Stony Brook faces must-win game
Quarterback Mike Brown #10 of the Liberty Flames passes the ball while playing the North Carolina State Wolfpack. (Sept. 3, 2011) Credit: Getty Images
All Stony Brook had to do a year ago was hold Liberty to 37 points or fewer to qualify for its first Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoff bid. The Seawolves didn't have to win, they just had to contain a Flames offense led by quarterback Mike Brown.
They did neither. After the Seawolves took a brief 28-27 lead, Brown and the Flames reeled off 27 unanswered points on the way to a crushing 54-28 victory. The convoluted Big South tiebreaker, which since has been tossed, favored Coastal Carolina in the three-way tie.
Things will be much more straightforward Saturday (3:30 p.m.) at LaValle Stadium. Stony Brook (7-3, 5-0 Big South) must defeat Liberty (7-3, 5-0) for the playoff bid, and that means stopping Brown and the Flames' dangerous offense.
The All-Big South senior has completed 65.8 percent of his passes for 2,303 yards and 17 touchdowns with nine interceptions. His 415 rushing yards is second behind running back Aldreakis Allen (533, 5.0 avg.).
Liberty also features the Big South's top receiver in Chris Summers, who has 54 catches for 774 yards and seven TDs. Summers missed last year's game with an injury, but the Seawolves should remember wideout Pat Kelly (33-521-3 TDs), who burned them for touchdowns of 79 and 65 yards on play-action.
"He's so dangerous because he can run the ball and throw the ball," Stony Brook cornerback Al-Majid Hutchins said of Brown. "The receivers act like they're cracking on some plays, and then, he'll pull the ball out and throw it for 60 yards on you. At cornerback, the most important thing is to stay in coverage and let our defensive line and linebackers take care of him."
Liberty coach Danny Rocco certainly plans to pressure the Seawolves' secondary. Earlier this week, Rocco called SBU "vulnerable" to the pass because it commits hard to stopping the run.
Stony Brook coach Chuck Priore expects Brown to get his numbers. "He's special," Priore said. "Their offense goes around how well he does. You're going to give up yardage to him, but you've got to eliminate the big plays. He's thrown for 300 yards almost every game of his career, so let's say he's going to do the same. But throwing for [yards], and scoring touchdowns are two different things."
During its seven-game winning streak, the Seawolves' defense has shown marked improvement under first-year coordinator Rob Nevasier, holding opponents to 17.6 points per game. The defense has been far more physical this season, creating 25 turnovers, which is the key to limiting Liberty.
"I believe coach Nevasier brings a fierceness to our defense," nose tackle Roosevelt Kirk said. "He always speaks on everybody exploding on defense. He wants turnovers, pressure on the quarterback, picks, big hits. We've gained in toughness every week."
Hutchins seconded that emotion, adding, "We want teams to look at the film and say, 'Wow, this team plays crazy. That's a wild defense.' We've all bought into the defense, and we're playing great right now."
