Liberty @ West Virginia preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 5, 2009 ) Liberty 20, West Virginia 33

West Virginia’s skilled and veteran defense lived up to expectations in the season opener, stifling visiting Georgia Southern and its quirky shotgun triple-option attack 44-0 last weekend. Saturday, however, brings a different kind of test to Morgantown in Liberty, ranked 13th in the FCS Coaches Poll with its experienced quarterback and its multiple pro-style attack.

West Virginia allowed only 29 passing yards and forced five turnovers Saturday in recording a second consecutive home-opening shutout. The Mountaineers also have prevailed in all 15 of the program’s games against FCS foes, but all the gaudy numbers and pats on the back have coach Dana Holgorsen a little nervous this week. “Liberty will be a challenge for us,” Holgorsen said Tuesday at his weekly news conference. “... If you take them (FCS teams) lightly and don’t respect your opponent, then it will come back to get you. (FBS teams losing to FCS opponents) happens a lot of times. It seems like it’s at a point where it might happen every week.” The Flames, the defending Big South Conference champs, have toppled two FBS teams (Ball State in 2010 and Appalachian State last season) and although it’s Liberty’s second meeting with West Virginia (a 33-20 loss in 2009), the Mountaineers called the Big East home at the time and this will be the Flames first game against a Big 12 foe.

TV: 3 p.m. ET, ROOT Sports. LINE: NL

ABOUT LIBERTY (1-0): The Flames, guided by former Kansas and Buffalo coach Turner Gill, opened their season with a 32-13 win over Delaware State as Josh Woodrum threw for two touchdowns and Desmond Rice added two more on the ground to go along with 139 rushing yards. Both of Woodrum’s TD tosses went to senior Darrin Peterson, an FCS preseason All-American, who set school records a season ago with 85 receptions and 1,379 yards. Defensively, Liberty is led by senior defensive end Chima Uzowihe, a second-team FCS preseason All-American, whose, six-tackle, 2.5-sack, one-forced-fumble performance in the opener earned him Big South Defensive Player of the Week honors.

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA (1-0): The Mountaineers boast 12 returning defensive players who started at least one game last season, and one of the best is senior safety Karl Joseph, who is the Big 12’s Defensive Player of the Week after intercepting three passes (all in the third quarter), forcing a fumble and logging a game-high eight tackles in the opener. Offensively, West Virginia averaged 8.4 yards per play behind Skyler Howard’s career-best 359 passing yards and a game-high 96 rushing yards from tailback Wendell Smallwood. The Mountaineers’ young and untested wide receiver corps also showed well with sophomore Shelton Gibson and freshman Jovon Durante.

EXTRA POINTS

1. West Virginia has won 31 of its last 33 non-conference home games.

2. Joseph’s three interceptions were his first since the 2013 season and doubled his career total after recording a trio of picks in his first 38 games.

3. Woodrum is 318 yards shy of 8,000 career passing yards while Uzowihe needs 1.5 sacks to establish himself as the Big South’s all-time leader.

PREDICTION: West Virginia 45, Liberty 13