Liberty fought back from a halftime deficit to defeat Coastal Carolina, 34-17, to win the team’s third straight game. Liberty improves to 3-1 on the season to conclude non-conference play.
** The Flames took the early lead 3-0 and also led 10-3 before Coastal scored fourteen unanswered points in the second quarter to take the 17-10 lead at halftime.
** Coming out of the locker room, Liberty put the hammer down. The Flames dominated the third quarter, outscoring the Chanticleers 10-0 and dominating the total yards battle, 170-32. It allowed Liberty to regain the lead, after trailing 17-10 at intermission, and take a 20-10 lead into the final period. The Flames would then score a touchdown on its first drive of the fourth quarter to take a two-score lead at 27-17.
** Deshawn Purdie got the job done, connecting on 11 of 16 passes for 216 yards and 2 touchdowns. Ethan Vasko also played some at quarterback for the Flames, back at his former school. He completed his only pass attempts for a 6-yard touchdown while also rushing one time for 8 yards and a touchdown.
** Liberty finished the night with 263 yards on the ground, averaging 5.8 yards per carry.
** Makai Jackson was a standout once at receiver for the Flames. He scored two touchdowns, as he has now had touchdowns in all four of Liberty’s games this season. Jackson finished the night with 5 receptions for 149 yards and two scores.
** Kam Davis was Liberty’s bell-cow at running back in this one. He set career highs with 18 rushes for 166 yards. Davis got started with a bang as he broke free for a 56-yard run on Liberty’s opening drive, setting up a field goal. He also got into the end zone on what was ruled a reception from six yards out.
** This game was much closer than it needed to be. The Flames struggled throughout the night in the red zone. The team’s first four red zone trips resulted in just six points.
** The Flames made Coastal one-dimensional, as ball carriers outside of QB Deuce Bailey could not find any success on the day. Once Liberty was able to figure out how to contain Bailey from escaping the pocket and picking up yards with his legs, the Coastal Carolina offense became very stagnant.
** Liberty picks up the win over Coastal Carolina, the second straight in the series as the Flames take a 9-7 edge in the series. Jamey Chadwell gets the win in the return to his former team and home.
** Liberty edged the Chanticleers in total yards, 485-292. In the second half, Liberty shut out Coastal, 24-0, while holding the Chanticleers to just 47 yards of offense compared to 246 yards for the Flames.
** Flames’ defensive end Ethan Crisp was injured in a scary play in the first quarter on a Coastal Carolina kick return. After several minutes, he was lifted onto a cart and taken out of the stadium. He was able to give a thumbs up from the stretcher as he left the field.
** Play of the Game: Facing a 4th and 1 at the Chanticleer 8 yard line, Ethan Vasko was inserted at quarterback. He kept the ball on the QB keeper, picked up the first down, and ran it into the end zone. The play gave the Flames a 27-17 lead early in the 4th quarter.
** Up next: Liberty has concluded non-conference play and now prepares for eight straight Conference USA contests beginning next Friday night at Delaware. The Blue Hens are currently 2-1 on the season with wins over Merrimack (42-7) and Coastal Carolina (22-14). They also lost at Vanderbilt, 35-26. Delaware takes on Virginia in Charlottesville on Saturday night at 6 p.m. on the ACC Network. Kickoff between Liberty and Delaware is scheduled for 7 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.
