For a second straight week a Liberty football game was hampered by weather. Due to the threat of storms in the late afternoon and evening, kickoff was moved up from its originally scheduled time of 6 p.m. to Noon, it was announced on Friday morning. The Flames were able to pull out the win in come from behind fashion, scoring a touchdown with just over two minutes remaining to defeat Gardner-Webb, 24-23.
** The Flames got off to a quick start, scoring a pair of touchdowns on the team’s first three offensive plays to jump out to a 14-3 lead midway through the first quarter. From there, things quickly changed as Liberty’s offense went five straight drives without any points. Gardner-Webb’s Sabin McLaughlin had a 35 yard scoop and score midway through the second quarter and Randy Young broke free for a 65 yard run up the middle untouched as the Runnin’ Bulldogs grabbed the lead.
** It was 20-17 Gardner-Webb entering halftime, the first time Liberty has trailed an FCS opponent at halftime since joining the FBS prior to the 2018 season. The last time the Flames trailed an FCS opponent at intermission was in 2017 against Monmouth when Turner Gill was the head coach.
** After having a pretty solid debut in a Liberty uniform last week at JMU, starting QB Deshawn Purdie struggled in his second start. He completed just 6 of 17 passes for 122 yards and 1 touchdown while finishing with -18 rushing yards. Purdie would get benched in the second half as Jaylen Henderson entered the contest. Henderson finished 2 of 4 passing for 64 yards and a touchdown while rushing four times for 22 yards. He had the game winning touchdown pass, a 54-yarder to a wide open Darius Copeland.
** Makai Jackson quickly made an impact in his first game at Williams Stadium, catching a bullet from Purdie that went for 65 yards and a touchdown on the offense’s second play from scrimmage. Due in large part to the quarterbacks’ struggles on the afternoon, Jackson only had one other catch on the day, finishing with 69 yards. Tight end Zeke Wimbush had 2 catches for 36 yards.
** Liberty rotated its running backs throughout the game. Peyton Jones led the team with 13 carries for 76 yards. Kam Davis added 10 carries for 67 yards. Jaylon Coleman had 3 carries for 42 yards while Terron Kellman added 6 carries for 27 yards.
** On the defensive side of the ball, Quavo Marshall led the team with 7 tackles. Brenton Williams had 5 tackles and a sack.
** For a second straight week, the Liberty defense was very strong in the second half. holding the Runnin’ Bulldogs to a field goal and just 109 yards of offense in the second half.
** Liberty edged the Runnin’ Bulldogs in total yards, 379-304. The Flames had 193 on the ground and 186 through the air. Liberty was just 2 of 12 on third downs and finished with 11 penalties for 96 yards.
** Play of the Game: Liberty was just 1 of 10 on third downs and faced a crucial one with the game on the line. It was 3rd and 10 with the ball near midfield and just over two minutes remaining when Henderson found enough time to get the ball to a wide open Darius Copeland who had streaked behind the Gardner-Webb defense. He hauled in the pass and raced the rest of the way down the sideline for a 54 yard touchdown score that ended up being the game winner.
** The win was the first for the Flames since November 1, 2025, snapping a five-game losing skid.
** Up next: Liberty faces Ball State next Saturday, Sept. 19 back at Williams Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. on ESPN+. The Cardinals are currently 0-1 on the season entering their game today at home against Stony Brook.
