Three of Liberty’s first-year transfer players have prior bowl game experience. Charlie Brewer started two bowl games as quarter- back at Baylor, highlighted by the 2018 Texas Bowl against Vanderbilt during which Brewer passed for 384 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 109 yards and a score in a 45-38 Baylor win. He also started in the 2019 Sugar Bowl against Georgia, passing for 211 yards and one TD and rushing for one touchdown. Dre Butler started for Auburn in the 2020 Citrus Bowl, recording one tackle in a 35-19 loss to Northwestern. Cam Reddy appeared for Boston College in BC’s 38-6 loss to Cincinnati in the 2019 Birmingham Bowl.
CLOSE CALLS
With its dramatic 21-19 win over Arkansas on Nov. 5, followed by a 36-33 loss at UConn and a 23-22 setback to Virginia Tech, Liberty is 3-3 in games decided by three points or fewer this season. Liberty’s six games decided by three points or fewer are the most in a single season in program history. Liberty is tied with East Carolina for the most games decided by three points or fewer of any FBS school this season. ECU is also 3-3 in such games. Toledo has had six games decided by seven points or fewer this season, going 2-4 in those games.
OUT WITH A BANG
Last year, Liberty entered bowl season on a three-game winless streak before responding in a big way, scoring 43 straight points while posting a 56-20 win over Eastern Michigan in the LendingTree Bowl. Liberty’s 56 points were the second most in any bowl game last year (59 by Western Kentucky) and its 36-point margin of victory was the second largest (54- 10, Maryland over Virginia Tech).
BOWL BLITZ
Liberty did not trail at any point during its first two bowl games, and only trailed (3-0) for 4:40 during the 2021 LendingTree Bowl.
The Flames jumped out to a 7-0 lead against Georgia Southern in the 2019 Cure Bowl and then led from 13-7 on the way to a 23-16 win. In the 2020 Cure Bowl, Liberty built a 14-0 lead, and Coastal Carolina tied the Flames 34-34 late in the fourth quarter before Liberty won 37-34 in overtime. In bowl games, Liberty has led 144:06, been tied for 31:14 and trailed for 4:40.
BOWL-HEAVY SCHEDULE
For the second year in a row, seven of Liberty’s opponents this season have qualified for bowl games. Liberty’s regular-season opponents who competed in bowl games
2022: (Liberty went 4-3 against these teams)
• Southern Miss (LendingTree Bowl vs. Rice)
• UAB (Bahamas Bowl vs. Miami (Ohio))
• Wake Forest (Gasparilla Bowl vs. Missouri)
• BYU (New Mexico Bowl vs. SMU)
• UConn (Myrtle Beach Bowl vs. Marshall)
• Arkansas (Liberty Bowl vs. Kansas)
• New Mexico St. (Quick Lane Bowl vs. Bowling Green)
MAC-TION
Liberty is 5-9 all-time against MAC opponents. Liberty’s first two wins over FBS programs were against MAC schools (Oct. 14, 1989 – W, 25-24 at Eastern Michigan; Sept. 11, 2010 – W, 27-23 at Ball State). This will be Liberty’s second straight year facing a MAC team in a bowl game, as the Flames downed Eastern Michigan 56-20 in the 2021 LendingTree Bowl.
DECEMBER TO REMEMBER
Prior to joining the FBS in 2018, Liberty had only played one game in December, a 29-22 loss at Villanova in the second round of the 2014 NCAA FCS Playoffs. Since then, Liberty is 4-0 in December games, defeating Norfolk State 52-17 on Dec. 1, 2018 before winning the the FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl in 2019 and 2020 and the 2021 LendingTree Bowl.
DEFENSE
Last year, Liberty ranked 118th in FBS football with 11 total takeaways all season. The Flames rank 18th nationally with 23 takeaways this season. Both Liberty (26 giveaways) and Toledo (25) struggle to hold onto the football, with negative turnover margins. Liberty leads the nation in tackles for loss per game (9.1) and is fourth in sacks per game (3.42). Liberty’s Durrell Johnson leads the nation with 1.9 tackles for loss per game and is third with three fum- ble recoveries. Liberty’s Robert Rahimi and Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell are tied for eighth nationally with five interceptions each.
Trends/Streaks
• Liberty has won eight or more games each of its last four seasons and 14 times total in program history (2019: 8-5; 2020: 10-1: 2021: 8-5; 2022: 8-4).
• The Flames played four of their six home games in front of 20,000-plus fans at Williams Stadium (including a stadium record 24,012 vs. BYU), setting a stadium record for the most 20,000-plus attendance games in program history.
• The New Mexico State game, Liberty’s final regular season game, was played in front of 18,837 fans, giving Liberty a new stadium record for total home attendance (125,724) and average home attendance (20,954).
• The Flames finished the regular season on a three-game losing streak for the second year in a row, including setbacks in their final two home games in 2021 (No. 21 Louisiana and Army) and 2022 (Virginia Tech and New Mexico State).
• Despite losses in its last two home games of 2021 and 2022, Liberty has posted a 19-5 record at home during last four seasons.
• Liberty has had six games decided by three points or fewer this season, the most games in a single season in program history to be decided by three points or fewer. The Flames are 3-3 in those games this year, and 1-2 in games decided by one point.
Offense
• The Flames finished the New Mexico State game with 315 yards of offense on 74 plays, matching its second-lowest offensive output of the year (also had exactly 315 yards against Gardner-Webb and Arkansas/season low was 309 vs. Akron).
• Liberty finished the New Mexico State game averaging 4.3 yards per play, its lowest offensive average of the 2022 season (previous low was 4.8 yards per play against Akron – 65 plays for 309 yards).
• Liberty’s 315 total offensive yards against New Mexico State marked the sixth time in 2022 the Flames have been held below the 400 total offensive yard mark in a game.
• Liberty has surpassed 400 total offensive yards in 30-of-48 games during the last four seasons (62.5 percent).
• Liberty’s year-by-year games held below 400 total offensive yards over the last four years (2019 – 4; 2020 – 2; 2021 – 6; 2022 – 6).
• In the last four seasons, Liberty has averaged 441.6 offensive yards per game (21,196 yards in 48 games). Liberty is averaging 400.8 total offensive yards through 12 games in 2022.
• Liberty finished the New Mexico State game rushing for 108 yards on 35 yards, averaging 3.1 yards per carry (second-lowest average of the season).
• During the first six weeks of the 2022 season, Liberty was averaging 194.8 rushing yards per game with 13 rushing touchdowns. Following Week 6 of the NCAA season, the Flames were ranked No. 31 in the country in rushing offense.
• During the final six weeks of the 2022 regular season, Liberty averaged 162.3 rushing yards per game with 10 rushing touchdowns. The Flames enter the bowl game ranked No. 47 in the country in rushing offense (178.6 yards per game).
• Liberty recorded his 23rd rushing touchdown of the season against New Mexico State and has rushed for two or more touchdowns in 7-of-12 games this season.
• Liberty finished the New Mexico State game converting on 6-of-13 third-down plays, marking the fourth time in the last five games the Flames have six or more third-down conversions. Liberty currently ranks No. 84 in the country in third-down conversion rate (37.1 percent) and ranked as low as No. 116 following the seventh game of the season (Gardner-Webb game on Oct. 15).
• The Flames surpassed the 40-point total for the second time this year with 41 points against BYU (also 42 points against UMass). Liberty has scored 35 or more points in 24 of Liberty’s 48 games over the last four seasons (50.0 percent).
• For the ninth time this year, Liberty lost the time of possession battle, with New Mexico State finishing with a 11:02 TOP edge over Liberty (35:29 to 24:27). NMSU was the third team in 2022 to finish with a 10+ minute time of possession advantage on the Flames.
• Liberty’s quarterbacks were sacked five vs. New Mexico State. The Flames have allowed two or more sacks in 11-of12 games in 2022 and Liberty ranks No. 115 in the country in sacks allowed (3.25 per game).
• Liberty has struggled to take care of the ball through the air in 2022, as the Flames rank No. 121 in the country in passes intercepted (15).
Defense
• After finishing 2021 ranked No. 118 in the country with 11 turnovers gained, Liberty’s defenders have already more than doubled that total through 12 games in 2022 (23).
• The Flames finished the New Mexico State game with an interception, its 23rd turnover gained in 2022. Liberty enters the bowl game ranked No. 18 in the country in turnovers gained (14 INTs, 9 fumbles recovered).
• New Mexico State finished Liberty’s regular-season finale with 428 total offensive yards, matching Arkansas for the most total yards Liberty has allowed in 2022. • The Flames have surrendered 400+ yards three times in 2022 (Old Dominion – 415; Arkansas – 428; New Mexico St. – 428).
• Liberty currently ranks No. 34 in the country in total defense, allowing 345.3 yards per game.
• Liberty has allowed an opponent to surpass the 300-passing yard mark five times during four seasons under head coach Hugh Freeze (2019: BYU – 306, Maine – 456; 2020: Coastal Carolina – 318; 2021: Ole Miss – 324; 2022: Wake Forest – 325).
• Despite allowing New Mexico State to convert on 7-of-12 third-down plays in the regular-season finale, Liberty still ranks No. 19 in the country in third-down conversion defense (32.0 percent).
• Liberty finished the New Mexico State game with 10.0 tackles for a loss of 22 yards. Following the game, Liberty ranks No. 1 in the tackles for a loss for the third week in a row (9.1 per game).
• The Flames matched their highest sack total of the season with six sacks against Virginia Tech and enter the bowl game ranked No. 4 in the country in sacks per game (3.42).
Special Teams
• Shedro Louis returned a kick off 97 yards for a touchdown against Virginia Tech, his second 97-yard return for a TD in his career (also against Maine in 2019).
• Entring the bowl game, Shedro Louis ranks No. 2 in the country in kickoff returns for a TD (1) and No. 17 in average kickoff return yardage (24.9).
• P Aidan Alves has pinned the opponents inside the 20-yard line 21 times on 56 punts in 2022 (37.57 percent), including three-straight games having a punt downed at the one-yard line (Akron, ODU and UMass).
TOLEDO ROCKETS NOTES:
ROCKET UPDATE
• Toledo is 8-5 and champions of the Mid-American Conference.
• Toledo (West Division champion) defeated Ohio (East Division champion) 17-7 in the MAC Championship Game at Ford Field in Detroit on Dec. 3.
• The Rockets were 5-3 in MidAmerican Conference play , co-champion of the MAC West Division along with Eastern Michigan. Toledo advanced to
the MAC Championship Game due to its 27-24 victory at EMU on Oct. 29.
• Toledo has now won or shared 12 MAC Championship titles as well as 12 West Division crowns.
• This was Toledo’s seventh appearance in the MAC Championship Game and first since 2017. Toledo is 4-3 all-time in the MCG.
• Toledo will be playing in its 20th bowl game and sixth under Candle. Toledo has an 11-8 bowl record since its very first appearance in the Tangerine Bowl in 1969.
• This will be the Rockets’ second trip to the Boca Raton Bowl. Toledo defeated No. 24 Temple, 32-17, on Dec. 22, 2015. That contest was Jason
Candle’s first game as head coach of the Rockets. Candle was named head coach just 20 days prior to the contest after having served seven seasons as a Toledo assistant.
• Toledo is bowl eligible for the 13th consecutive season, the longest streak in the MAC.
• Toledo and Liberty have played three times, with the Rockets holding a 3-0 advantage.
• Toledo’s defense ranks first in the MAC in total defense (331.9), passing yards allowed (185.5) and defensive passing efficiency (110.05). The Rockets are ninth in the nation in defensive passing efficiency, 15th in passing yards allowed and 25th in total defense.
• Toledo’s offense ranks first in the MAC in scoring (32.1), and third in total offense (405.8) passing efficiency (133.10) and rushing (178.0).
• Toledo ranks first in the MAC and 25th in the country in fourth-down conversions (16-26/61.5%).
• Toledo has 10 All-MAC players on its roster, including a league-best five on the first team.
• Sophomore cornerback Quinyon Mitchell was named second-team All-America by Walter Camp and Pro Football Focus. He is the nation’s leader
with 1.9 passes defended per game (20 breakups, 5 interceptions in 13 games).
• Senior defensive tackle Desjuan Johnson was named honorable mention All-America by Pro Football Focus. His 16.5 tackles for loss ranks fourth in the MAC and 19th in the nation.
• Junior linebacker Dallas Gant, an Ohio State transfer, leads the team with 113 tackles. His 8.7 tackles per game is ninth among MAC players and 38th in the country.
TOLEDO’S LAST APPEARANCE IN THE BOCA RATON BOWL
Toledo is 1-0 in the Boca Raton Bowl, having defeated No. 24 Temple, 32-17, in 2015. Senior Phillip Ely threw for 285 yards and two touchdowns and Toledo used a smothering defense to shut down the Owls.
Ely, playing in his final game as a Rocket, returned to his native Florida to lead the Rockets to victory in Jason Candle’s first game as head coach. Candle, a seven-year assistant at UT, took over the head coaching position
just 20 days before the game following Matt Campbell’s departure to Iowa State.
Ely, a transfer from Alabama, was named the game’s Offensive MVP. He completed 20-of-28 passes despite throwing in driving rain most of the night. Ely announced after the game that his appeal for a sixth season due to injury hardship was turned down by the NCAA. Thus the bowl victory served as a fitting swan song for the Tampa, Fla. native. Junior Kareem Hunt led the running attack with 79 yards and two TDs. Sophomore Cody Thompson had four receptions for 119 yards, including a big 80-yard score in the fourth quarter.
TOLEDO-LIBERTY SERIES
Toledo leads the series with Liberty, 3-0. The last meeting came in 2007 when the Flames were still an FCS program, with Toledo holding on for a 35-34 victory at the Glass Bowl.
Toledo-Liberty Series
1994: Toledo 47, Liberty 37 (at Toledo)
2003: Toledo 49, Liberty 3 (at Toledo)
2007: Toledo 35, Liberty 34 (at Toledo)
ROCKETS ON TV
The Roofclaim.com Boca Raton Bowl will be carried on ESPN. The announcers for the game are Anish Shroff (PxP), Tim Hasselbeck (analyst) and
Ashley ShahAhmadi (sideline).
ROCKETS WIN 12TH MAC CHAMPIONSHIP
Toledo won its 12th MAC Championship with its 17-7 win over Ohio on Dec. 3. It was their second title under Head Coach Jason Candle, who also led the Rockets to victory in 2017. Prior to 1997, the MAC champion was determined by league record. The league was divided into East and West
divisions in 1997, the year of the first MAC title game.
Toledo’s MAC Championships
1967, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1981, 1984, 1990, 1995, 2001, 2004, 2017, 2022
- Co-champion
2022 MAC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
A smothering defense and a gutty performance by sophomore quarterback Dequan Finn launched the Toledo Rockets to a 17-7 victory over Ohio in
the MAC Championship Game at Ford Field in Detroit on Dec. 3. Holding a 10-7 lead in the fourth quarter, Finn hit sophomore wide receiver DeMeer Blankumsee for a 16-yard touchdown pass with 10:36 left in the game. Toledo’s defense then did its job, holding the Bobcats scoreless on their final three drives. Finn, who missed two games in November with a sprained ankle, was 16-of-25 for 154 yards and added 86 yards on the ground. Toledo’s running game totaled 236 yards, led by sophomore Jacquez Stuart, who had 93 yards and the game’s first touchdown, a 29-yard run on Toledo’s opening drive. Sophomore Jerjuan Newton was Finn’s top target, snagging six passes for 77 yards.
Toledo’s defense, ranked No. 1 in the MAC much of the season, dominated the Bobcats for most of the game, holding Ohio to the fewest points by
any team in MAC Championship Game history. Ohio gained 262 yards of total offense, including just 69 yards in the second half. Junior linebacker Dallas Gant led Toledo with 10 tackles and junior Nate Bauer had an interception.
NOTES FROM THE MAC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
• The victory gave Toledo its fourth MAC Championship Game title and 12th MAC title overall. Toledo is 4-3 in MAC title games, last winning in 2017 vs. Akron.
• Toledo’s victory gives it an 8-5 record and guarantees a winning season for the 12th time in the last 13 years. The only exception came in 2019 when the Rockets went 6-6.
• Head Coach Jason Candle won his second MAC Championship title, which ties him with Frank Lauterbur (1969, 1970) and Tom Amstutz (2001, 2004)
for the most outright titles in Toledo history. Lauterbur’s 1967 team shared the MAC title with Ohio.
• Sophomore quarterback Dequan Finn was named the game’s Offensive Player of the Game. He completed 16-of-25 passes for 154 yards and one TD.
He also ran for 86 yards on 18 attempts.
• Senior linebacker Dyontae Johnson was named Defensive Player of the Game and had eight tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss and a QB hurry.
• Redshirt freshman punter Johnathon Batzke averaged 46.5 yards per punt and was named Special Teams MVP.
• Toledo’s defense allowed just 69 yards of total offense in the second half, 262 yards overall. Seven points is the fewest ever allowed in the MAC Championship Game.
• Sophomore Jacquez Stuart ran for 93 yards and one touchdown. It was his first rushing TD since Oct. 8 vs. Northern Illinois.
• Sophomore Jerjuan Newton grabbed a team-high six receptions for 77 yards.
• Junior linebacker Dallas Gant led Toledo with 10 tackles.
• Quinyon Mitchell had three pass breakups, adding to his nation-leading total of 25 passes defended (5 interceptions, 20 pass breakups).
• Thomas Cluckey’s 44-yard field in the second quarter was his 11th of the season and first since the Buffalo game on Oct. 22.
