Flames to Host CUSA Championship Game After 56-30 Win Over LA Tech

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Liberty gave its Homecoming Weekend crowd more than just another win to cheer about with its 56-30 Conference USA win over Louisiana Tech on Saturday.

With the victory, its program-record ninth-straight win, Liberty secured the chance to host the CUSA Football Championship game at Williams Stadium on December 1.

Liberty remains one of seven unbeaten teams in the country, moving to 9-0 on the year and 7-0 in CUSA play. LA Tech falls to 3-7 on the season and 2-4 in CUSA action.

The game was played in front of a Homecoming crowd of 21,647 fans, the largest in Homecoming history and the sixth largest crowd in Williams Stadium history.

The Flames finished the game with a season-high 602 total offensive yards and nearly doubled up the visiting Bulldogs, who finished with 388 yards.

Liberty's stout rushing attack, which ranked No. 2 in the country in rushing offense coming into the game, finished the game with 305 yards on 45 carries (6.8 yards per rush).

Quinton Cooley had a career game, rushing for 179 yards on 23 carries and scoring two touchdowns. The transfer running back recorded his sixth 100-yard game in 2023, with all of his 100-yard games coming against CUSA opponents.

Kaidon Salter, a recent addition to the Maxwell Award watch list (most outstanding player in college football), finished the game by completing 16 passes for 297 yards and four touchdowns. LA Tech came into the game ranked No. 12 in the country in passing yards allowed (172.4 yards allowed per game).

Four different receivers caught touchdown passes from Salter, led by senior Noah Frith. The six-year player finished the game with three receptions for 96 yards and recorded his ninth career receiving touchdown.

Liberty's defense had a pair of players finish the night with double-digit tackles. Tyren Dupree matched his career high for the third time in 2023 with 12 stops, while Brandon Bishop finished the game with a career-high 10 tackles.

Conference USA Championship Game Ticket Information:
Conference USA Football Championship tickets are on sale now, exclusively to existing season ticket holders through Wednesday, Nov. 8 at 5 p.m. Flames Club members who do not have season tickets will have priority pick of seats starting Thursday, Nov. 9 at 11 a.m., with all remaining seats available to the public on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. Ticket prices will range between $35 and $200. To learn more, visit www.LibertyFlames.com/CUSAChampionship.

Fans interested in increasing their priority to purchase seats or purchase premium seats are encouraged to join the Flames Club by visiting www.LibertyFlamesClub.org or calling/texting 434-582-2582.

The Flames' win today:

Ensures the Flames will host the CUSA Championship Game on Dec. 1 at Williams Stadium.
Gives the Flames their first-ever 9-0 start to a season. The team's best start prior to this year was 8-0 in 2020.
Gives the Flames their fourth winning streak of nine or more games all-time and longest since winning 10 in a row, Nov. 30, 2019 through Nov. 14, 2020. It is the first time Liberty has won nine straight within a single season.
Makes Louisiana Tech the fourth team the Flames have defeated for the first time in program history in 2023 (also Bowling Green, Sam Houston and Jax State).
Enables the Flames to match 2005 UCF for the most conference wins by a first-year CUSA member (7).
Marks the Flames' 15th straight win over a CUSA opponent, improving their all-time record against CUSA foes to 16-1.
Was Flames' fifth consecutive win on Homecoming, improving Liberty's all-time Homecoming record to 35-14.

Box Score Highlights:
Final Score: 56-30
Liberty (9-0, 7-0 CUSA)
Louisiana Tech (3-7, 2-4 CUSA)
Location: Williams Stadium (Lynchburg, Va.)
Attendance: 21,647

Play-By-Play Breakdown:
First Quarter

Both teams scored on their opening possessions with Liberty holding a 7-3 lead after five minutes of play. LA Tech's opening drive stalled inside the red zone, forcing the Bulldogs to settle for a 26-yard field by Jacob Barnes at the 11:21 mark.
Liberty wasted little time responding, as the Flames took their first lead of the night 74 seconds later at 10:07. Big gains by CJ Daniels (47 yards) and Quinton Cooley (12 yards) set up a 16-yard touchdown pass from Satler to Bentley Hanshaw, the tight ends' fifth touchdown of the season.
Daniels, who started the game with his 11^th 20+ yard play of the season, pushed Liberty's lead to 14-3 with 1:27 left in the opening period with another lengthy play. Salter lofted a ball toward the end zone and Daniels was able to pull down a 24-yard scoring play, his sixth touchdown of 2023.

Second Quarter

The Flames extended their lead to 21-3 with 6:41 left before halftime on a five-yard rushing touchdown by Aaron Bedgood. Liberty methodically marched the ball down the field on an 11-play, 92-yard drive that saw the home team rush the ball eight times.
Both teams would score during the final two minutes of the half, allowing Liberty to head to the locker room with a 28-10 edge. LA Tech pieced together a nine-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a three-yard rushing touchdown by Keith Willis, Jr. at 1:51.
Liberty quickly responded again. Aaron Bedgood capped a quick 10-play, 75-yard drive that took only 1:45 off the clock with a four-yard touchdown pass from Salter to close out the half.

Third Quarter

Both teams added two touchdowns each to the scoreboard during the third quarter, allowing Liberty to take a 42-24 lead into the final 15 minutes of the game.
Noah Frith caught a pass over the middle of the field and then scampered into the end zone for a 55-yard touchdown reception for Liberty at 12:21. Cooley broke free for a 29-yard score at the 6:30 mark.
Willis scored from two yards out at 9:01 and was able to convert on a two-point play, while Hank Bachmeier hit Smoke Harris for a one-yard touchdown pass at 4:24.

Fourth Quarter

The Flames punctuated their ninth win in a row with a pair of rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter, pushing Liberty over the 300-yard rushing mark. Cooley scored from nine yards out at 12:49 and James Jointer, Jr., scored his first collegiate touchdown on a one-yard run at 2:22.
LA Tech's final touchdown of the game came at 10:48 when Bachmeier completed a nine-yard pass play to Tru Edwards at 10:48.

What's Next:
The Flames will step out of Conference USA play for the first time since the middle of September when Liberty welcomes Commonwealth foe Old Dominion back to Lynchburg, next Saturday. The Flames and the Monarchs will be squaring off for the third year in a row and the fifth time in the series history, with Liberty winning each of the last three meetings.

Date: Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023
Location: Lynchburg, Va. (Williams Stadium)
TV: ESPN+
Radio: LFSN Radio (Flagship Station: The Journey 88.3 FM Lynchburg)
Kickoff: 1 p.m. (EST)

Schedule

Flames to Host CUSA Championship Game After 56-30 Win Over LA Tech

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Team Stats

Kaidon Salter

Players Mentioned

Aaron Bedgood

Brandon Bishop

Quinton Cooley

CJ Daniels

Tyren Dupree

Noah Frith

Bentley Hanshaw

James Jointer, Jr.

Kaidon Salter

Flames to Host CUSA Championship Game After 56-30 Win Over LA Tech

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Next Event

Team Stats

Game Leaders

Kaidon Salter

Players Mentioned

Aaron Bedgood

Brandon Bishop

Quinton Cooley

CJ Daniels

Tyren Dupree

Noah Frith

Bentley Hanshaw

James Jointer, Jr.

Kaidon Salter

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