.png&width=100&height=100&type=webp)
Saturday, November 8
Lynchburg, Va.
1:00 PM ET
Liberty University
4-5 , 3-2
17
vs
21
Missouri State
6-3 , 4-1
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Missouri St.
0
0
7
14
21
Liberty
7
3
0
7
17
Last Minute Score Lifts Missouri State Over Liberty
11/8/2025 6:11:00 PM | Football
LYNCHBURG, Va. - Missouri State scored three times in the second half, including the game-winning touchdown with 27 seconds left to lift the Bears, 21-17, over Liberty, Saturday afternoon, at Williams Stadium.
The Flames kept the visiting Bears off the scoreboard and limited them to just 84 yards of total offense during the first half.
However, Missouri State nearly tripled the numbers after halftime and scored three times to steal a victory away from Liberty during its annual Military Appreciation Day game.
With the victory, Missouri State moves to 6-3 during its first season at the FBS level and to 4-1 in its inaugural year as a member of Conference USA.
The loss snaps the Flames three game winning streak and drops Liberty to 4-5 on the year and 3-2 in conference play.
Liberty outgained Missouri State on the day (398 to 332 total offensive yards). The Flames ran a balanced offensive attack (202 rushing yards to 196 passing yards).
Missouri State, who came into the game ranked third in the conference in passing yards, finished with 286 passing yards to just 46 yards on the ground.
Evan Dickens was Liberty's top offensive threat, posting his third 100-yard game of the season and second in a row. He finished the day rushing 28 times for 127 yards and a touchdown.
Ethan Vasko completed 18-of-35 passing attempts for 196 yards. The redshirt junior quarterback fumbled the ball away late in the fourth quarter, but he ran downfield and eventually recovered the ball on the second turnover on the same play.
Vasko's top targets on the day were Reese Smith (62 yards) and Jamari Person (33 yards), who both had four receptions in the game.
Aidan Vaughan matched his career high with six tackles to lead the Flames' defense, while Christian Bodnar recorded four stops, including a career-best two sacks.
Box Score Highlights:
Final Score: 21-17 (Missouri State)
Liberty (4-5, 3-2 CUSA)
Missouri State (6-3, 4-1 CUSA)
Location: Williams Stadium (Lynchburg, Va.)
Attendance: 18,407
Play-By-Play Breakdown:
First Quarter
What's Next:
The Flames continue the home stretch of the 2025 regular season schedule when they begin a two-game road swing at FIU, next Saturday, at South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium. Kickoff for the game is set for 5 p.m.
The two programs have squared off against each other three times since 2020 with Liberty winning all three matchups. The last time Liberty visited Miami, the Flames showcased their nationally ranked No. 1 rushing attack, running for 364 yards en route to a 38-6 win (Sept. 23, 2023).
Date: Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025
Location: Miami, Fla. (South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium)
TV: ESPN+
Radio: LFSN Radio (Flagship Station: The Journey 88.3 FM Lynchburg)
Kickoff: 5 p.m. (ET)
The Flames kept the visiting Bears off the scoreboard and limited them to just 84 yards of total offense during the first half.
However, Missouri State nearly tripled the numbers after halftime and scored three times to steal a victory away from Liberty during its annual Military Appreciation Day game.
With the victory, Missouri State moves to 6-3 during its first season at the FBS level and to 4-1 in its inaugural year as a member of Conference USA.
The loss snaps the Flames three game winning streak and drops Liberty to 4-5 on the year and 3-2 in conference play.
Liberty outgained Missouri State on the day (398 to 332 total offensive yards). The Flames ran a balanced offensive attack (202 rushing yards to 196 passing yards).
Missouri State, who came into the game ranked third in the conference in passing yards, finished with 286 passing yards to just 46 yards on the ground.
Evan Dickens was Liberty's top offensive threat, posting his third 100-yard game of the season and second in a row. He finished the day rushing 28 times for 127 yards and a touchdown.
Ethan Vasko completed 18-of-35 passing attempts for 196 yards. The redshirt junior quarterback fumbled the ball away late in the fourth quarter, but he ran downfield and eventually recovered the ball on the second turnover on the same play.
Vasko's top targets on the day were Reese Smith (62 yards) and Jamari Person (33 yards), who both had four receptions in the game.
Aidan Vaughan matched his career high with six tackles to lead the Flames' defense, while Christian Bodnar recorded four stops, including a career-best two sacks.
Box Score Highlights:
Final Score: 21-17 (Missouri State)
Liberty (4-5, 3-2 CUSA)
Missouri State (6-3, 4-1 CUSA)
Location: Williams Stadium (Lynchburg, Va.)
Attendance: 18,407
Play-By-Play Breakdown:
First Quarter
- Liberty wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, quickly marching down the field to take a 7-0 lead at the 11:24 mark of the first quarter.
- The Flames kept it on the ground five times on the seven-play, 75-yard drive, including a one-yard scoring run by running back Evan Dickens.
- Missouri State had its first chance to get on the scoreboard early in the second quarter. However, a 47-yard field goal attempt by Yousef Obeid sailed wide left, keeping the game at 7-0 with 11:06 left before halftime.
- While the Bears were unsuccessful on their field goal attempt early in the quarter, Liberty was able to get a field goal by Jay Billingsley through the uprights as time expired to take a 10-0 lead into the locker room.
- The Flames pieced together a 15-play, 71-yard drive during the final two minutes, setting up Billingsley's 38-yard field goal.
- Missouri State got its passing offense going midway through the third quarter, trimming Liberty's lead to 10-7 on a 28-yard touchdown pass from Jacob Clark to Jmariyae Robinson. Clark also completed a 31-yard pass to Tristian Gardner on the six-play, 60-yard drive.
- The Bears' offense continued to roll on their next drive where they took the lead on a one-yard touchdown run by Clark at the 11:54 mark. The eight-play, 80-yard drive saw Clark complete a 24-yard pass play to Ramone Green, Jr., to get the visitors into the red zone.
- The Flames responded on the next drive, getting their ground game going to regain the lead on a three-yard rushing touchdown by Ethan Vasko. Liberty ran the ball seven times on the eight-play, 75-yard drive, giving Liberty a 17-14 edge with 8:10 left to play.
- The Bears looked like they were going to regain the lead after Vasko fumbled the snap and DJ Wesolak returned the fumble near the goal line. However, Caleb Ryan poked the ball out just before the end zone and Vasko scrambled downfield to recover.
- On the game-winning drive, Clark completed four-straight passing plays on a four-play, 70-yard drive that ended with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Gardner with 27 seconds left on the game clock.
What's Next:
The Flames continue the home stretch of the 2025 regular season schedule when they begin a two-game road swing at FIU, next Saturday, at South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium. Kickoff for the game is set for 5 p.m.
The two programs have squared off against each other three times since 2020 with Liberty winning all three matchups. The last time Liberty visited Miami, the Flames showcased their nationally ranked No. 1 rushing attack, running for 364 yards en route to a 38-6 win (Sept. 23, 2023).
Date: Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025
Location: Miami, Fla. (South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium)
TV: ESPN+
Radio: LFSN Radio (Flagship Station: The Journey 88.3 FM Lynchburg)
Kickoff: 5 p.m. (ET)
Team Stats
MST
LU
Total Yards
332
398
Pass Yards
286
196
Rushing Yards
46
202
Penalty Yards
22
77
1st Downs
20
21
3rd Downs
4
8
4th Downs
0
0
TOP
26:35
33:25
1st Quarter
MST 0, LU 7
LU - Dickens,Evan 1 yd run (Billingsley,Jay kick), 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:27
2nd Quarter
MST 0, LU 10
LU - Billingsley,Jay 38 yd field goal 15 plays, 71 yards, TOP 01:48
3rd Quarter
MST 7, LU 10
MST - Robinson,Jmariyae 28 yd pass from Clark,Jacob (Obeid,Yousef kick) 6 plays, 60 yards, TOP 02:07
4th Quarter
MST 14, LU 10
MST - Clark,Jacob 1 yd run (Obeid,Yousef kick), 8 plays, 80 yards, TOP 04:12
MST 14, LU 17
LU - Vasko,Ethan 3 yd run (Billingsley,Jay kick), 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:44
MST 21, LU 17
MST - Gardner,Tristian 13 yd pass from Clark,Jacob (Obeid,Yousef kick) 4 plays, 70 yards, TOP 01:00
Game Leaders
CMP
18
TD
0
YDS
196
INT
1
Players Mentioned
K
/ Football
CB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
TE
/ Football
WR
/ FootballQB
/ Football
LB
/ FootballCoach Chadwell Talks About The Game Against Missouri State
Saturday, November 08
Evan Dickens & Christian Bodnar Talk About The Missouri State Game
Saturday, November 08
Flames Central LIVE | Football Post Game Report
Thursday, November 06
Flames Central Game Day LIVE - Missouri State
Thursday, November 06