ROOF CLAIM.COM BOCA RATON BOWL
That was Jason Candle's first game as . . .
>> : The 2022 season is Liberty's fifth as an FBS member, following 30 seasons of competition at the FCS(1-AA) level.
>> The Flames are 0-3 all-time against Toledo but have won three straight against MAC foes.
>> Former Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze was named Liberty head coach Dec. 7, 2018. The Flames finished 8-5 in 2019 and cracked the AP No. 25 (finishing at No. 17) in a 10-1 2020 season. LU went 8-5 in 2021. Freeze left Liberty Nov. 28, 2022 to be head coach at Auburn.
>> Co-Defensive Coordinator Josh Aldridge is serving as interim head coach and will make his collegiate head coaching debut. Jamey Chadwell, who was hired as Liberty's 10th head football coach on Dec. 4, will make his Flames coaching debut in the 2023 season opener
>> Liberty will be joining Conference USA starting in 2023.
>> Liberty is 0-3 all-time against the Rockets.
>> Liberty leads the nation in tackles for loss per game (9.1), led by senior DE Durrell Johnson. The Walter Camp 2nd Team All-American ranks No. 1 nationally with 22.5 tackles for loss.
>> The Flames' leading receiver, Demario Douglas is just 23 yards away from becoming the seventh Liberty player ever to post 1,000 receiving yards in a season.
>> The Flames have used three different starting QBs this sea- son (Charlie Brewer, Kaidon Salter and Johna- than Bennett) for the first time since 2005.
>> Last year, Liberty ranked 118th in FBS football with 11 total takeaways all season. The Flames rank 18th nationally with 23 takeaways this season. Both Liberty (26 giveaways) and Toledo (25) struggle to hold onto the football, with negative turnover margins.
>> Liberty leads the nation in tackles for loss per game (9.1) and is fourth in sacks per game (3.42).
>> Liberty's six games decided by three points or fewer are the most in a single season in program history. Liberty is tied with East Carolina for the most games decided by three points or fewer of any FBS school this season. ECU is also 3-3 in such games.
>> During the first six weeks of the 2022 season, Liberty was averaging 194.8 rushing yards per game with 13 rushing touchdowns. Following Week 6 of the NCAA season, the Flames were ranked No. 31 in the country in rushing offense. • During the final six weeks of the 2022 regular season, Liberty averaged 162.3 rushing yards per game with 10 rushing touchdowns. The Flames enter the bowl game ranked No. 47 in the country in rushing offense (178.6 yards per game).
>> Shedro Louis returned a kick off 97 yards for a touchdown against Virginia Tech, his second 97-yard return for a TD in his career (also against Maine in 2019).
• Entring the bowl game, Shedro Louis ranks No. 2 in the country in kickoff returns for a TD (1) and No. 17 in average kickoff return yardage (24.9).
>> Liberty has struggled to take care of the ball through the air in 2022, as the Flames rank No. 121 in the country in passes intercepted (15).
As an independent, Liberty does not have a conference title for which to shoot. However, the Flames have already equaled last year's final victory count with its current 8-4 record. Liberty won eight of its first nine games and six in a row after a Sept. 17 loss to No. 19 Wake Forest.
The Flames finished regular season play with three losses. Two of those (at UConn and Virginia Tech) were by a total of four points. The finale was a one-sided 49-14 loss to New Mexico State back on Nov. 26.
Liberty has enjoyed post-season success and is seeking its fourth straight bowl win. The Flames are attempting to join Appalachian State as the only two teams to win a bowl game during each of their first four seasons of bowl eligibility. Most recently, LU defeated Eastern Michigan 21-12 in the 2021 Lending Tree Bowl.
Here's more on the two teams . . .
>> Toledo will be playing in its 20th bowl game and sixth under Candle. Toledo has an 11-8 bowl record since its very first appearance in the Tangerine Bowl in 1969.
>> After locking up the MAC West title, UT lost its last two regular season games. Both (Bowling Green and Western Michigan) were one-score losses.
>> Quarterback DeQuan Finn, who lost time due to shoulder and ankle injuries, was back for the MAC Championship game. He completed 16-of-25 attempts, good for 154 yards with one TD. On the year, Finn completed 59.1 percent of his passes, good for 2,127 yards with 22 TDs and 12 intereceptions. He was also second on the team in rushing, carrying 113 times for a total of 608 yards and a team-high eight TDs.
>> RB Jacquez Stuart averaged 5.9 ypc, logging 111 trips for 659 total rushing yards and four touchdowns.
>> Often known for its offense, Toledo has excelled on defense this season. Four of five Rockets earning First Team All-MAC honors were on the defensive side: DL Desjuan Johnson, LB Dallas Gant, DB Quinyon Mitchell and DB Maxen Hook. OL Nick Rosi made it on the offensive side.
>> Earning Second Team All-MAC honors were QB DeQuan Finn, WR Jerjuan Newton, DL Jamal HinesLB Dyontae Johnson and DB Nate Bauer.
>> The Rockets are No. 1 in the MAC in total defense (331.8), interceptions (12), defensive passing efficiency (110.05) and passing yards allowed (185.5).
>> Sophomore wide receiver Jerjuan Newton and senior tight end Jamal
Turner lead the Rockets with nine and eight touchdown receptions, respectively, this season.
Newton’s total ranks third in the MAC and tied for 15th in the country. Turner is tied for 31st in the country and tied for second in the nation among tight ends.
>> Toledo’s offense ranks first in the MAC in scoring (32.1), and third in total offense (405.8) passing efficiency (133.10) and rushing (178.0).