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Wednesday, October 23
Kennesaw, Ga.
7:00 PM ET
Liberty University
5-1 , 3-1
24
at
27
Kennesaw State
1-6 , 1-2
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Liberty
7
7
3
7
24
Kennesaw St.
7
7
7
6
27
Owls Hand Flames 1st Setback in 2024 Season
10/24/2024 12:09:00 AM | Football
KENNESAW, Ga. – The Liberty Flames saw the nation's longest active regular season win streak come to an end on Wednesday night with a 27-24 setback at Kennesaw State.
The two teams entered the game on opposite ends of the win-loss column. Liberty (5-1, 3-1 CUSA) was one of 10 undefeated teams left in the country entering the night, while Kennesaw State (1-6, 1-2 CUSA) was one of two teams left without a victory this year.
However, the Owls put together their most complete game of the season, amassing a season-high 323 total offensive yards. Kennesaw State also scored a season-high three touchdowns after scoring a combined five offensive touchdowns coming into the night.
The Flames tried to keep their undefeated season alive with a late fourth-quarter touchdown when Kaidon Salter pulled Liberty within three points on a 17-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Canion with 1:49 left in the contest.
Following a fourth-down stop, Liberty had two opportunities to score during the final 10 seconds of the game, but the Owls got two defensive stops to record their first win of 2024.
Liberty finished the game with a season-low 386 total offensive yards, gaining 180 yards on the ground and 206 yards through the air.
Salter accounted for 293 of Liberty's total offensive yards. The quarterback rushed for 87 yards on nine carries and completed 22-of-40 passing attempts for 206 yards.
Salter also finished the game with three passing touchdowns, allowing him to become the fifth quarterback in school history with 50 or more career passing touchdowns (51).
The quarterback threw touchdown passes to three different receivers – Canion (61 receiving yards), Donte Lee, Jr. (38 receiving yards) and Treon Sibley (27 receiving yards).
Linebacker Joseph Carter and defensive end TJ Bush tied for game-high tackling honors with 11 tackles. The 11 stops were a new career high for Bush and pushed Carter over the 100-career tackle mark (100).
Final Score: 27-24
Liberty (5-1, 3-1 CUSA)
Kennesaw State (1-6, 1-2 CUSA)
Location: Fifth Third Stadium (Kennesaw, Ga.)
Attendance: 8,209
Play-By-Play Breakdown:
First Quarter
The Flames will look to get back into the win column next Wednesday when Liberty closes out Conference USA midweek action by hosting conference leader Jacksonville State (4-3, 3-0 CUSA) at Williams Stadium.
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024
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)
The two teams entered the game on opposite ends of the win-loss column. Liberty (5-1, 3-1 CUSA) was one of 10 undefeated teams left in the country entering the night, while Kennesaw State (1-6, 1-2 CUSA) was one of two teams left without a victory this year.
However, the Owls put together their most complete game of the season, amassing a season-high 323 total offensive yards. Kennesaw State also scored a season-high three touchdowns after scoring a combined five offensive touchdowns coming into the night.
The Flames tried to keep their undefeated season alive with a late fourth-quarter touchdown when Kaidon Salter pulled Liberty within three points on a 17-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Canion with 1:49 left in the contest.
Following a fourth-down stop, Liberty had two opportunities to score during the final 10 seconds of the game, but the Owls got two defensive stops to record their first win of 2024.
Liberty finished the game with a season-low 386 total offensive yards, gaining 180 yards on the ground and 206 yards through the air.
Salter accounted for 293 of Liberty's total offensive yards. The quarterback rushed for 87 yards on nine carries and completed 22-of-40 passing attempts for 206 yards.
Salter also finished the game with three passing touchdowns, allowing him to become the fifth quarterback in school history with 50 or more career passing touchdowns (51).
The quarterback threw touchdown passes to three different receivers – Canion (61 receiving yards), Donte Lee, Jr. (38 receiving yards) and Treon Sibley (27 receiving yards).
Linebacker Joseph Carter and defensive end TJ Bush tied for game-high tackling honors with 11 tackles. The 11 stops were a new career high for Bush and pushed Carter over the 100-career tackle mark (100).
Box Score Highlights:
Final Score: 27-24
Liberty (5-1, 3-1 CUSA)
Kennesaw State (1-6, 1-2 CUSA)
Location: Fifth Third Stadium (Kennesaw, Ga.)
Attendance: 8,209
Play-By-Play Breakdown:
First Quarter
- The Flames took their first lead of the night on an 11-play, 73-yard drive on their opening possession. Liberty picked up three third-down conversions on the drive, including a 15-yard touchdown strike from Salter to Treon Sibley on the last third-down conversion, giving Liberty a 7-0 lead at 5:43.
- The Owls quickly responded, tying the game at 2:49 on back-to-back explosive plays. Davis Bryson hit Jaden Robinson over the middle of the field on a 22-yard strike, directly followed by a 41-yard touchdown pass to Christian Moss to knot the score at 7-7.
- Kennesaw State took its first lead of the night by creating a turnover on downs after stopping the Flames on fourth-and-five play at the KSU 40-yard line. Davis completed a 41-yard pass to Robinson on the first play of the next drive, setting up a Michael Benefield one-yard rushing touchdown at 10:21, to give the Owls a 14-7 edge.
- The Flames were able to knot the score at 14-14 with 48 seconds left before halftime on a 12-play, 81-yard drive that saw Salter run for a first down on a third and fourth down-plays to keep the drive alive. Satler then found Donte Lee, Jr., in the far corner of the end zone on a 15-yard touchdown pass on third down, sending Liberty into the locker room with momentum.
- After a quick three-and-out stop by the Owls on Liberty's opening drive of the second half, Kennesaw State went to its ground game to regain the lead. The Owls rushed the ball seven times on a nine-play, 60-yard drive, including a six-yard rushing touchdown by Qua Ashley at 8:02 to give the home team a 21-14 lead.
- The Flames looked like they were going to respond on the following drive, getting into Owls' territory on pass plays of 21 (to Bentley Hanshaw) and 16 (to Elijah Canion) yards. However, the drive stalled and the Flames had to settle for a season-long 47-yard field goal by Colin Karhu at 5:05 to trim their deficit to 21-17.
- The Owls pushed their lead to its widest margin of the night on a pair of Austin Welch field goals. The redshirt junior knocked down a 31-yarder at 11:43 and a 41-yard field goal at 4:13 to extend their lead to 27-17.
- Liberty quickly responded with a 10-play, 63-yard drive that moved the Flames down the field in just over two minutes for another score (2:18 TOP). Salter finished the drive with a 17-yard touchdown pass with 1:49 left on the clock.
- After a failed on-side kick, Liberty stopped Kennesaw State on a fourth-down play and got the ball back with 10 seconds left. The Flames got two more chances to score, but the Owls forced the Flames to fumble the ball on an attempted lateral play to end the game.
The Flames will look to get back into the win column next Wednesday when Liberty closes out Conference USA midweek action by hosting conference leader Jacksonville State (4-3, 3-0 CUSA) at Williams Stadium.
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024
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
KSU
Total Yards
386
323
Pass Yards
206
189
Rushing Yards
180
134
Penalty Yards
100
40
1st Downs
22
18
3rd Downs
6
7
4th Downs
3
0
TOP
27:41
32:19
1st Quarter
LIB 7, KSU 0
LIB - Sibley,Treon 15 yd pass from Salter,Kaidon (Karhu,Colin kick) 11 plays, 73 yards, TOP 05:22
LIB 7, KSU 7
KSU - Moss,Christian 41 yd pass from Bryson,Davis (Welch,Austin kick) 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:54
2nd Quarter
LIB 7, KSU 14
KSU - Benefield,Michael 1 yd run (Welch,Austin kick), 4 plays, 60 yards, TOP 02:04
LIB 14, KSU 14
LIB - Lee Jr.,Donte 15 yd pass from Salter,Kaidon (Karhu,Colin kick) 12 plays, 81 yards, TOP 02:12
3rd Quarter
LIB 14, KSU 21
KSU - Ashley,Qua 6 yd run (Welch,Austin kick), 9 plays, 60 yards, TOP 05:31
LIB 17, KSU 21
LIB - Karhu,Colin 47 yd field goal 8 plays, 46 yards, TOP 02:57
4th Quarter
LIB 17, KSU 24
KSU - Welch,Austin 31 yd field goal 14 plays, 62 yards, TOP 08:22
LIB 17, KSU 27
KSU - Welch,Austin 41 yd field goal 7 plays, 42 yards, TOP 03:40
LIB 24, KSU 27
LIB - Canion,Elijah 17 yd pass from Salter,Kaidon (Karhu,Colin kick) 10 plays, 63 yards, TOP 02:18
Game Leaders
CMP
22
TD
3
YDS
206
INT
1
Players Mentioned
WR
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LB
/ Football
TE
/ Football
K/P
/ Football
WR
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