Two Gwinnett Stars Keeping the Fire Going for the Flames

Wes Cheek and Spencer Landis were two of the best players in Gwinnett County, GA three years ago when they prepped at Dacula H.S.
Now, both players are keeping the fire going for the Liberty Flames.

Last year, Liberty University's football team enjoyed their best season ever as they finished the season 10-2 with wins over No. 23 Youngstown St. in Ohio and a season-finale win over No. 14 and in-conference rival Elon. Both Cheek and Landis played important roles in the Flames' success. Wes Cheek was the Two Way Player of the Year in Georgia his Senior Year at Dacula. He has steadily improved year by year at Liberty.

Cheek, now a Junior at Liberty, saw playing time during 10 games in 2007, finishing the year ranked third on the team with 31 carries for 136 rushing yards and two touchdowns. He recorded at least one carry during nine of the 10 games he stepped onto the field. Cheek added 11 total tackles as part of Liberty’s special team unit and is considered a versatile athlete who even recorded a 40-yard punt during Liberty’s season opener against Tusculum. He scored twice during the season’s first game in 2007, rushing five times for 21 yards and included a 10 and one-yard rushing touchdowns.

Spencer Landis is a Junior backup quarterback for the Flames. The coaching staff says he has steadily improved at that position year by year and is able to step in and help the Flames win games. Landis Gained valuable playing experience with action in eight games, finishing the 2007 campaign completing 13-of-18 passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns. Landis also rushed 10 times for 51 yards and a touchdown. He was 4-for-5 for 36 yards and a touchdown against Elon and rushed three times for 15 yards against the Phoenix. He played a part in two touchdowns against St. Francis, Pa., completing 2-of-2 passes for 18 yards and a touchdown, while rushing three times for 19 yards and another score. He went 3-for-3 for 34 yards passing against VMI and completed his lone pass attempt for 10 yards in Liberty’s victory over Gardner-Webb, helping the Flames to seal their first-ever Big South championship in 2007.

While at Dacula HS, Landis was three-year letterwinner, passing for 900 yards and 12 touchdowns, while rushing for 375 yards and four touchdowns as a junior. He led the Falcons to the Region 7 AAAAA championship during his junior season, and was first-team all-region, first-team all-county and first-team all-state as a senior, while throwing for 1,571 yards and a school-record 24 touchdowns. Landis finished his senior year with a 12-2 overall record and as semifinalists in the AAAAA state playoffs.

As a Senior, Landis has a great shot to be the Flames' starting quarterback in 2009. Wes Cheek will also play a big role in Liberty's success. The Flames are enjoying arguably their greatest era of success the past two years, and both Spencer Landis and Wes Cheek are two big reasons for that success. More information on this story can be found at www.libertyflames.com.