Liberty football faced adversity on the road Saturday night, but the Flames responded when it mattered most.
After watching New Mexico State pull within two points early in the fourth quarter, Liberty answered with consecutive touchdown drives to secure a 30-14 victory at Aggie Memorial Stadium. The Flames improved to 8-1 overall and 5-0 in Conference USA, extending their winning streak to eight games.
Head coach Jamey Chadwell described the victory as a character win, emphasizing how his team responded when the Aggies threatened to turn the game around.
“This was a character win,” Chadwell said. “We did some good things and some bad things. Obviously, not our best game in a lot of ways. I thought our character, grit, our togetherness showed in the 4th quarter.”
Liberty’s ability to remain composed despite the challenging road environment stood out to Chadwell.
“It’s hard to come across the country and play. There was never panic. There was never concern.”
The Flames controlled much of the first half but struggled to turn their opportunities into touchdowns. Chase Reeves provided a significant boost with three field goals, including a 49-yard attempt that gave Liberty its first lead of the night.
“I thought the first half we controlled the game we just couldn’t score the way we needed to,” Chadwell said. “Thank goodness for Chase. He’s been a God-send. That one kick he made, almost 50-yarder, it was nice.”
Reeves finished the first half with field goals of 35, 41 and 49 yards, setting a Liberty program record with his 14th consecutive successful field goal attempt.
The Flames finally found the end zone just before halftime when Deshawn Purdie connected with Makai Jackson for a 15-yard touchdown. Jackson made an impressive toe-tap catch along the sideline, giving Liberty a 16-7 advantage heading into the break. The touchdown proved particularly important as Liberty entered the second half with a two-score lead rather than facing a deficit.
New Mexico State made adjustments coming out of its extended preparation for the matchup, catching Liberty off guard on its opening possession. It caused the Flames to fall behind for the first time in conference play this season.
“They had some extra time before this game,” Chadwell said. “They ended up doing some things they haven’t done all season long.”
The Aggies opened the game with a seven-play, 75-yard touchdown drive and later threatened again in the fourth quarter. Chadwell credited his defense for adjusting to the changes and responding after the initial touchdown.
“We adjusted well. Thought we really answered the bell after that drive. We got some turnovers and got the ball back to the offense.”
Liberty’s defense ultimately forced three turnovers and held New Mexico State to just 44 rushing yards. James Jones, who entered the game among Conference USA’s leading rushers, was limited to 51 yards on 15 carries.
“James is a really, really good player,” Chadwell said. “Our defense knew that we had to try and keep him contained, not let him break free. He never broke an explosive run. We never allowed him to get going.”
The Flames also capitalized on the Aggies’ mistakes, scoring 10 points off turnovers.
New Mexico State’s biggest push came early in the fourth quarter when Trey Hedden connected with AJ Williams for a five-yard touchdown, cutting Liberty’s lead to 16-14. The Aggies suddenly had momentum and the opportunity to take control of the game. Liberty responded immediately.
Purdie delivered two impressive sideline completions to Makai Jackson and Jamari Person, moving the Flames down the field and setting up Kam Davis for a physical touchdown run. Davis punched through the defense for an eight-yard score, restoring Liberty’s two-score advantage at 23-14. The defense followed with a stop on downs, giving the Flames another opportunity to put the game away. Liberty did just that, with Peyton Jones powering into the end zone from one yard out in the closing minutes to seal the 30-14 victory.
“They punched us in the mouth. We were bleeding. We wiped it off and we punched right back,” Chadwell said. “That was a character victory tonight and I’m pleased with the character they showed.”
The Flames finished with 399 total yards, including 252 passing yards from Purdie. Liberty also controlled the clock, possessing the ball for more than 37 minutes.
While the victory was significant, Liberty also left Las Cruces dealing with several injuries. Aaron Fenimore missed multiple drives during the first half before returning to action. Deuce Spurlock and Bryce Randolph also left the game with injuries. Chadwell indicated that Randolph’s injury could end his season, while Spurlock’s status remains uncertain pending further medical evaluation.
“Bryce looks like that will be a season ending injury. Deuce, depending on what the doctors say, that could be a season-ending too,” Chadwell said. “There’s a chance, we’ll just have to see what the X-Rays say. We got banged up pretty good tonight.”
The potential losses could be significant as Liberty enters the final stretch of its regular season.
Despite extending their winning streak to eight games and remaining unbeaten in conference play, Chadwell believes Saturday’s performance can serve as a reminder that Liberty still has room to improve. The Flames struggled to finish drives in the first half and allowed New Mexico State to make things interesting in the fourth quarter. Their ability to respond ultimately made the difference, but Chadwell wants a more complete performance moving forward.
“We read our press clippings a little bit, I think,” Chadwell said. “This will be good, help us come back. We’ve got to play better next week.”
Liberty will return home next Saturday to host Middle Tennessee as it continues its pursuit of a Conference USA championship. The Flames escaped a difficult road environment with another victory, but the message from Chadwell was clear: The character displayed in Las Cruces will be important, but Liberty must continue to improve if it wants to accomplish its ultimate goals.
