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Liberty University
7-5
Army
8-3
Rally Falls Short for Flames on Senior Day Against Army
11/27/2021 4:41:00 PM | Football
Postgame Press Conference: Head Coach Hugh Freeze
Postgame Press Conference: TreShaun Clark
Postgame Press Conference: CJ Daniels
The Flames pushed the visiting Black Knights during the second half, but Army was able to fend off Liberty's late effort to secure a 31-16 win, Saturday afternoon, at Williams Stadium.
After seeing their program-record 15-game home streak snapped last week against Louisiana, the Flames have now lost back-to-back home games for the first time since 2017.
Following Liberty's first three-game losing streak since 2018, the Flames end the regular season with a 7-5 record. Army's record now stands at 8-3.
Prior to the game, the football program honored its 25-member senior class with a special recognition ceremony. The group played a key role in helping the Flames transition from the FCS to the FBS level and win back-to-back Cure Bowl games.
The Flames outgained the Black Knights on the day, 384 total offensive yards to 322, including 255-to-126 during the second half.
Liberty's defense kept Army's No. 2 ranked rushing offense in check. The Black Knights came into the game averaging 309.4 rushing yards per game, but were held to 220 yards.
Liberty's Malik Willis finished the game completing 24-of-46 passing attempts for 305 yards and his 24th passing touchdown of the season.
The redshirt junior, who was sacked five times on the day, attempted a career-high 46 passing attempts (previous career high was 34 last week against Louisiana).
Willis (16 carries for 37 yards) and Joshua Mack (seven carries for 38 yards) paced Liberty's limited rushing attack that totaled 79 yards on the day.
Willis targeted 11 different receivers on the day. Redshirt freshman CJ Daniels paced the Flames with a career-high eight receptions that led to his second career 100-yard game (118 yards).
Starting linebackers Rashaad Harding (11 tackles – seven solo, four assisted) and Storey Jackson (10 tackles – six solo, four assisted) led Liberty's defensive effort.
Box Score Highlights:
Final Score: 31-16
Liberty (7-5)
Army (8-3)
Location: Williams Stadium (Lynchburg, Va.)
Attendance: 19,269
Turning Point:
Understanding possessions would be at a premium against Army's option offense, the Flames elected to go for it on fourth down five times during the first two quarters.
Liberty only picked up a new set of downs on one of those five plays and that drive resulted in the Flames only score of the first half (a 36-yard field goal with 3:20 left before halftime).
Army outgained the Flames in the first half by 67 yards (196 to 129), with both teams racking up more than 100 passing yards during the first 30 minutes (Army 102; Liberty 106).
The Black Knights scored on four of their six first half drives, while Liberty scored on only one of a half dozen first half drives.
Play-By-Play Breakdown:
First Quarter
- The Black Knights were the first team to get on the scoreboard, getting a 26-yard field from Cole Talley at the 6:48 mark. Army's opening 11-play drive stalled in the red zone when Liberty's Durrell Johnson sacked the Black Knights' quarterback Christian Anderson on a third-and-goal play from the three-yard line.
- Army pushed its lead to 10-0 with 17 seconds left in the first when Anderson completed his first pass attempt of the game. The senior lofted a ball to Braheam Murphy and the slotback was able to break free for a 34-yard touchdown reception.
Second Quarter
- After the Flames failed to convert on their third fourth-down play of the opening half, Army needed just five more plays to push its lead to 17-0 at 11:31. The Black Knights kept the ball on the ground for all five plays of the 44-yard drive, including a 19-yard rushing touchdown by Jakobi Buchanan.
- Army's timely passing game set up its last scoring drive of the half when Anderson completed a 51-yard play to Tyrell Robinson. Two plays later, Buchanan found the end zone from one yard out to push the Black Knights' lead to 24-0 at 6:48.
- The Flames finally got on the scoreboard late in the quarter when Brayden Beck knocked down a 36-yard field goal with 3:20 left before halftime.
Third Quarter
- Army's option offense worked to perfection during the opening drive of the third quarter. The Black Knights used a 14-play, 75-yard drive that took 8:15 off the clock, capped by a one-yard rushing touchdown by Buchanan to open up a 30-3 lead at 6:45.
- The Flames responded with their most successful drive of the game, cutting the lead to three scores, 31-10, on a seven-play, 73-yard drive that took 2:07 of the clock. The drive was capped off by a 14-yard touchdown pass from Willis to Noah Frith at 4:35.
- Following the first three-and-out series of the game, Liberty quickly found the end zone again on their next drive. A pair of lengthy passing plays to Kevin Shaa (41 yards) and Demario Douglas (15 yards) set up a seven-yard rushing touchdown by Willis with 19 seconds left. Liberty elected to go for two points, but failed on the conversion attempt, keeping the score at 31-16.
Fourth Quarter
- The Flames continued to push the Black Knights, outgaining the visitors, 112 to 43 yards during the final 15 minutes of play.
- Douglas nearly scored twice during the fourth quarter, as the redshirt freshman dropped a pass in the end zone and had a would-be score called back due to a holding penalty to keep both teams off the scoreboard during the final quarter.
What's Next:
With the Flames being bowl eligible for the third year in a row, Liberty now awaits its 2021 bowl game selection, which will be announced on Sunday, December 5.
Team Stats
ARMY 3, LIBERTY 0
ARMY - Talley,Cole 26 yd field goal 11 plays, 42 yards, TOP 5:47
ARMY 10, LIBERTY 0
ARMY - Murphy,Braheam 34 yd pass from Anderson,Christ (Talley,Cole kick) 5 plays, 45 yards, TOP 2:47
ARMY 17, LIBERTY 0
ARMY - Buchanan,Jakobi 19 yd run (Talley,Cole kick), 5 plays, 44 yards, TOP 2:33
ARMY 24, LIBERTY 0
ARMY - Buchanan,Jakobi 1 yd run (Talley,Cole kick), 4 plays, 55 yards, TOP 1:51
ARMY 24, LIBERTY 3
LIBERTY - BECK, B. 36 yd field goal 9 plays, 38 yards, TOP 3:21
ARMY 31, LIBERTY 3
ARMY - Buchanan,Jakobi 1 yd run (Talley,Cole kick), 14 plays, 75 yards, TOP 8:15
ARMY 31, LIBERTY 10
LIBERTY - FRITH, N. 14 yd pass from WILLIS, M. (BECK, B. kick) 7 plays, 73 yards, TOP 2:04
ARMY 31, LIBERTY 16
LIBERTY - WILLIS, M. 7 yd run (WILLIS, M. rushfailed), 8 plays, 85 yards, TOP 1:58
