Cooley Carries Flames to CUSA Road Win at Jax State

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – Running back Quinton Cooley had a career night, keeping the Flames perfect on the season and 4-0 midway through its first season in Conference USA. He led the Flames to a 31-13 road win at Jax State, Tuesday evening.

The Wake Forest transfer finished the night with a career-high 28 carries for 163 yards and his first career two-touchdown game.

Playing in front of a national television audience and in its first-ever Tuesday night football game, Liberty moved to 6-0 on the season and to the top of the CUSA standings after knocking off previously CUSA unbeaten Jax State (5-2, 3-1 CSUA).

With the win, Liberty becomes bowl eligible for the fifth year in a row. The Flames have reached bowl eligibility in every season they have been eligible since moving up to the FBS level.

The Flames outgained the Gamecocks, 422 total offensive yards to 324, with Liberty dominating the second half. Liberty finished the last 30 minutes of the game with a 257-to-112 total offensive edge and outscored the home team 21-3.

Jax State came into the game having scored a combined 42 points during the fourth quarter and in overtime of its last two games. However, Liberty held its fifth opponent without scoring during the final 15 minutes this season to seal the road victory.

Liberty, who came into the game ranked No. 2 in the country in rushing offense, surpassed the 200-yard mark for the fifth time in six games.

Kaidon Salter finished the night by completing 12-of-21 passing attempts for 177 yards and his fifth multiple-passing touchdown game of the year.

Treon Sibley (three receptions for 65 yards) and Aaron Bedgood (two receptions for 41 yards) each scored in the game.

Liberty's linebackers paced the Flames stout defensive effort. Tyren Dupree and Joseph Carter each had career nights, leading the team with 12 and 11 stops, respectively.

The Flames' win today:

Makes the Flames bowl eligible for the fifth consecutive season.
Is Flames' first-ever victory over Jax State, in their fifth try.
Enables the Flames to start 6-0 for the first time since 2020, when they opened the year at 8-0.
Gives the Flames their first 4-0 start in conference play since opening the 2016 Big South slate at 4-0.
Makes the Flames the first team to win their first four CUSA games as conference members since Southern Miss opened league play at 4-0 in 1996, the inaugural year of CUSA football.
Marks the Flames' 12th straight win over a CUSA opponent, improving their all-time record against CUSA foes to 13-1.
Marks the Flames' fourth consecutive win when playing in Alabama.

Box Score Highlights:
Final Score: 31-13
Liberty (6-0, 4-0 CUSA)
Jax State (5-2, 3-1 CUSA)
Location: Burgess-Snow Field at JSU Stadium (Jacksonville, Ala.)
Attendance: 21,745

Play-By-Play Breakdown:
First Quarter

Jax State was the first team to crack the scoreboard midway through the first quarter, taking a 7-0 lead at 7:48 on an 11-play, 72-yard drive. Three plays after converting on a fourth down, quarterback Logan Smothers called his own number and scored on a one-yard play.

Second Quarter

After being held scoreless for the first time in 2023 during the first quarter, the Flames trimmed the Gamecocks lead to four, 7-3, on the first play of the second quarter. Nick Brown capped a 16-play, 62-yard drive with a 31-yard field goal at 14:56.
Following a missed field goal by the Gamecocks, Liberty took its first lead of the game by going to the ground. The Flames ran the ball the last six plays of a seven-play, 80-yard drive. The Flames finished the drive with a six-yard rushing touchdown by Quinton Cooley for a 10-7 advantage at the 7:23 mark.
Jax State started to march down the field on the following drive, but the Flames defense forced the Gamecocks to settle for a field goal. A 39-yard kick by Alan Karajic tied the game at 10-10 with 4:09 left to play before halftime.

Third Quarter

The Flames took their opening possession of the second half and ground out a 12-play, 89-yard scoring drive to take a 17-10 lead at 5:55. The Flames kept the ball on the ground for eight of the 12 plays, setting up a perfectly thrown 27-yard touchdown pass from Salter to Treon Sibley in the back of the end zone for a score.
Jax State looked like it might answer on the following drive as the Gamecocks neared the red zone. But the Flames' defense forced back-to-back incompletions and the home team had to settle for Karajic's second 39-yard field goal of the game, trimming Liberty's lead to four points, 17-13, at 2:26.

Fourth Quarter

The Flames opened the game's first two-score advantage on the first play of the fourth quarter. Salter was spot on for another touchdown pass to the end zone, hitting Aaron Bedgood in stride on a 29-yard scoring play to push Liberty's lead to 24-13 at 14:54.
Liberty put the game out of reach when Cooley got into the end zone for the second time on the night. The running back finished a 16-play, 79-yard drive with a five-yard scamper up the middle, moving the Flames to 31-13 with 4:22 left in the game.

What's Next:
The Flames will continue their run of four-straight Conference USA midweek games when they host their first-ever Tuesday night game played at Williams Stadium. The Flames will welcome Middle Tennessee to the Mountain for a nationally televised game on CBS Sports Network.
Date: Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023
Location: Lynchburg, Va. (Williams Stadium)br /> TV: CBS Sports Network
Radio: LFSN Radio (Flagship Station: The Journey 88.3 FM Lynchburg)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. (EST)

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Cooley Carries Flames to CUSA Road Win at Jax State

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Team Stats

Kaidon Salter

Players Mentioned

Aaron Bedgood

Nick Brown

Joseph Carter

Quinton Cooley

Tyren Dupree

Kaidon Salter

Treon Sibley

Cooley Carries Flames to CUSA Road Win at Jax State

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Team Stats

Game Leaders

Kaidon Salter

Players Mentioned

Aaron Bedgood

Nick Brown

Joseph Carter

Quinton Cooley

Tyren Dupree

Kaidon Salter

Treon Sibley

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