YSU FOOTBALL An all-Karcher Liberty Flames team to appear

In three games, QB Paul Troth has thrown 50 passes, but six have been intercepted.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- This was the year that Liberty University football coach Ken Karcher and his staff have been waiting for.
This is the fifth season for Karcher and his staff and the Flames roster is all theirs. With 19 starters and 35 junior and seniors, they were looking forward to a good season.
Yet Liberty has lost two of its first three games going into Saturday's contest with Youngstown State at Stambaugh Stadium. Kickoff is 6 p.m.
Injuries have hampered the Flames, who defeated West Virginia Tech 55-17 in their opener before losing back-to-back games to Kent State 38-10 and to Lehigh, 34-16. Lehigh is ranked No. 24 this week in The Sports Network I-AA poll.
Goodman moves in
The Flames lost their top returning running back, Dre Barnes, early in the season, but senior Eugene Goodman (5-8, 190) has stepped in.
Goodman leads the team with 388 yards on 73 carries and two touchdowns.
Last week against Lehigh he rushed for 142 yards on 26 carries.
Quarterback appeared to be a question mark for the Flames as they lost their starter through graduation and the backup transferred to another school.
Paul Troth, a senior transfer from East Carolina, has stepped up and taken over the starting role.
In three games Troth (6-foot-5, 230 pounds) has completed 21-of-50 passes for 282 yards and one touchdown, but he has thrown six interceptions.
Junior wide receiver Lauren Williams, an All-Big South selection last year, is Troth's top target, with seven catches for 95 yards and one TD. Junior Ryan Grigsby (6-0, 175) also has seven catches.
Big in middle
The offensive line has two all-conference players -- senior guard Thomas Smith (6-5, 275) and senior center Sean Boyle (6-6, 300).
Defensively, junior free safety C.J. Moore (6-1, 185) leads the team in tackles with 35, while senior linebacker Nick Vaughn (6-1, 220) has 28 tackles.
Senior cornerback Erick Harris has intercepted two passes, while the Flames have forced eight turnovers.
The Flames have had three players honored as Big South players of the week.
Junior running back Marcus Hamilton rushed for 108 yards and two TDs in the opener against West Virginia Tech, while freshman kick returner Alonzia Philips (6-0, 185) had a 29-yard return and blocked a punt for a touchdown in that same game to earn special teams honors.
Last week Goodman won offensive honors for his effort against Lehigh, which also included two pass receptions for 18 yards.
Seventh meeting
Saturday's game is the seventh meeting between the Flames and Penguins with YSU holding a 4-2 advantage. The Penguins won last year's meeting 34-3 in Lynchburg, Va.
mollica@vindy.com