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Liberty University
Gardner-Webb
Flames Secure Bowl Eligibility with Homecoming Win
10/15/2022 8:48:00 PM | Football
Press Conference: Coach Freeze
Press Conference: Demario Douglas
Press Conference: Dennis Osagiede
Press Conference: Daijahn Anthony
An early fourth-quarter touchdown allowed Liberty to regain the lead and secure its fourth bowl-eligible season with a 21-20 win over Gardner-Webb, Saturday afternoon during Homecoming Weekend.
The win, Liberty's fourth in a row, pushes the Flames' record to 6-1. The victory also gives the Flames their 17th straight season with six or more victories, extending a streak that began in 2006.
The Homecoming game was played in front of 20,924 fans, the fourth largest crowd to see a Flames' football game at Williams Stadium.
The combination of Gardner-Webb's clock-eating offense and stout defense limited Liberty to a season-low 315 total offensive yards on 61 plays (5.2 yards per play).
Liberty gained most of its yardage through the air, finishing the night with 222 passing yards. The Flames rushed for a season-low 93 yards but scored two of its three touchdowns via the rushing attack.
Johnathan Bennett finished the night by completing 17-of-30 passing attempts for 222 yards and a touchdown pass.
Dae Dae Hunter led Liberty's limited rushing attack with nine carries for 76 yards and a touchdown. The Hawaii transfer gained 46 of those yards on the game's second-to-last play, where he pulled up at the one-yard line to allow the game clock to run out.
Demario Douglas was Liberty's leading receiving, finishing the game with eight receptions for 87 yards.
Liberty's defense held Gardner-Webb to 325 yards on 78 plays (4.2 yards per play). The Flames defenders, who ranked No. 5 in the country in tackle for a loss, finished the night with a season-high 13 TFLs.
Mike Smith, Jr. and Ahmad Walker led Liberty's defensive effort with seven stops apiece, with Smith recording 3.0 tackles for a loss.
Box Score Highlights:
Final Score: 21-20
Liberty (6-1)
Gardner-Webb (2-5, 1-0 Big South)
Location: Williams Stadium (Lynchburg, Va.)
Attendance: 20,924
Turning Point:
Gardner-Webb controlled the pace of play in the first three quarters, finishing the first 45 minutes of play with a 31:54 to 14:06 time of possession advantage.
Liberty pieced together its longest drive of the game in terms of play, a 10-play, 67-yard drive on its first possession of the fourth quarter. Hunter finished off the drive with a one-yard touchdown run at 10:11 to account for the game's final score.
The Flames finally were able to eat up some clock during the final quarter, finishing with an 11:27 to 3:33 TOP edge during the fourth.
Gardner-Webb made one last push in the fourth quarter to regain the lead, getting near midfield before Daijahn Anthony picked off Gardner-Webb's Bailey Fisher, his third intercepted pass of the day.
Hunter picked up gains of 15 and six yards on the next drive before a 46-yard burst where he downed himself at the one-yard line to wind out the clock.
A Liberty Win...
- Marks the fifth time in program history Liberty has started a season 6-1 or better through seven games (also 7-0 in 2020 and 6-1 in 1989, 1997 and 2008).
- Boosts the Flames' all-time record against Gardner-Webb to 15-9-1, making the Runnin' Bulldogs the second opponent Liberty has ever defeated 15 times (also Charleston Southern - 19).
- Keeps the Flames' record against FCS foes unbeaten (8-0) since joining the FBS ranks in 2018.
- Improves the Flames' all-time record against Big South opponents to 59-23, including 37-8 at Williams Stadium.
- Is the Flames' fourth consecutive triumph on Homecoming, moving their all-time Homecoming record to 34-14.
Play-By-Play Breakdown:
First Quarter
- Only one team found the end zone during the first quarter with Liberty holding a 7-0 lead following the first 15 minutes of the game. The first quarter saw each team turn the ball over on their opening possessions.
- The Flames cracked the scoreboard first when Johnathan Bennett found tight end Jerome Jackson open for a seven-yard touchdown pass. Bennett's sixth touchdown pass of the year capped a seven-play, 69-yard drive to give Liberty a 7-0 lead at 4:29.
Second Quarter
- Gardner-Webb tied the game at 7-7 with 10:41 left to play before halftime. The Runnin' Bulldogs pieced together an 11-play, 88-yard drive that finished with a two-yard rushing touchdown by running back Narii Gaither.
- The lead was short-lived for the visitors, with Liberty regaining the lead 40 seconds later. A 17-yard kickoff return by Michael Bollinger was followed by a 60-yard pass play from Bennett to wide receiver Noah Frith. Shedro Louis got in the end zone on the next play with his two-yard rushing touchdown giving Liberty a 14-7 lead at 10:01.
- The Runnin' Bulldogs were able to trim Liberty's halftime lead to four, 14-10, as the clock when to zero. Gardner-Webb drove into the red zone with a 13-play, 93-yard drive, but had to settle for a 22-yard field goal as time expired from Jay Billingsley.
Third Quarter
- Gardner-Webb's Bailey Fisher completed 4-of-5 passing attempts on the Runnin' Bulldogs' first drive of the third quarter. The fourth was a 10-yard scoring strike to wide receiver T.J. Luther at the 9:29 mark, giving Gardner-Webb a 17-14 lead.
Fourth Quarter
- The Runnin' Bulldogs pushed their lead to six points, 20-14, on the second play of the fourth quarter. Gardner-Webb was stopped at the Liberty 23 with the Flames' fourth pass breakup on the day, forcing the Runnin' Bulldogs to run Billingsley out again where he knocked down a 41-yard field goal with 14:50 left to play in the game.
- The Flames regained the lead on their next drive, taking a 21-20 advantage at the 10:11 mark. Liberty's longest drive of the day in terms of play count (10) was finished off by a one-yard rushing touchdown from Hunter. The 67-yard drive saw Bennett complete 6-of-7 passing attempts for 56 yards.
What's Next:
The Flames will close out the month of October with their second-straight home game next weekend. Liberty will welcome current FBS independent and future Big 12 foe BYU to Williams Stadium during Family Weekend for the second meeting in the series between the two schools. The Flames made their first-ever trip to Provo, Utah in 2019, where they dropped a 31-24 decision.
Date: Saturday, Oct 22, 2022
Location: Lynchburg, Va. (Williams Stadium)
TV: ESPN2 or ESPNU
Radio: LFSN Radio (Flagship Station: The Journey 88.3 FM Lynchburg)
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. (EST)
