Game Day: Virginia Tech
11/16/2022 3:10:16 PM | Football
- Live Audio (LFSN Radio)
- Live Stats (LibertyFlames.com)
- Live Video (ESPN+)
- Williams Stadium
- Fan Guide
- Flames Illustrated Game Program (digital version)
- Flames Ticket Office
- Game Day Information Guide
- Tailgating and Parking Information
- Williams Stadium Clear Bag Policy
Other Links:
Official Kickoff:
12:02 p.m. (EST)
TV Coverage:
ESPN+
Play-By-Play Broadcaster: Matt Warner
Color Commentator: Joe Jauch
Sideline Reporter: Emily Austen
Pregame Show: 11:00 a.m. on ESPN+
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, Kyle DeArmon and Mitch Hanson
Pregame Show: 10:30 a.m. (EST)
Liberty Storylines
- Liberty (8-2) will kick off a two-game homestand to close out the regular season by welcoming Virginia Tech (2-8, 1-6 ACC) to Williams Stadium for the first time.
- The Flames and Hokies split their two previous meetings in Blacksburg. Most recently, Liberty topped VT 38-35 on Nov. 7, 2020.
- Liberty owns a 4-0 home record this season and is 19-3 at Williams Stadium under Hugh Freeze. The Flames have never defeated a Power 5 conference opponent in Lynchburg.
- Liberty's defense leads the nation in tackles for loss per game (9.1) while ranking No. 5 in both sacks per game (3.4) and turnovers gained (22).
- DE Durrell Johnson has racked up 6.5 tackles for loss in the last two weeks, giving him 18.5 this season. That ranks No. 2 nationally this year and No. 2 in program history for a single season.
- The third different Flame to start at QB this season, Johnathan Bennett is 5-1 as Liberty's starting QB. He completed 23-of-37 passes for 201 yards and a score at UConn last Saturday.
- WR Demario Douglas tied a career high with eight receptions at UConn, totaling 70 yards. The redshirt sophomore became the seventh Flame with 150 career receptions (150) and the ninth Flame with 2,000 receiving yards (2,030).
- Douglas (105 yards) and RB TJ Green (119 yards) both posted their first career 100-yard rushing games at UConn. Douglas recorded a 75-yard TD run, the longest rush by a WR in program history.
A Liberty Win Would ...
- Give the Flames a 2-1 edge in the all-time head-to-head series with Virginia Tech, making the Hokies the first Power 5 opponent Liberty has ever defeated multiple times.
- Improve the Flames' all-time record against ACC opponents to 3-11.
- Mark the Flames' first-ever home win over a Power 5 opponent.
- Make the Flames the first team outside the ACC and SEC to defeat both an ACC and SEC opponent during the same season since Appalachian State in 2019.
- Keep the Flames' home record this season unblemished at 5-0.
- Give the Flames their sixth season in program history with nine or more wins, including the second in the last three years.
- Boost the Flames' all-time record vs. in-state opponents to 46-38, including 2-0 in 2022 and 5-1 under Hugh Freeze.
“4 Downs” with Virginia Tech
#1 Liberty is seeking its first-ever home win over an opponent from a Power 5 conference. The only previous Power 5 team to visit Williams Stadium was Syracuse, which spoiled Hugh Freeze's Flames debut with a 24-0 shutout on Aug. 31, 2019. If Liberty wins on Saturday, Virginia Tech would become the first Power 5 foe the Flames have ever defeated on multiple occasions.
#2 The Flames have forced 22 turnovers this season, doubling their total of 11 from the 2021 campaign. With their top two running backs sidelined at UConn, Liberty had two 100-yard rushers (TJ Green-119 and Demario Douglas-105) in the same game for the first time since the 2020 Cure Bowl vs. Coastal Carolina (Malik Willis & Joshua Mack). Four different Flames have now recorded a 100-yard rushing game this season.
#3 Liberty is facing its third Power 5 opponent of the season. This is the third time in four years that the Flames are taking on three Power 5 foes. The Flames have used three different starting quarterbacks this season (Charlie Brewer, Kaidon Salter and Johnathan Bennett) for the first time since 2005 (Brock Farrel, Zach Terrell and Brock Smith).
#4 Liberty is bowl eligible for the fourth consecutive season, while Virginia Tech will not go bowling. However, the Hokies appeared in a bowl for 27 straight seasons between 1993-2019. The Flames are seeking their fourth straight win when facing a Commonwealth opponent, a streak which began at Virginia Tech in 2020.
