Game Day: Toledo
12/18/2022 8:39:15 PM | Football
Liberty and Toledo will conclude their 2022 season by battling for the Howard Schnellenberger Championship Trophy at the RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl at FAU Stadium.
Game Day Central page
- Live Audio (LFSN Radio)
- Live Stats (StatBroadcast.com)
- Live Video (ESPN+)
- FAU Stadium
- Fan Guide
- Bowl Game Program (digital version)
- Flames Ticket Office
- Game Day Information Guide
- Tailgating and Parking Information
Other Links:
Official Kickoff:
7:35 p.m. (EST)
TV Coverage:
ESPN
Play-By-Play Broadcaster: Anish Shroff
Color Commentator: Tim Hasselback
Sideline Reporter: Marilyn Payne
Radio Coverage:
Liberty Flames Sports Network – Radio
LFSN Radio Network Affiliates List
Play-By-Play Broadcaster: Alan York
Color Commentator: Aaron Stamn
Sidelines: Nick Pierce
Pregame: Nick Pierce and Aaron Stamn
Pregame Show: 6:00 p.m. (EST)
 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.
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.
“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 season (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.
