TODAY’S GAME

Kaidon Salter, QB

STORYLINES

1) Liberty (2-1) returns to Williams Stadium to host Akron (1-2, 0-0 MAC) this afternoon. The Flames are looking to start 3-1 or better through four games for the third straight year. 2) Liberty is 4-9 all-time against Mid-American Conference (MAC) opponents, having won each of its last two games against MAC opponents. Most recently, the Flames routed Eastern Michigan 56-20 in the 2021 LendingTree Bowl. 3) After a 37-36 loss at No. 18 Wake Forest last Saturday, Liberty looks to get back in the win column this evening. The last time Liberty lost by one point, Nov. 21, 2020, at NC State, the Flames shut out UMass 45-0 at Williams Stadium the following week. The Flames’ first three games have been decided by a total of 10 points. 4) The Flames’ defense picked off a pair of passes at Wake Forest, giving Liberty 11 takeaways this season. The total matches Liberty’s season total from 2021 and ties the Flames with Nevada and Western Kentucky for No. 1 nationally in 2022. 5) Redshirt freshman QB Kaidon Salter has made his first two career starts the past two weeks. He helped lead the Flames’ secondhalf comeback attempt at Wake Forest, running for a 43-yard TD and throwing two TD passes on fourth down.

“4 DOWNS” WITH AKRON

1) Today, Akron and Liberty will meet for the first time in 20 years. The Flames’ lone Ohio native, wide receiver Treon Sibley, hails from Akron. Sibley graduated from Coventry High School, just eight miles from Akron’s InfoCision Stadium. 2) Both head coaches in Saturday’s game have coached in the Egg Bowl, the annual rivalry game between Ole Miss and Mississippi State, although not against each other. Hugh Freeze was head coach at Ole Miss from 2012-16, while Akron’s Joe Moorhead was head coach at Mississippi State in 2018 and 2019.

3) All three times the Flames have welcomed a team from the state of Ohio to Williams Stadium, Youngstown State has been the visitor. Akron becomes the second Ohio team with its visit today, and Liberty will kick off the 2023 season with a home clash vs. Bowling Green on Sept. 2.

4) The Flames’ Demario Douglas hauled in both of Salter’s second-half TD passes at Wake Forest last Saturday. He is tied for No. 9 nationally this season with four TD receptions. Douglas leads the team in receptions (15) and receiving yards (272). Akron has two touchdown receptions this season.

MILESTONE WATCH

2: WR Demario Douglas has already recorded a pair of games with two TD receptions this season (at Southern Miss and Wake Forest). If he catches a pair of TD passes on Saturday, Douglas will become the first Flame since Antonio Gandy-Golden (Sept. 14, 2019, vs. Buffalo and Sept. 21, 2019, vs. Hampton) to record multiple TD receptions in back-to-back games. Douglas also would become the first Flame with three games of 2+ receiving TDs since Gandy-Golden (3 in 2018).

10: RB Shedro Louis needs 10 more rushing yards to reach 1,000 for his career. He has carried the ball 32 times during this season’s first three contests, totaling 120 yards and a TD on the ground.

50: If S Javon Scruggs plays in today’s game, it will mark his 50th appearance in a Liberty uniform.

VAN WAGNER AD

CLEAR BAG POLICY

In an effort to enhance fan safety and expedite entrance to Williams Stadium, Liberty University has implemented a security screening process that includes a clear bag policy. This initiative limits the size and types of bags that can be brought into the stadium by fans. Only clear tote bags that do not exceed 12” x 6” x 12,” 1-gallon plastic freezer bags, and small handheld clutch purses (no larger than 4.5” x 6.5”) will be allowed into Williams Stadium. Liberty Athletics encourages guests to arrive at least 60 minutes prior to kickoff to avoid lines and enjoy the pregame, in-stadium activities.

ACCEPTABLE BAGS

12”

6” 12” 6.5”

4.5”