Game Day: Delaware

Liberty (3-4, 2-1 CUSA) will host CUSA newcomer Delaware (4-3, 2-2 CUSA) on Saturday for the Flames' annual Homecoming contest.

Broadcast Information:
TV: CBS Sports Network

Broadcast team: Dave Ryan (play-by-play), Adam Breneman (analyst) and Patrick Peterson (analyst)

Radio: LFSN Radio (Local: 88.3 FM | Liberty Flames Mobile App | LibertyFlames.com)

Broadcast team: Alan York (play-by-play), Jason Porter (analyst) and Nick Pierce (sidelines)

Game Day Information:
Location: Lynchburg, Va.
Stadium: Williams Stadium
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. ET

News and Notes:

The Flames and Fightin' Blue Hens have never met on the gridiron, making Delaware the only first-time opponent on Liberty's 2025 schedule.
The Flames are playing for the first time in 18 days, following a dramatic 30-27 home victory over New Mexico State on Oct. 14. Evan Dickens scored the game-winning rushing TD with 36 seconds left, and the Aggies missed a potential game-tying 47-yard field goal as time elapsed.
Jamey Chadwell is 24-9 in his third year at Liberty and owns a 55-15 coaching record dating back to the start of 2020. The Flames are 15-2 at Williams Stadium under Chadwell.
QB Ethan Vasko completed 20-of-30 passes for 179 yards last time out, including a 7-of-7 showing during the game-winning 13-play, 92-yard drive.
Making his return from injury, RB Evan Dickens rushed 13 times for 50 yards and both of the Flames' offensive TDs against New Mexico State.
Special teams played a major role in Liberty's victory over the Aggies. Julian Gray returned a kick 96 yards for a TD (Liberty's first kick return for a score since 2022), the Flames recovered two muffed punt returns which led to 10 points and Jay Billingsley connected on all three of his field goal tries.

More Game Notes vs. Delaware

"4 Downs" with Delaware

#1 Saturday's matchup will mark the Flames' first contest in 18 days, their longest gap between games this season. Delaware has played twice since Liberty topped New Mexico State 30-27 on Oct. 14, going 1-1 in those contests. This is the first of Liberty's five November tilts, marking the team's first five-game November since 2014, a run which included the Flames' FCS Playoffs debut.

#2 The Flames are 2-0 this season and 23-2 under Jamey Chadwell when outrushing their opponents. Conversely, they are only 1-7 when being outrushed (five of those eight games have come in 2025). Delaware is one of only two college football teams in its state, joining Delaware State. Liberty is 10-5 all-time against the Hornets. Danny Rocco has served as head coach for both Liberty (2006-11) and Delaware (2017-21).

#3 Liberty's three-point victory over New Mexico State on Oct. 14 marked the Flames' first game this season to be decided by single digits. Meanwhile, three of Delaware's last five games have been three-point contests, with the Fightin' Blue Hens going 2-1. Flames kicker Jay Billingsley has been a big factor in Liberty's two-game winning streak, making seven of eight field goal attempts.

#4 After playing four of its first six games on the road, Liberty is closing the regular season with four of six contests at Williams Stadium. The Flames scored 10 fourth-quarter points against New Mexico St. to pull out a 30-27 win. The 30 points marked a season high for Liberty, moving the Flames to 20-0 under Chadwell when scoring 30+.

A LIBERTY WIN WOULD...

Give the Flames their first three-game winning streak since the team opened November with three straight victories in 2024 (Nov. 9-23).
Mark the team's seventh straight Homecoming triumph, moving Liberty's Homecoming record to 37-14 overall and 15-3 in the last 18 years.
Improve the team's all-time record against CUSA opponents (at time of meeting) to 26-5, including 17-4 since the Flames joined the conference in 2023.
Boost the Flames' home record at Williams Stadium to 3-1 this season, 16-2 under Jamey Chadwell and 40-8 since joining FBS.
Give the Flames an 8-1 record in November games under Jamey Chadwell.
Mark Jamey Chadwell's 25th victory at Liberty (in 34 games), making him the second fastest Flames coach to reach the milestone. Hugh Freeze's 25th win came in his 33rd contest.

Last Minute Heroics
Evan Dickens' eight-yard rushing touchdown with 36 seconds left gave Liberty a 30-27 lead on Oct. 14 at New Mexico State. That capped a 13-play, 92-yard scoring drive.

It marked the first time that Liberty had scored a game-winning touchdown in the last minute of a game since Oct. 4, 2003, when Eugene Goodman scored a three-yard touchdown run against VMI with 10 seconds left in a 31-28 win. That day, Liberty entered the fourth quarter trailing 28-3.

The New Mexico State game marked the second fourth-quarter comeback game-winning drive in Ethan Vasko's career. On Nov. 4, 2023, at Old Dominion, Vasko led Coastal Carolina on a seven-play, 78-yard scoring drive, capped by a 14-yard touchdown pass to Sam Pinckney with 23 seconds left in a 28-24 win.

Home Sweet Home
Liberty is 39-8 at Williams Stadium since joining the FBS in 2018 and 152-57 all-time at the facility.

The Flames are 9-1 against CUSA opponents at Williams Stadium since joining the conference in 2023. Liberty's only home setback to a CUSA team since 2023 was a 31-21 loss to Jax State, Oct. 30, 2024.

CUSA Success
Liberty is 25-5 all-time against Conference USA opponents at time of meeting. That includes a 16-4 record versus CUSA teams since joining the league in 2023.

The Flames went 8-0 in conference play during their first year in the league, on the way to the CUSA title and a New Year's Six berth.

Liberty was the first CUSA team to win each of its first 11 regular-season Conference USA games, prior to the Flames' loss to Kennesaw State, Oct. 23, 2024.

Flames Quarter
Liberty Head Coach Jamey Chadwell calls the fourth quarter Flames Quarter. Last year, Liberty outscored opponents 124-69 in the fourth quarter. This year has been a different story, as the Flames trail opponents 56-51 in fourth-quarter scoring.

Liberty is 17-0 when leading after three quarters under Jamey Chadwell. Chadwell's team has won each of the last 46 times it took a lead into the fourth quarter, since giving up a 31-25 advantage in a 39-38 Coastal Carolina loss at Arkansas, Nov. 4, 2017.

Take Me Away
After creating just three takeaways in the first four games combined, Liberty has eight takeaways in the last three games.

The Flames scored 10 points off of two muffed punts in their 30-27 win over New Mexico State.

Liberty's opponent on Saturday, Delaware, has recorded seven takeaways and 10 giveaways on the season.

Homecoming Highlights
After playing in its earliest Homecoming game (Sept. 14) last year, a 28-10 win over UTEP, Liberty will celebrate Homecoming on Nov. 1 against Delaware.

The Flames are 36-14 all-time on Homecoming, winning on Homecoming each of the last six seasons and going 14-3 in the last 17 years.

Including last year's 28-10 Homecoming win over UTEP, Liberty has averaged over 45 points per game in its last 17 Homecoming contests. That includes 13 40+-point outings during that span.

Schedule

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jay Billingsley

Evan Dickens

Julian Gray

Ethan Vasko