Flames News

Win Pushes Flames Up in Both National Polls

Special Teams Coordinator Marshall Roberts celebrates after Liberty's 55-19 victory over Presbyterian, which helped the Flames move up in both polls this week.

Sports Network Poll

FCS Coaches Poll

AnyGivenSaturday.com Poll

Rolling up 50 points for the second-straight home game helped the Flames make the largest jump of any team in either the Sports Network or FCS Coaches polls this week, as both organizations released their Top 25 listings earlier today.

Following its 55-19 Big South victory over Presbyterian, which moved the Flames to 6-2 on the year and 3-0 in league play, Liberty now ranks No. 16 in the Sports Network ranking and No. 17 in the FCS Coaches weekly listing.

The 36-point victory, coupled with several Top 25 teams losing games last weekend, moving the Flames up six spots in the Sports Network poll and seven positions in the weekly FCS Coaches rankings.

The Flames received 1,117 votes in the Sports Network poll and are listed just ahead of No. 17 Jacksonville State, who is 5-3 and received 1,091 votes, and No. 18 Colgate, who is 8-1 and received 975 votes. In front of Liberty is Stephen F. Austin, who lost a 28-7 decision to Texas State and dropped four spots to No. 15 with 1,248 votes.

In the FCS Coaches poll, Liberty garnered 201 votes to secure the No. 17 spot, which is in front of No. 18 Stephen F. Austin, who received 200 votes, and No. 19 Central Arkansas, who collected 181 votes. Ahead of Liberty in the weekly coaches ranking is No. 16 Eastern Washington, who is up from No. 21 the previous week after receiving 225 votes.

The Top 10 teams in both polls remained the same from the previous week's listing, led by No. 1 Richmond, who overcame an early deficit to secure a 42-14 road victory at Towson. The win pushed the Spiders' winning streak to 17-consecutive games, including 11 road contests.

Rounding out the Top 5 in both polls are No. 2 Montana (8-0), No. 3 Southern Illinois (7-1), No. 4 Villanova (7-1) and No. 5 William & Mary (7-1).

Joining both national listings this week is Lafayette, who Liberty defeated, 19-13, on Sept. 19. The Leopards, who have won six straight since the setback to the Flames, are now 7-1 overall and are ranked No. 24 in the FCS Coaches poll and No. 25 in the Sports Network listing.

The Flames have been ranked inside the Top 25 six out of 10 weeks in 2009 and in 14 out of the last 19 national polls, dating back to Sept. 8 of last year.

Liberty will look to send 22 seniors off with one last home victory on Saturday, when the Flames host in-state foe VMI, in a Big South contest. Kickoff at Williams Stadium is slated for 7 p.m.