Liberty University
4-1
UAB
3-2 , 1-0
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 0 | 3 | 21 | 12 | 36 |
| UAB | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 12 |
Third-Quarter Push Gives Flames 36-12 Win over UAB
10/2/2021 11:36:00 PM | Football
Postgame Press Conference: Head Coach Hugh Freeze
Postgame Press Conference: Malik Willis
Postgame Press Conference: Storey Jackson
The visiting Flames spoiled the Blazers' grand opening of the $200 million Protective Stadium with a convincing 36-12 victory on Saturday night.
With the score tied 3-3 at halftime, Liberty scored five times in the second half before they let the home team find the end zone in their new home stadium.
With the win, Liberty pushes its record to 4-1 after racking up 544 total offensive yards, including 325 yards during the decisive second half. Liberty's defense limited UAB to 325 yards, including just 116 yards after halftime.
Malik Willis continued to pace Liberty's offensive attack. The quarterback finished the game completing 13-of-19 passing attempts for 287 yards and a touchdown.
He also led the Flames' ground game, rushing 15 times for 144 yards and two scores, accounting for his fourth 100-yard rushing performance as a Flame.
Demario Douglas was Willis' top target as he finished the game with four receptions for 128 yards, marking his second career 100-yard receiving game.
Liberty's stout defense was paced by linebacker Storey Jackson, who led the team with seven tackles (five solo, two assisted), including a sack and his first interception of the season.
Box Score Highlights:
Final Score: 36-12
Liberty (4-1)
UAB (3-2, 1-0 CUSA)
Location: Protective Stadium (Birmingham, Ala.)
Attendance: 37,167
Turning Point:
After neither team could find the end zone during the first 30 minutes of the ball game, Liberty scored twice during the first five minutes of the third quarter to take control.
The Flames received the opening kick of the second half and left the ball in the hands of Willis. The redshirt junior accounted for all 75 of the Flames' yards on a six-play scoring effort that ended when Willis found the end zone at 12:59. The eight-yard run accounted for the first touchdown in Protective Stadium history and gave Liberty a 10-3.
Following a three-and-out for the Blazers, Liberty needed just one more play to push its lead to 17-3. Willis found CJ Daniels on the outside and the redshirt freshman cut back to the middle of the field to score on a 34-yard play, giving Liberty two touchdowns in a span of 2:24.
Play-By-Play Breakdown:
First Quarter
- The home team controlled the pace of play during the first quarter, outgaining the Flames, 165-55. However, the Blazers only held a 3-0 lead after 15 minutes of play, thanks to some timely Liberty defense and costly UAB penalties.
- The Blazers quickly marched down the field on the game's opening drive, but their effort to score failed inside red zone, forcing the home team to settle for a 34-yard field goal by Matt Quinn at the 10:44 mark.
- The Blazer looked like they were going to push their lead to 10-0 following a 58-yard pass play to RaJae' Johnson-Sanders at 4:07, but the scoring play was called back due to a unsportsmanlike penalty. Six plays later, Liberty stopped the Blazers on a fourth-and-five play from the Liberty 15, leaving the score at 3-0.
Second Quarter
- The Flames were finally able to move the ball on their first drive of the second quarter, tying the game at 3-3 on a 21-yard field goal by Brayden Beck at 8:54. The 13-play, 82-yard drive took 8:02 off the clock, before stalling at the UAB three-yard line following seven-straight rushing plays.
- Liberty looked like it was going to score the first touchdown in Protective Stadium history when Joshua Mack tried to extend the ball on a run from the UAB two-yard at 5:57. However, it was ruled the running back fumbled the ball into the end zone, keeping the game tied at 3-3 heading into the locker room at halftime.
Third Quarter
- The Flames scored on three of their four drives in the third quarter to take control of the game after neither team could find the end zone early.
- The Flames found the scoring column on the first drive of the second half when Willis capped a six-play, 75-yard drive with an eight-yard rushing touchdown at 12:59.
- Liberty scored twice more during the rest of the quarter, including a 34-yard touchdown reception by Daniels at 10:33 and a one-yard run by Willis at 3:11.
- Liberty's defense forced four-straight three-and-out series during the third quarter.
- The Flames outgained the Blazers 233 total offensive yards to 14.
Fourth Quarter
- The Flames put the game away on their first drive of the fourth quarter, pushing their lead to 30-3 at 12:45. Mack finished off the seven-play, 73-yard drive with an eight-yard rushing touchdown, accounting for the redshirt senior's 13th rushing touchdown in a Liberty's uniform.
- Following Liberty's fifth-straight touchdown of the second half, UAB did add points to the scoreboard late in the fourth quarter. The Blazers returned a blocked field goal 83 yards for a score at 6:21 and got a 59-yard rushing touchdown at 4:53.
What's Next:
The Flames will play their lone home game over a five-game stretch when Liberty returns to the friendly confines of Williams Stadium, next Saturday, to host Middle Tennessee during Homecoming weekend. The contest will mark Liberty's first day game of the 2021 season with the contest kicking off at 3:30 p.m.
Date: Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021
Location: Lynchburg, Va. (Williams Stadium)
TV: ESPN3
Radio: LFSN Radio (Flagship Station: The Journey 88.3 FM Lynchburg)
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. (EST)
Team Stats
LIBERTY 0, UAB 3
UAB - Quinn,Matt 37 yd field goal 9 plays, 55 yards, TOP 4:16
LIBERTY 3, UAB 3
LIBERTY - BECK, B. 21 yd field goal 13 plays, 82 yards, TOP 8:02
LIBERTY 10, UAB 3
LIBERTY - WILLIS, M. 8 yd run (BECK, B. kick), 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:01
LIBERTY 17, UAB 3
LIBERTY - DANIELS, CJ 39 yd pass from WILLIS, M. (BECK, B. kick) 1 plays, 39 yards, TOP 0:13
LIBERTY 24, UAB 3
LIBERTY - WILLIS, M. 1 yd run (BECK, B. kick), 5 plays, 83 yards, TOP 2:18
LIBERTY 30, UAB 3
LIBERTY - MACK, J. 8 yd run (HOBBS, T. passfailed), 7 plays, 73 yards, TOP 4:14
LIBERTY 36, UAB 3
LIBERTY - SIBLEY, T. 33 yd pass from BENNETT, J. (BECK, B. kickblocked) 5 plays, 52 yards, TOP 3:14
LIBERTY 36, UAB 5
UAB - McWilliams,Mac 98 yd PAT return
LIBERTY 36, UAB 12
UAB - Brown Jr.,Jerma 59 yd run (Quinn,Matt kick), 3 plays, 65 yards, TOP 1:28
