The 2023 season opener for Bowling Green State University’s football team is just a couple of days away, and the Falcons want nothing less than to leave Liberty University with a solid victory.
BGSU begins year five of the Scot Loeffler era with a trip to Lynchburg, Va., as the Falcons will battle the Flames at noon on Saturday at Williams Stadium. BGSU won the lone meeting between the two programs (62-3 in 2003), but the Falcons will have a much tougher test on their hands this time.
Liberty has posted four straight winning seasons and four consecutive bowl appearances since becoming a full FBS member with bowl eligibility in 2019.
First-year Liberty coach Jamey Chadwell, who is 99-57 in 12 seasons with four prior schools, guided Coastal Carolina to enormous success the past several years. The 2020 Walter Camp coach of the year helped the Chanticleers post a 31-6 record the past three seasons.
BGSU has had to watch film of Coastal Carolina in preparation for the game, as well as Liberty’s. The Flames had a significant roster turnover this year, with 56 newcomers (10th most in the country). Their 59 returning players from the 2022 roster are the sixth fewest as well.
When BGSU has the ball
BGSU will look to get the ball in the hands of its playmakers out wide and in the backfield, and the Falcons have quite a few options to choose from. Running back Terion Stewart, who sat out last season after leading BGSU in rushing the previous two campaigns, is expected to play a significant role on the ground. Running backs Jaison Patterson and Ta’ron Keith, as well as wide receivers Odieu Hiliare, Austin Osborne, and Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim, have had productive college careers as well. BGSU’s 23.5 points per game last year were eighth in the Mid-American Conference and the most in Loeffler’s first four years as coach, but the Falcons have the capability for better offensive production this year.
Liberty allowed 24.6 points and nearly 350 yards (146.3 rushing, 199.8 passing) per game a year ago. Chadwell’s Coastal Carolina teams allowed 30-plus points per game in two of the past four years; the Chanticleers gave up 31.9 points, 133.8 rushing yards, and 284.5 passing yards per contest in 2022.
When Liberty has the ball
Although the Flames lost a lot of their production from 2022 in the backfield and on the edges, they return two quarterbacks who saw plenty of action. Senior Johnathan Bennett threw for 1,534 yards and 12 touchdowns in 12 games (seven starts), while sophomore Kaidon Salter added 1,088 yards and eight touchdowns in eight games (four starts). A balanced offense should be expected, however. The Flames averaged 172.7 rushing and 216.7 passing yards per game, and from 2019 to 2021, Coastal Carolina averaged at least 195 rushing and 198 passing yards each season (228.8 rushing and 265.9 passing in 2021).
Defensively, BGSU gave up 32.5 points and 419.6 yards of offense per game.
Special teams
BGSU made a living with huge special teams plays last season, and if Saturday’s matchup comes down to the wire, a key play in that area could be the difference between a win and a loss for the Falcons. BGSU was second in the nation with five blocked punts in 2022; senior running back PaSean Wimberly stuffed three of them. Keith is also a threat in the return game after averaging 27.3 yards with one touchdown.
Liberty had its key moments as well, blocking two punts and two field goals. The Flames ranked No. 38 in the country in kickoff return defense, allowing just 18.2 yards per return.
BGSU will win if…
The Falcons need to dominate both sides of the line of scrimmage. BGSU barely averaged 100 rushing yards per game each of the past two seasons, but with strong running backs and several offensive linemen with experience, the Falcons could take a big step forward on the ground. Defensively, BGSU will be going up against some giants along Liberty’s offensive line; the Flames’ depth chart for offensive linemen includes four starters who are at least 6-4 and 320 pounds. But BGSU returns 11 of the 16 players who recorded at least one sack last season, and Liberty ranked 111th in the nation in sacks allowed (3.15 per game).
Liberty will win if…
The Flames come away with a win if they burst out of the gates with a flurry of scoring. BGSU was outscored 301-187 in the first three quarters of games last season, including 159-86 in the second quarter. Meanwhile, Chadwell’s Chanticleers teams were 27-0 in the past four seasons when leading after three quarters.
First Published August 30, 2023, 11:40 p.m.
