LIBERTY FLAMES Difficult schedule keys development

YSU's opponent isn't afraid to schedule tough non-league opponents.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Liberty University coach Ken Karcher believes in playing a rugged schedule.
Karcher, in his fourth season with the Flames, is preparing his team to play host to Youngstown State Saturday night at Williams Stadium in Lynchburg, Va.
The Flames (1-3) lost their first three games of the season, all on the road, then returned home last week to post their first victory, over Division II Kentucky Wesleyan, 47-7.
Liberty opened the season with a 48-6 loss to James Madison, then went against two of the best teams in the Mid-American Conference back-to-back on the road.
The results were a 49-3 loss to Toledo and a 62-3 trouncing at the hands of Bowling Green.
"If you want to become a good football team then you have to play good football teams," Karcher said.
"Our goal is to win the Big South Conference and we are playing teams that we feel will prepare us for that task," he added.
Getting better
"You don't schedule teams like James Madison, Toledo, Bowling Green, Youngstown State and Hofstra if you're not planning on making yourself a better team," he said.
"Our longtime goal is to become a very competitive Division I-AA football program."
The Flames have allowed an average of 41.5 points and 449 yards per game. Offensively, they're averaging 322 yards of total offense against some pretty good teams, including 235.5 yards passing.
Senior Gus Condon (6-foot-3, 220 pounds) is the quarterback for the Flames, passing for 471 yards on 40-of-78, with three touchdowns and two interceptions.
His top receiver is sophomore Lauren Williams (6-3, 195), who has 16 catches for 251 yards. The other wide receiver is redshirt freshman Darnell Edwards (6-3, 200), who has 13 catches for 123 yards. The Flames will use four receivers almost on every play.
Liberty averages 153 yards per game rushing, mostly by junior Dre Barnes (5-7, 185), who has 284 yards on 56 carries and one touchdown.
His backup is junior Eugene Goodman (5-8, 190), who has 126 yards on 24 carries and one touchdown. The Flames have rushed for just three touchdowns this year.
The offensive line is led by a couple of 300-pounders, junior left guard Sean Boyle (6-6, 310) and redshirt freshman right tackle Rhett Parson (6-6, 320).
Solid defense
The defense is led by junior linebacker Nick Vaughn (6-1, 220), who has 30 tackles, including one for a loss, and redshirt freshman linebacker Manny Rojas (6-0, 220), who has 27 tackles, a sack and an interception.
The top rusher is junior defensive end Seth Reichart (6-3, 245), who has 24 tackles, including four for losses and two sacks. The Flames have just three turnovers, another interception by junior cornerback Victor Hart and a fumble recovery by safety Eric Harris.
Freshman placekicker Scott Kiovsky (5-11, 175) is 3-for-8 on field goal attempts, with all three in the 30-to-39 yard range. He is also 6-for-6 in extra points.
The punter is sophomore Noah Crouch (6-0, 185), who has averaged 36.7 yards on 15 punts, with two inside the 20.
This will be the sixth meeting between the teams with YSU holding a 3-2 edge. The Penguins are 1-1 in Lynchburg, losing 29-0 in 1988 and winning 34-6 in 1990. This will be the first meeting since a 42-0 win by YSU at Stambaugh Stadium in 1993.
mollica@vindy.com