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Saturday, August 31
Lynchburg, Va.
6:00 PM ET
Liberty University
1-0 , 0-0
41
vs
24
Campbell
0-1 , 0-0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Campbell
3
7
7
7
24
Liberty
7
10
10
14
41
Flames Open 2024 Season with Victory Over Campbell
8/31/2024 11:22:00 PM | Football
LYNCHBURG, Va. – A balanced offensive attack, led by a pair of 100-yard performances on the ground and through the air, allowed the Flames to open the 2024 season with a 41-24 win over Campbell, Saturday evening at Williams Stadium.
Despite a 30-plus minute weather delay midway through the second quarter, 21,573 fans saw Liberty moved to 1-0 on the year with its fifth-straight season-opening victory. The attendance figure was the seventh best in Williams Stadium history.
Liberty, who finished 2023 ranked No. 4 in the country in total offense (499.1 yards per game), finished the night with 533 total offensive yards. The Flames nearly split their offensive yards evenly with 279 rushing yards and 288 passing yards.
Quinton Cooley, who ranked No. 7 nationally with 1,401 yards in 2023, picked up right where he left off last year. The 2023 CUSA Newcomer of the Year rushed for 110 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown, marking his eight career 100-yard game with the Flames.
Treon Sibley was Kaidon Salter's top target of the night, finishing the game with five receptions for 109 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown reception. The senior's numbers on the night marked a new career high in receiving yards and receptions.
Salter, the 2023 HERO Sports Group of Five National Player of the Year, was efficient under center, completing 16-of-23 passing attempts for 242 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran the ball nine times for 48 yards, but he did give the ball away with a fumble.
Liberty's top defender in the game was East Carolina transfer Teylor Jackson. The linebacker finished his first game as a Flame with seven tackles, including five solo stops. A'Khori Jones followed with a career-high five tackles, including 2.0 tackles for a loss.
The Flames' win today:
Final Score: 41-24
Liberty (1-0, 0-0 CUSA)
Campbell (0-1, 0-0 CAA)
Location: Williams Stadium (Lynchburg, Va.)
Attendance: 21,573
Play-By-Play Breakdown:
First Quarter
What's Next:
The last two Conference USA teams to face off against each other in 2023 will be the first two to do so in 2024. Liberty travels to Las Cruces, N.M., next week to face New Mexico State in the league's first conference game of the year.
The Flames and the Aggies faced off against each other in the 2023 CUSA Football Championship game on December 1. Liberty won the game, 49-35, at Williams Stadium to claim the program's first-ever FBS conference championship title.
Date: Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024
Location: Las Cruces, N.M. (Aggie Memorial Stadium)
TV: ESPN2
Radio: LFSN Radio (Flagship Station: The Journey 88.3 FM Lynchburg)
Kickoff: 10:30 p.m. (EST)
Despite a 30-plus minute weather delay midway through the second quarter, 21,573 fans saw Liberty moved to 1-0 on the year with its fifth-straight season-opening victory. The attendance figure was the seventh best in Williams Stadium history.
Liberty, who finished 2023 ranked No. 4 in the country in total offense (499.1 yards per game), finished the night with 533 total offensive yards. The Flames nearly split their offensive yards evenly with 279 rushing yards and 288 passing yards.
Quinton Cooley, who ranked No. 7 nationally with 1,401 yards in 2023, picked up right where he left off last year. The 2023 CUSA Newcomer of the Year rushed for 110 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown, marking his eight career 100-yard game with the Flames.
Treon Sibley was Kaidon Salter's top target of the night, finishing the game with five receptions for 109 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown reception. The senior's numbers on the night marked a new career high in receiving yards and receptions.
Salter, the 2023 HERO Sports Group of Five National Player of the Year, was efficient under center, completing 16-of-23 passing attempts for 242 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran the ball nine times for 48 yards, but he did give the ball away with a fumble.
Liberty's top defender in the game was East Carolina transfer Teylor Jackson. The linebacker finished his first game as a Flame with seven tackles, including five solo stops. A'Khori Jones followed with a career-high five tackles, including 2.0 tackles for a loss.
The Flames' win today:
- Marks the 300th victory in program history (300-254-4 program record since 1973).
- Keeps both the Flames (2-0) and Jamey Chadwell (4-0) perfect all-time when facing Campbell.
- Extends the Flames' regular-season winning streak to 13.
- Pushes the Flames' home winning streak to nine games, giving Liberty a 33-6 record at Williams Stadium since joining FBS in 2018.
- Was the Flames' fifth straight season-opening triumph and eighth in the last nine seasons, boosting Liberty's record in season openers to 27-25 all-time.
- Makes Liberty 9-0 vs. FCS opponents since joining the FBS ranks in 2018.
- Marks the Flames' 14th consecutive win when hosting an opponent from North Carolina at Williams Stadium.
Final Score: 41-24
Liberty (1-0, 0-0 CUSA)
Campbell (0-1, 0-0 CAA)
Location: Williams Stadium (Lynchburg, Va.)
Attendance: 21,573
Play-By-Play Breakdown:
First Quarter
- The Flames wasted little time scoring in 2024, getting on the board on their first offensive series of the season. Following a 45-yard punt return by Brylan Green, Quinton Cooley scored from six yards out to give Liberty a 7-0 lead at 11:22.
- The Camels tried to answer on the next drive and got into the red zone following a 64-yard run by Mark Biggins. However, Liberty's defense made a stand and forced Campbell to settle for a 27-yard field goal by Connor Lytton at 8:54, allowing the Flames to hold their lead.
- Liberty's first turnover of the season allowed the visitors to take their first lead of the night midway through the second quarter. Salter missed on a handoff and the Camel pounced on the loss ball, followed by a 36-yard touchdown reception from Chad Mascoe, Jr. at 11:33 to give Campbell the 10-7 lead.
- With the Flames driving late in the second quarter, the players and coaches were cleared from the field at 5:10 due to inclement weather in the area. Following a 30-plus minute delay, Liberty scored twice to take a 17-10 lead into the intermission.
- On the second play after the delay, Colin Karhu knocked down his first field goal as a Flame when the North Greenville transfer connected on a 25-yard field goal at 4:14.
- After stopping the Camels on their next possession, Salter found his most seasoned Liberty veteran wide receiver open on the right side of the field. Treon Sibley took the pass in the flat, broke free from two defenders and scored on career-long 70-yard touchdown reception to allow the Flames to regain the lead.
- The Flames pieced together their longest drive of the game to start the third quarter and push their lead to 24-10. Salter capped a run-heavy 11-play drive, that included nine rushing plays, with a two-yard touchdown pass to tight end Bentley Hanshaw at 8:58.
- Both teams would score before the end of the quarter with Liberty leading 27-17. Karhu knocked down a 34-yard field goal for the Flames at 4:37, while Biggins scored on a one-yard rushing touchdown just 94 seconds later at 3:04.
- The Flames scored twice on the ground to push their lead to 41-17 with 4:10 left to play in the game. Running back Billy Lucas scored from five yards out at 8:22, while back-up quarterback Ryan Burger, a transfer from Appalachian State, scored on a six-yard run at 4:10 in his first game as a Flame.
- Campbell was able to piece together one last scoring drive late in the contest, capping a quick six-play, 65-yard effort with a two-yard rushing touchdown by Allen Mitchell at 1:56.
What's Next:
The last two Conference USA teams to face off against each other in 2023 will be the first two to do so in 2024. Liberty travels to Las Cruces, N.M., next week to face New Mexico State in the league's first conference game of the year.
The Flames and the Aggies faced off against each other in the 2023 CUSA Football Championship game on December 1. Liberty won the game, 49-35, at Williams Stadium to claim the program's first-ever FBS conference championship title.
Date: Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024
Location: Las Cruces, N.M. (Aggie Memorial Stadium)
TV: ESPN2
Radio: LFSN Radio (Flagship Station: The Journey 88.3 FM Lynchburg)
Kickoff: 10:30 p.m. (EST)
Team Stats
CAM
LIB
Total Yards
310
533
Pass Yards
194
254
Rushing Yards
116
279
Penalty Yards
86
127
1st Downs
13
28
3rd Downs
4
9
4th Downs
0
0
TOP
23:58
36:02
1st Quarter
CAM 0, LIB 7
LIB - Cooley,Quinton 6 yd run (Karhu,Colin kick), 4 plays, 16 yards, TOP 01:28
CAM 3, LIB 7
CAM - Lytton,Connor 27 yd field goal 6 plays, 65 yards, TOP 02:28
2nd Quarter
CAM 10, LIB 7
CAM - Brown,Sincere 36 yd pass from Mascoe,Chad (Lytton,Connor kick) 4 plays, 52 yards, TOP 01:37
CAM 10, LIB 10
LIB - Karhu,Colin 25 yd field goal 14 plays, 79 yards, TOP 07:10
CAM 10, LIB 17
LIB - Sibley,Treon 70 yd pass from Salter,Kaidon (Karhu,Colin kick) 3 plays, 82 yards, TOP 00:29
3rd Quarter
CAM 10, LIB 24
LIB - Hanshaw,Bentley 2 yd pass from Salter,Kaidon (Karhu,Colin kick) 11 plays, 58 yards, TOP 06:00
CAM 10, LIB 27
LIB - Karhu,Colin 34 yd field goal 5 plays, 49 yards, TOP 01:58
CAM 17, LIB 27
CAM - Biggins,Mark 1 yd run (Lytton,Connor kick), 3 plays, 88 yards, TOP 01:32
4th Quarter
CAM 17, LIB 34
LIB - Lucas,Billy 5 yd run (Karhu,Colin kick), 14 plays, 92 yards, TOP 06:23
CAM 17, LIB 41
LIB - Burger,Ryan 6 yd run (Karhu,Colin kick), 7 plays, 63 yards, TOP 03:00
CAM 24, LIB 41
CAM - Mitchell,Allen 2 yd run (Lytton,Connor kick), 6 plays, 65 yards, TOP 02:14
Game Leaders
CMP
16
TD
2
YDS
242
INT
0
CMP
2
TD
0
YDS
12
INT
0
Players Mentioned
QB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
S
/ Football
TE
/ Football
LB
/ Football
S
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K/P
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RB
/ FootballQB
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WR
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