Liberty (2-4, 1-1 CUSA) snapped its four game losing skid to defeat UTEP (1-5, 0-2 CUSA) on Wednesday night in El Paso, Texas, 19-8. The Flames scored on their first three drives of the game to take a 13-0 lead, a lead it would not surrender.

Return to El Paso brings good fortune

The Flames have only played in El Paso, Texas once previously. Liberty won that game, 42-28, in the regular season finale in 2023 on Nov. 25. That win capped a perfect 12-0 regular season, the first in school history and set the team up for its first ever CUSA Championship and eventual appearance in the Fiesta Bowl.

Liberty has faced a deficit at some point in each of the 19 games since the previous trip to UTEP, posting a 10-9 record in those contests. The Flames would score on its first three drives to open the game Wednesday night to take the lead it would not relinquish, ending that streak of having a deficit in 19 straight games. The last time Liberty scored on its first three offensive drives also happened on the team’s previous trip to El Paso.

Liberty defense dominates

While the Liberty offense scored on the team’s first three offensive drives, the defense was handling business at the Sun Bowl. UTEP picked up a first to open the game before having to settle for a punt from their own 45. After that, the Liberty defense forced the Miners into five straight three and outs and punts. They didn’t pick up another first down until the closing seconds of the first half during their hurry-up offense trying to get into scoring range as the time ran out. That drive ended in a Quavo Marshall interception on the hail mary pass to end the half. Marshall had a 70-yard return on the interception but was tackled at the 23 with 0:00 on the clock.

It was more of the same to open the second half as the Miners went three and out on its opening drive and then picked up one first down before punting on its second drive after intermission. UTEP was forced to punt on its first six drives and eight of its first nine with the other being an interception. Liberty pitched a shutout through the first three quarters, holding UTEP to 66 total yards of offense on 35 plays in the opening three periods.

UTEP finished the game with 167 yards of offense, 111 through the air and 46 on the ground. It marks the fewest yards allowed under Chadwell, besting the previous mark of 211 yards allowed to FIU in 2023. It is also the fewest yards allowed in the FBS era, besting Louisiana-Monroe’s 198 yards in 2020. It’s also the first time Liberty has held an opponent to 175 yards or less since 2016 when the Flames held Presbyterian to 175 yards.

Jay Billingsley has a good night kicking

Liberty’s struggles in the kicking game have been well chronicled. The Flames have been inconsistent on field goals throughout much of head coach Jamey Chadwell’s three years at the helm, especially to begin this season. Jay Billingsley started the season as Liberty’s starting kicker but struggled early and the Flames went to Brayden Beck. After a brief sting with Beck taking over the kicking duties, Billingsley once again became the team’s kicker. All of that happened in the team’s first five games of the season.

Billingsley entered Wednesday night’s game in El Paso 3 of 6 on field goals, but he turned in the best game of his short Liberty career. Billingsley hit his first two field goals, from 27 and 29 yards, coming on the Flames’ second and third offensive possessions of the game to help extend the Liberty lead from 7-0 to 13-0 at halftime.

Liberty got the ball to start the second half, moving the ball into UTEP territory where the drive stalled once again. Chadwell called on Billingsley who was perfect from 50 yards, the second longest of the Gardner-Webb transfer’s career. On the Flames’ next drive, Billingsley connected from 41 yards out. He would not have a perfect night though, as Billingsley missed, wide right, from 43 yards in the 4th quarter, as he finished the game 4 of 5.

Turning Point

After forcing a UTEP punt on the opening possession of the game, Liberty took over on their own 6-yard line. The poor field position didn’t matter as Ethan Vasko connected with Juju Gray out of the backfield for a 29 yard pass and run on the Flames’ first offensive play. The very next play, Vasko hit true freshman running back Jaylon Coleman to the right on a screen pass. He would scamper 31 yards down the sideline to move the Flames into UTEP territory. Those two plays set the tone for the game early, as Liberty would score a touchdown on its opening drive and then tack on field goals on its next two drives, taking the early lead.

Player of the Game

Ethan Vasko: This nod could have easily gone to Billingsley, but we give it to Liberty quarterback Ethan Vasko who returned to the lineup after missing a game and a half. He completed 19 of 33 passes for 243 yards while also rushing 13 times for 27 yards and a touchdown.

What They Said

“We settled for field goals in the red zone, which is never good, but we made them. I thought having Ethan (Vasko) back was big. It gave us confidence on offense. It gave us confidence on defense. He’s tough. Our team rallies around him. There’s a lot of areas for improvement, but when you’re 1-4 and you’re struggling you will take a victory like this,” said head coach Jamey Chadwell.

Up Next

Liberty has a quick turnaround and will play in less than six days, returning home to take on New Mexico State this coming Tuesday night. The Aggies are 3-2 on the season and 1-1 in conference play, coming off a 37-10 win over Sam Houston on Oct. 2. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. from Williams Stadium on CBS Sports Network.

*photo courtesy Liberty University Athletics