Saturday, November 15
Miami, Fla.
5:00 PM ET
Liberty University
4-6 , 3-3
27
at
34
FIU
5-5 , 3-3
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
OT
F
Liberty
7
14
0
6
0
27
FIU
7
10
7
3
7
34
Flames Drop Overtime Road Game to FIU
11/15/2025 9:57:00 PM | Football
MIAMI, Fla. -Â For the second year in a row the Liberty vs. FIU game went to overtime and for the second consecutive year the home team won. The Panthers pulled out a thrilling 34-27 Homecoming victory, Saturday evening, at Pitbull Stadium.
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Liberty forced the extra period with 29-yard pass play from Ethan Vasko to Donte Lee, Jr., to set up a 48-yard Jay Billingsley field goal, with this all happening during the final 15 seconds of regulation.
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During the overtime period, Liberty had FIU in a third-and-10 situation, but the Panthers' Joe Pesansky completed an 18-yard pass play to Alex Perry to keep the drive alive. Three plays later, Pesansky found Maguire Anderson in the end zone for a seven-yard touchdown play.
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The Flames managed to pick up a first down to get inside the 10-yard line to start their overtime play. However, the Panthers came up with four-straight stops, including an interception of Vasko on the game's last play to seal victory.
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With the win, FIU levels its record at 5-5 on the year and 3-3 in Conference USA play. The Flames drop their second close game in a row to fall to 4-6 on the season and 3-3 in league action.
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The two teams nearly matched each other on the stat sheet with Liberty just edging FIU, 378 to 375 in total offensive yards. Liberty finished the game with 160 rushing yards and 218 passing yards.
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Vasko ended the night completing 17-of-31 passing attempts for 218 yards. He was intercepted twice, including the game's final play, while throwing one touchdown pass.
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Evan Dickens posted his third consecutive 100-yard game on the ground, rushing 28 times for 106 yards and one rushing touchdown.
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Lee continues to be Vasko's top target in 2025, as he finished the game with five receptions for 79 yards and his team-leading fifth receiving touchdown.
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Derrell Farrar led Liberty's defensive effort with nine tackles, while Christian Bodnar followed with seven tackles, all solo stops.
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Box Score Highlights:
Final Score: 34-27 OT (FIU)
Liberty (4-6, 3-3 CUSA)
FIU (5-5, 3-3 CUSA)
Location: Pitbull Stadium (Miami, Fla.)
Attendance: 14,167
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Play-By-Play Breakdown:
First Quarter
What's Next:
The Flames will play their final regular season road game of 2025 when Liberty makes its first-ever trip to Ruston, La., to face Louisiana Tech at Origin Bank Field at Joe Aillet Stadium.
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The last time the two teams met, Liberty won its ninth-straight game during its 2023 CUSA Championship run, handing visiting Louisiana Tech a 56-30 loss at Williams Stadium on November 4, 2023.
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Date: Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025
Location: Ruston, La. (Origin Bank Field at Joe Aillet Stadium)
TV: ESPN+
Radio: LFSN Radio (Flagship Station: The Journey 88.3 FM Lynchburg)
Kickoff: 3 p.m. (ET)/2 p.m. (CT) Â
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Liberty forced the extra period with 29-yard pass play from Ethan Vasko to Donte Lee, Jr., to set up a 48-yard Jay Billingsley field goal, with this all happening during the final 15 seconds of regulation.
    Â
During the overtime period, Liberty had FIU in a third-and-10 situation, but the Panthers' Joe Pesansky completed an 18-yard pass play to Alex Perry to keep the drive alive. Three plays later, Pesansky found Maguire Anderson in the end zone for a seven-yard touchdown play.
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The Flames managed to pick up a first down to get inside the 10-yard line to start their overtime play. However, the Panthers came up with four-straight stops, including an interception of Vasko on the game's last play to seal victory.
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With the win, FIU levels its record at 5-5 on the year and 3-3 in Conference USA play. The Flames drop their second close game in a row to fall to 4-6 on the season and 3-3 in league action.
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The two teams nearly matched each other on the stat sheet with Liberty just edging FIU, 378 to 375 in total offensive yards. Liberty finished the game with 160 rushing yards and 218 passing yards.
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Vasko ended the night completing 17-of-31 passing attempts for 218 yards. He was intercepted twice, including the game's final play, while throwing one touchdown pass.
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Evan Dickens posted his third consecutive 100-yard game on the ground, rushing 28 times for 106 yards and one rushing touchdown.
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Lee continues to be Vasko's top target in 2025, as he finished the game with five receptions for 79 yards and his team-leading fifth receiving touchdown.
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Derrell Farrar led Liberty's defensive effort with nine tackles, while Christian Bodnar followed with seven tackles, all solo stops.
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Box Score Highlights:
Final Score: 34-27 OT (FIU)
Liberty (4-6, 3-3 CUSA)
FIU (5-5, 3-3 CUSA)
Location: Pitbull Stadium (Miami, Fla.)
Attendance: 14,167
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Play-By-Play Breakdown:
First Quarter
- Liberty took its first lead of the game on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Ethan Vasko to Donte Lee, Jr., in the corner of the end zone at 8:44. The 11-play, 71-yard scoring drive featured a third-and-long conversion and a fourth-down conversion to keep the chains moving.
- The Panthers answered on the following drive, getting a six-yard rushing touchdown from quarterback Joe Pesansky. Pesansky set up his own rushing touchdown by completing 5-of-6 passing attempts on the 10-play, 75-yard drive, helping tying the game at 7-7 at the 4:55 mark.
- Liberty regained the lead, 14-7, on the first play of the second quarter. The Flames got a two-yard rushing touchdown from Vaughn Blue to cap a nine-play, 65-yard scoring drive.
- The see-saw battle continued with the Panthers answering right back with a nine-yard rushing touchdown from Kejon Owens at 10:47 to tie the game, 14-14. The 11-play, 80-yard drive featured a heavy dose of FIU's run game, getting eight rushes on the drive.
- Liberty's running backs were featured in the following seven-play, 74-yard scoring drive, giving the Flames a 21-14 edge at 6:54. Blue got the Flames on the Panthers side of the field with a 36-yard reception and had a 22-yard run, while Evans Dickens scored on a one-yard touchdown run.
- The back-and-forth battle looked like it was going to continue, as the Panthers responded by marching back into the red zone. However, a pair of penalties kept the home team from advancing the ball further, forcing them to settle for a 39-yard field goal by Noah Grant at 1:49 to trim Liberty's lead to 21-17.
- After forcing their first three-and-out series of the day on Liberty, FIU took its first lead of the game, 24-21, on a touchdown pass from Pesansky to Alex Perry at 9:32. The eight-yard strike capped a quick eight-play, 57-yard scoring drive.
- The Panthers extended their lead to six points, 27-21, on the third play of the fourth quarter. Liberty was able to stop FIU's charging offense and force them to settle for a 40-yard field goal from Grant with 13:26 left to play.Â
- Billingsley managed to send two kicks through the uprights during the final three minutes of regulation. The first was 38-yarder with 2:48 left to play, while the second was the previously mentioned 48-yarder as time expired in the fourth.
- Pesansky completed 2-of-4 passing attempts during FIU's overtime drive, with both coming on third down and the second scoring the eventual game-winner to Anderson.
What's Next:
The Flames will play their final regular season road game of 2025 when Liberty makes its first-ever trip to Ruston, La., to face Louisiana Tech at Origin Bank Field at Joe Aillet Stadium.
    Â
The last time the two teams met, Liberty won its ninth-straight game during its 2023 CUSA Championship run, handing visiting Louisiana Tech a 56-30 loss at Williams Stadium on November 4, 2023.
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Date: Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025
Location: Ruston, La. (Origin Bank Field at Joe Aillet Stadium)
TV: ESPN+
Radio: LFSN Radio (Flagship Station: The Journey 88.3 FM Lynchburg)
Kickoff: 3 p.m. (ET)/2 p.m. (CT) Â
Team Stats
LIB
FIU
Total Yards
378
375
Pass Yards
218
206
Rushing Yards
160
169
Penalty Yards
57
55
1st Downs
25
22
3rd Downs
7
8
4th Downs
2
3
TOP
29:49
30:11
1st Quarter
LIB 7, FIU 0
LIB - Lee Jr.,Donte 15 yd pass from Vasko,Ethan (Billingsley,Jay kick) 11 plays, 71 yards, TOP 04:56
LIB 7, FIU 7
FIU - Pesansky,Joe 6 yd run (Grant,Noah kick), 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:44
2nd Quarter
LIB 14, FIU 7
LIB - Blue,Vaughn 2 yd run (Billingsley,Jay kick), 9 plays, 65 yards, TOP 04:59
LIB 14, FIU 14
FIU - Owens,Kejon 9 yd run (Grant,Noah kick), 11 plays, 80 yards, TOP 04:05
LIB 21, FIU 14
LIB - Dickens,Evan 1 yd run (Billingsley,Jay kick), 7 plays, 74 yards, TOP 03:47
LIB 21, FIU 17
FIU - Grant,Noah 39 yd field goal 13 plays, 58 yards, TOP 05:01
3rd Quarter
LIB 21, FIU 24
FIU - Perry,Alex 8 yd pass from Pesansky,Joe (Grant,Noah kick) 8 plays, 57 yards, TOP 03:45
4th Quarter
LIB 21, FIU 27
FIU - Grant,Noah 40 yd field goal 14 plays, 59 yards, TOP 07:43
LIB 24, FIU 27
LIB - Billingsley,Jay 38 yd field goal 14 plays, 76 yards, TOP 07:28
LIB 27, FIU 27
LIB - Billingsley,Jay 48 yd field goal 4 plays, 29 yards, TOP 00:20
OT Quarter
LIB 27, FIU 34
FIU - Anderson,Maguire 7 yd pass from Pesansky,Joe (Grant,Noah kick) 6 plays, 25 yards, TOP 00:00
Game Leaders
CMP
17
TD
1
YDS
218
INT
2
Players Mentioned
K
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RB
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CB
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RB
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LB
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WR
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