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Saturday, September 23
Miami, Fla.
6:30 PM ET
Liberty University
4-0 , 2-0
38
at
6
FIU
3-2 , 0-2
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Liberty
14
10
14
0
38
FIU
6
0
0
0
6
Flames Run to CUSA Road Win at FIU
9/23/2023 10:45:00 PM | Football
MIAMI, Fla. - A stout defensive effort and a season-high rushing attack allowed Liberty to secure a 38-6 Conference USA road, Saturday night, at FIU Stadium.
With the win, Liberty closes out the first set of Saturday games on its 2023 schedule undefeated at 4-0. The Flames remain atop the CUSA standings at 2-0 heading into four straight midweek contests during the month of October.
Liberty is in its first season as a Conference USA member and is facing its first-ever conference slate at the FBS level.
Liberty, who entered the night ranked No. 7 in the country in rushing offense (240.3 yards per game), ran for 364 yards on 44 carries, averaging 8.3 yards per rushing attempt.
The Flames dominated nearly every part of the final stat sheet and more than doubled up the Panthers in total offensive yards (520 to 211).
Reigning CUSA Offensive Player of the Week Kaidon Salter accounted for four of Liberty's five touchdowns in the game.
The quarterback completed 11-of-21 passing attempts for 156 yards with two touchdowns while rushing nine times for 77 yards and two more scores. The sophomore came into the day ranked No. 4 in the country in total points responsible for.
The Flames had a pair of running backs surpass the 100-yard mark in the game. Quinton Cooley carried the ball 12 times for 102 yards, while Billy Lucas rushed 11 times for the same 102 yards.
The 100-yard game was the eighth of Lucas' career, following seven 100-yard games at Duquesne. The day accounted for Cooley's second 100-yard game as a Flame after he surpassed the mark in the Flames' first-ever CUSA game against New Mexico State two weeks ago.
Tight end Bentley Hanshaw had a career night with five receptions for 43 yards, while Treon Sibley had two receptions for 83 yards. Both players had a touchdown in the game.
Linebacker Tyren Dupree continues to be Liberty's tackles leader after finishing the game with nine stops, including eight solo tackles, two tackles for a loss and a sack.
Defensive tackle Kendy Charles saw his first action of the season after missing the first three games of 2023 with a preseason injury. The senior showed no rust, tallying five tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss, a sack on a fourth-down play and a fumble recovery.
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The Flames' win today:
Final Score: 38-6
Liberty (4-0, 2-0 CUSA)
FIU (3-2, 0-2 CUSA)
Location: FIU Stadium (Miami, Fla.)
Attendance: 17,437
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Play-By-Play Breakdown:
First Quarter
Following their first bye week of the season, the Flames and the rest of Conference USA will make the switch to midweek games for the entire month of October. Liberty's first Midweek on the Mountain matchups pits the Flames against fellow CUSA newcomer Sam Houston on Oct. 5 at Williams Stadium. The game will be one of only two nationally televised games that Thursday evening and can be seen on CBS Sports Network and heard on LFSN Radio.
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Date: Saturday, Oct. 5, 2023
Location: Lynchburg, Va. (Williams Stadium)
TV: CBS Sports Network
Radio: LFSN Radio (Flagship Station: The Journey 88.3 FM Lynchburg)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. (EST)
With the win, Liberty closes out the first set of Saturday games on its 2023 schedule undefeated at 4-0. The Flames remain atop the CUSA standings at 2-0 heading into four straight midweek contests during the month of October.
Liberty is in its first season as a Conference USA member and is facing its first-ever conference slate at the FBS level.
Liberty, who entered the night ranked No. 7 in the country in rushing offense (240.3 yards per game), ran for 364 yards on 44 carries, averaging 8.3 yards per rushing attempt.
The Flames dominated nearly every part of the final stat sheet and more than doubled up the Panthers in total offensive yards (520 to 211).
Reigning CUSA Offensive Player of the Week Kaidon Salter accounted for four of Liberty's five touchdowns in the game.
The quarterback completed 11-of-21 passing attempts for 156 yards with two touchdowns while rushing nine times for 77 yards and two more scores. The sophomore came into the day ranked No. 4 in the country in total points responsible for.
The Flames had a pair of running backs surpass the 100-yard mark in the game. Quinton Cooley carried the ball 12 times for 102 yards, while Billy Lucas rushed 11 times for the same 102 yards.
The 100-yard game was the eighth of Lucas' career, following seven 100-yard games at Duquesne. The day accounted for Cooley's second 100-yard game as a Flame after he surpassed the mark in the Flames' first-ever CUSA game against New Mexico State two weeks ago.
Tight end Bentley Hanshaw had a career night with five receptions for 43 yards, while Treon Sibley had two receptions for 83 yards. Both players had a touchdown in the game.
Linebacker Tyren Dupree continues to be Liberty's tackles leader after finishing the game with nine stops, including eight solo tackles, two tackles for a loss and a sack.
Defensive tackle Kendy Charles saw his first action of the season after missing the first three games of 2023 with a preseason injury. The senior showed no rust, tallying five tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss, a sack on a fourth-down play and a fumble recovery.
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The Flames' win today:
- Enables the Flames to start 4-0 for the first time since 2020, when they opened the year at 8-0.
- Gives the Flames their first 2-0 start in conference play since opening the 2016 Big South slate at 4-0.
- Helps the Flames remain as CUSA's only unbeaten team and make Liberty the first squad with two CUSA wins in 2023.
- Keeps the Flames unbeaten all-time against FIU at 2-0.
- Marks the Flames' 10th straight win over a CUSA opponent, improving their all-time record against CUSA foes to 11-1.
- Boosts the Flames' record to 4-10 when playing in Florida and gives them their first regular-season win in the Sunshine State since Oct. 14, 1995 (7-6 victory at UCF).
- Makes Jamey Chadwell the second Liberty head coach ever to win his first four games with the Flames. Sam Rutigliano started 6-0 during the 1989 campaign, his first at Liberty.
- Snaps FIU's three-game winning streak.
Final Score: 38-6
Liberty (4-0, 2-0 CUSA)
FIU (3-2, 0-2 CUSA)
Location: FIU Stadium (Miami, Fla.)
Attendance: 17,437
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Play-By-Play Breakdown:
First Quarter
- The Flames jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead, scoring on their opening drive of the game. Salter capped an eight-play, 75-yard drive by hitting tight end Bentley Hanshaw in the back of the zone with a nine-yard touchdown pass at 11:21.
- Following a quick three-and-out defensive stop by Liberty, Salter struck again with a bullet over the middle of the field. The sophomore quarterback hit Treon Sibley in stride and the wide receiver found space down the field on a career-long 68-yard touchdown reception under two minutes later (9:04).
- Before the clock hit all zeros at the end of the first quarter, the Panthers were able to trim Liberty's lead to eight, 14-6. FIU pieced together a 10-play, 94-yard scoring drive where quarterback Keyone Jenkins found the end zone on a one-yard scoring run at 1:40.
- The Flames pushed their lead to three scores midway through the second quarter by keeping it on the ground for six straight plays on a 62-yard scoring drive. Billy Lucas took the last two handoffs from Salter, scoring on an 18-yard play to push Liberty's lead to 21-6 with 2:56 left to play in the second.
- Liberty intercepted the Panthers on the home team's next offensive play with Kobe Singeton's second interception of the year and the team's 10th of the season. FIU kept the Flames from advancing the ball, forcing the visitors to settle for a Nick Bown 41-yard field goal at 1:50 to send the Flames into the locker room with a 24-6 lead.
- Down three-plus scores on its first possession of the second half, FIU elected to go for it on fourth-and-five from midfield. Liberty's defense made the stop and the Flames' offense pushed the lead to 31-6 seven plays later on a Salter two-yard rushing touchdown at 10:09.
- The Flames put the game out of reach during the closing minutes of the third quarter, going up 38-6 at 3:48 on a one-yard rushing touchdown by Salter to finish a seven-play, 65-yard scoring drive.
- Charles punctuated his return to the lineup on FIU's only sustained drive of the fourth quarter. The Panthers got to the Flames' 33-yard line, but Charles sacked Jenkins for a 10-yard loss to end FIU's final hope in the game.
Following their first bye week of the season, the Flames and the rest of Conference USA will make the switch to midweek games for the entire month of October. Liberty's first Midweek on the Mountain matchups pits the Flames against fellow CUSA newcomer Sam Houston on Oct. 5 at Williams Stadium. The game will be one of only two nationally televised games that Thursday evening and can be seen on CBS Sports Network and heard on LFSN Radio.
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Date: Saturday, Oct. 5, 2023
Location: Lynchburg, Va. (Williams Stadium)
TV: CBS Sports Network
Radio: LFSN Radio (Flagship Station: The Journey 88.3 FM Lynchburg)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. (EST)
Team Stats
LIB
FIU
Total Yards
520
211
Pass Yards
156
147
Rushing Yards
364
64
Penalty Yards
49
43
1st Downs
22
11
3rd Downs
6
3
4th Downs
0
0
TOP
33:09
26:51
1st Quarter
LIB 7, FIU 0
LIB - Hanshaw,Bentley 9 yd pass from Salter,Kaidon (Brown,Nick kick) 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:35
LIB 14, FIU 0
LIB - Sibley,Treon 68 yd pass from Salter,Kaidon (Brown,Nick kick) 3 plays, 72 yards, TOP 00:54
LIB 14, FIU 6
FIU - Jenkins,Keyone 1 yd run (), 10 plays, 94 yards, TOP 04:50
2nd Quarter
LIB 21, FIU 6
LIB - Lucas,Billy 18 yd run (Brown,Nick kick), 6 plays, 62 yards, TOP 02:52
LIB 24, FIU 6
LIB - Brown,Nick 41 yd field goal 4 plays, 3 yards, TOP 00:48
3rd Quarter
LIB 31, FIU 6
LIB - Salter,Kaidon 2 yd run (Brown,Nick kick), 6 plays, 46 yards, TOP 03:14
LIB 38, FIU 6
LIB - Salter,Kaidon 1 yd run (Brown,Nick kick), 7 plays, 65 yards, TOP 04:52
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
11
TD
2
YDS
156
INT
1
Players Mentioned
DT
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RB
/ Football
LB
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TE
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RB
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WR
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