The Flames took care of business in the early afternoon game at UMass, winning 63-21. Here’s our quick hit notes:

  • It was no secret that the UMass defense had struggled all season. The Minutemen were the worst defense in the country, allowing over 50 points per game. Liberty’s offense took full advantage, scoring 49 points in the first half and scored another touchdown on the offense’s first drive of the 2nd half to push the lead to 56-24 early in the 3rd quarter before the 2nd string was inserted into the game.
  • Coming off two straight poor performances on defense, Liberty really needed a strong defensive performance, and they got it. The Flames only gave up 7 points in the first half if you take away a fumbled punt by DJ Stubbs setting the Minutemen up with the ball in the red zone. Scott Symons’ unit was unable to get off the field last week at Rutgers on 3rd down, but there was a stark improvement on 3rd down against UMass. The Minutemen converted just 4-of-17 3rd downs on the afternoon.
  • The defense finished the game with 5 sacks, Jessie Lemonier, Jayod Sanders, and Tyren Dupree each had 1 sack while Brandon Tillmon, Aubrey Williams, Mason Wolk, and Elisha Mitchell had half a sack.
  • Buckshot Calvert had a record-breaking afternoon, working primarily in the first half plus one drive in the 2nd half. He finished the game 20-of-27 for 474 yards and 4 touchdowns. He broke his own school record for passing yards in a single game that he set in 2017 at Baylor.
  • Antonio Gandy-Golden had another huge afternoon, finishing the game with 6 receptions for 137 yards and 1 touchdown. His 6 receptions puts him into a tie with Darrin Peterson for most career receptions in school history.
  • Frankie Hickson finished the game with 3 touchdowns and 97 rushing yards on 13 carries. Joshua Mack added 85 yards on 15 carries.
  • This game is a clear example of how much progress the Flames have made in their short tenure as an FBS program. UMass has been an FBS member since 2012 while Liberty is in its first full season at the highest level of college football. These two teams, playing on the same field one year ago, went to triple overtime with the Minutemen pulling out the win. The program is on the right trajectory.
  • The Flames move to 6-3 on the season and need just one win in the team’s final three games to achieve bowl eligibility. Liberty’s first crack will come next week in the first ever meeting against BYU. The game will be televised on ESPNU at 7:30 eastern.