Liberty University
2-0
Troy
1-1
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
| Troy | 7 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 13 |
Defense Leads Push to Help Flames Secure 21-13 Win at Troy
9/12/2021 12:37:00 AM | Football
Postgame Press Conference: Coach Freeze
Postgame Press Conference: Malik Willis
Postgame Press Conference: Storey Jackson
Postgame Press Conference: T.J. Green
The Flames used a balanced offensive attack and a stout defensive effort to secure a 21-13 road win over Troy, Saturday night, at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Liberty held Troy to 232 total offensive yards, including just 21 rushing yards on 24 carries. The Flames' offense tallied 339 total yards in the win, evenly spreading its efforts with 47 carries for 185 rushing yards and completing 13-of-18 passing attempts for 154 yards.
After going without a sack or turnover caused during last week's season opener against Campbell, Liberty's defensive stat sheet looked much different tonight. The Flames finished the game with five sacks and had their first turnover of 2021 on a Duron Lowe interception during the third quarter.
Malik Willis finished the night completing 13-of-18 passing attempts for 154 yards and two touchdown passes. Liberty's starting quarterback also led the Flames with 20 carries for 93 yards and his 16th rushing touchdown at Liberty.
T.J. Green followed behind Willis, rushing 10 times for 56 yards. DJ Stubbs led the Flames in receptions (4) and Demario Douglas led the team in receiving yards (41), including his team-leading second touchdown grab of the season.
The Flames' strong defensive push was paced by Storey Jackson, who led the Flames with 10 tackles (three solo, seven assisted), including 1.5 sacks. Henry Chibueze had a career high six tackles, including his first career sack (8 yards).
Box Score Highlights:
Final Score: 21-13
Liberty (2-0)
Troy (1-1, 0-0 Sun Belt)
Location: Veteran Memorial Stadium (Troy, Ala.)
Attendance: 24,714
Turning Point:
After seeing the two teams combine for 103 total points during their season openers, last weekend, points were at a premium on Saturday night.
Both teams scored the first time they touched the football at Veterans Memorial Stadium tonight, but after the first quarter, the defensive units took over. The two teams combined for 15 tackles for a loss and 10 sacks in the game.
Leading 14-7 at the break, Liberty's defense held Troy to 124 total yards during the second half, including just three rushing yards. The Flames' defense picked up its first turnover of the season during the third quarter and limited the Trojans to six points during the final 30 minutes of play.
Play-By-Play Breakdown:
First Quarter
- The team's offensive units dominated the pace of play during the first two drives, leaving the game tied, 7-7, at the 4:29 mark of the opening quarter.
- Troy easily found the end zone on the game's first drive, a 13-play, 75-yard effort, that was capped by a five-yard rushing touchdown by running back B.J. Smith at 9:40.
- Liberty answered with its own nine-play, 75-yard drive, where Willis completed all five of his pass attempts, including a 32-yard scoring pass to Demario Douglas at 4:29.
Second Quarter
- After a pair of sacks on Troy's second drive of the game that forced a punt, Liberty took its first lead of the game at 7:29, 14-7. The Flames went for it on fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line. Willis hit tight end Jerome Jackson in the back of the end zone to finish off a 13-play, 90-yard drive that took 7:20 off the clock.
- The Flames looked like they were marching for another score after a 31-yard sideline pass to tight end Trevor Hobbs got Liberty into Troy territory. However, the Trojans' defense sacked Willis for the first time this season at the 3:04 mark and the second time with 17 seconds left, forcing a pair of punts to leave Liberty up 14-7 at halftime.
- Liberty finished the first half nearly doubling up Troy in total yards, 184 to 108, with the Flames passing for 119 yards and rushing for 65 more. Willis finished the first half completing 10-of-12 passing attempts with two scoring passes while rushing eight times for 23 yards.
Third Quarter
- Neither team added points to the scoreboard during the third quarter. The two teams were limited to just 114 combined total offensive yards (59 for Liberty and 57 for Troy).
- Each team crossed midfield once during the third quarter, with Liberty getting the Troy 43 yards line on its first drive of the quarter and Troy eventually getting to the Liberty 48 yard line.
Fourth Quarter
- The first play of the fourth quarter saw Willis scramble for 20 yards on a quarterback keeper, giving Liberty a new set of downs. Following gains of 15 and 13 yards by Green, Willis called his own number on a four-yard scramble to cap an eight-play, 90-yard drive to push Liberty's lead to 21-7 with 12:22.
- The Trojans were able to get their offensive attack going late in the game, scoring on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Taylor Powell to Deyunkres Lewis with 1:10 left to play. The Flames blocked the extra point attempt and recovered the on-sides kick to secure the road victory.
What's Next:
The Flames will look to extend their program-record 12-game home win streak, next Saturday, when Liberty welcomes Old Dominion to Williams Stadium. The last time the two teams met in Lynchburg, Liberty kicked off its FBS era with a 52-10 win over the Monarchs on Sept. 1, 2018.
Date: Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021
Location: Lynchburg, Va. (Williams Stadium)
TV: ESPN3
Radio: LFSN Radio (Flagship Station: The Journey 88.3 FM Lynchburg)
Kickoff: 6:00 p.m. (EST)
Team Stats
LIBERTY 0, TROY 7
TROY - Smith,B.J. 5 yd run (Buce,Brooks kick), 13 plays, 75 yards, TOP 5:20
LIBERTY 7, TROY 7
LIBERTY - DOUGLAS, D. 32 yd pass from WILLIS, M. (BARBIR, A. kick) 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 5:11
LIBERTY 14, TROY 7
LIBERTY - JACKSON, J. 2 yd pass from WILLIS, M. (BARBIR, A. kick) 13 plays, 80 yards, TOP 7:40
LIBERTY 21, TROY 7
LIBERTY - WILLIS, M. 4 yd run (BARBIR, A. kick), 8 plays, 90 yards, TOP 4:44
LIBERTY 21, TROY 13
TROY - Lewis,Deyunkrea 11 yd pass from Powell,Taylor (Buce,Brooks kickblocked) 9 plays, 64 yards, TOP 2:45
