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Saturday, September 27
Norfolk, Va.
6:00 PM ET
Liberty University
1-4 , 0-1
7
at
21
Old Dominion
3-1 , 0-0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Liberty
0
0
7
0
7
Old Dominion
0
14
0
7
21
Old Dominion Edges Liberty In Rain-Soaked Road Game
9/27/2025 11:48:00 PM | Football
NORFOLK, Va. – Facing their second-straight in-state opponent, Liberty dropped its final non-conference game of the season in a 21-7 setback to Old Dominion during a rain-soaked contest, Saturday evening, at S.B. Ballard Stadium.
With their fourth loss in a row, Liberty falls to 1-4 after playing three of its last four games on the road. Coming off a bye week following a win at Virginia Tech two weeks ago, Old Dominion ups its record to 3-1 on the season.
The two teams' defensive units combined to create seven turnovers in the game. Liberty more than doubled its turnovers caused total on the season, finishing the ODU game with four (three fumbles caused and an interception). The Flames had created only three turnovers during their first four games of the 2025 season.
Old Dominion controlled the offensive flow of the game, outgaining the Flames by 279 yards (Total offensive yards: ODU – 489; Liberty 210).
Liberty finished the game with a season-low 210 total offensive yards and was held below the 250-yard mark for the second-straight game (233 yards last week versus James Madison).
The Flames rotated a pair of younger quarterbacks in the game. Redshirt freshman Michael Merdinger getting his first collegiate start, followed by true freshman Ethan Houck.
Merdinger completed 6-of-11 pass attempts for 77 yards, while having seven carries for a total loss of three yards due to being sacked three times. Houck lone pass attempt was picked off and he carried the ball for 11 yards.
The Flames gained a majority of their yards on the ground (133 rushing yards) and were paced by redshirt freshman running back Caden Williams (19 carries for 92 yards).
Julian Gray was the only Flame to finish the game with multiple receptions (two for 12 yards). The running back also scored Liberty's lone touchdown with a four-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter.
Liberty had a pair of linebackers finish the game with 10-digit tackles and record two of the Flames four turnovers caused.
Joseph Carter matched his career high with 13 stops, while Derrell Farrar established a new career high with 11 tackles. Both players forced a fumble in the game.
Box Score Highlights:
Final Score: 21-7 (Old Dominion)
Liberty (1-4, 0-1 CUSA)
Old Dominion (3-1, 0-0 Sun Belt)
Location: S.B. Ballard Stadium (Norfolk, Va.)
Attendance: 18,435
Play-By-Play Breakdown:
First Quarter
What's Next:
The Flames will step back into the Conference USA play and will return to midweek action in October when Liberty takes on UTEP at the Sun Bowl on Wednesday, October 8. The game will be televised on CBS Sports Network and kicks off at 8 p.m. ET/6 p.m. MT.
Since joining Conference USA, Liberty is a perfect 2-0 against UTEP, including a 42-28 victory at the Sun Bowl in 2023 (Nov. 25) to secure a 12-0 undefeated regular season.
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025
Location: El Paso, Texas (Sun Bowl)
TV: CBS Sports Network
Radio: LFSN Radio (Flagship Station: The Journey 88.3 FM Lynchburg)
Kickoff: 8 p.m. (ET)/6 p.m. (MT)
With their fourth loss in a row, Liberty falls to 1-4 after playing three of its last four games on the road. Coming off a bye week following a win at Virginia Tech two weeks ago, Old Dominion ups its record to 3-1 on the season.
The two teams' defensive units combined to create seven turnovers in the game. Liberty more than doubled its turnovers caused total on the season, finishing the ODU game with four (three fumbles caused and an interception). The Flames had created only three turnovers during their first four games of the 2025 season.
Old Dominion controlled the offensive flow of the game, outgaining the Flames by 279 yards (Total offensive yards: ODU – 489; Liberty 210).
Liberty finished the game with a season-low 210 total offensive yards and was held below the 250-yard mark for the second-straight game (233 yards last week versus James Madison).
The Flames rotated a pair of younger quarterbacks in the game. Redshirt freshman Michael Merdinger getting his first collegiate start, followed by true freshman Ethan Houck.
Merdinger completed 6-of-11 pass attempts for 77 yards, while having seven carries for a total loss of three yards due to being sacked three times. Houck lone pass attempt was picked off and he carried the ball for 11 yards.
The Flames gained a majority of their yards on the ground (133 rushing yards) and were paced by redshirt freshman running back Caden Williams (19 carries for 92 yards).
Julian Gray was the only Flame to finish the game with multiple receptions (two for 12 yards). The running back also scored Liberty's lone touchdown with a four-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter.
Liberty had a pair of linebackers finish the game with 10-digit tackles and record two of the Flames four turnovers caused.
Joseph Carter matched his career high with 13 stops, while Derrell Farrar established a new career high with 11 tackles. Both players forced a fumble in the game.
Box Score Highlights:
Final Score: 21-7 (Old Dominion)
Liberty (1-4, 0-1 CUSA)
Old Dominion (3-1, 0-0 Sun Belt)
Location: S.B. Ballard Stadium (Norfolk, Va.)
Attendance: 18,435
Play-By-Play Breakdown:
First Quarter
- Neither team put points on the scoreboard during the first 15 minutes of play as they battled the heaviest rain of the game, but both squads had opportunities to score.
- The Flames won the toss and elected to receive the ball and drove to the ODU 27-yard line. However, Jay Billingsley's 46-yard field goal attempt in a steady downpour missed wide left.
- On the following drive, Old Dominion get to the 13-yard line, but the Monarchs were held off the scoreboard for the first time when entering the red zone in 2025 (was previously 10-of-10 with 10 touchdowns). The stop came thanks to an Eldric Griffin forced fumble that was picked up by Brylan Green and returned 21 yards.
- The game remained scoreless until midway through the second quarter when the Monarchs pieced together a five-play, 69-yard drive which featured three explosive plays.
- The drive included a 20-yard run by ODU quarterback Colton Joseph. He also completed a pair of lengthy passes with the second going for a 22-yard scoring play to TJ Johnson with 7:34 left before halftime.
- Old Dominion took a 14-0 lead thanks to another long pass play from Joseph. The redshirt sophomore hit Ja'Cory Thomas in stride for a 31-yard touchdown pass in the back of the end zone at the 4:01 mark.
- The Monarchs nearly pushed their lead to three scores with 29 seconds left to play; however, the Flames forced their third fumble of the game on a Joseph run from the one-yard line with a stop by Liberty's Joseph Carter and a recovery by Dexter Ricks, Jr.
- The Flames' fourth turnover forced in the game led to Liberty's only score of the evening. A'Khori Jones intercepted a deep pass attempt down field by Joseph and returned it 28 yards.
- On Liberty's next offensive play, Michael Merdinger hit Donte Lee, Jr. downfield for a 53-yard reception. Three plays later, Julian Gray took an option pitch to the right side of the field and found the end zone on a four-yard scoring run to cut the deficit to 14-7 with 9:11 left to play in the third quarter.
- The Flames elected to go for it on a fourth-and-two play from around midfield on the second offensive play of the fourth quarter. Quarterback Ethan Houck was stopped just short of the line to gain, giving the ball back to the Monarchs.
- Two plays later, Joseph found Thomas open on the near side of the field. The junior wide receiver was able to avoid the downfield defenders to score on a 55-yard touchdown play to give the home team a 21-7 edge at 13:17.
What's Next:
The Flames will step back into the Conference USA play and will return to midweek action in October when Liberty takes on UTEP at the Sun Bowl on Wednesday, October 8. The game will be televised on CBS Sports Network and kicks off at 8 p.m. ET/6 p.m. MT.
Since joining Conference USA, Liberty is a perfect 2-0 against UTEP, including a 42-28 victory at the Sun Bowl in 2023 (Nov. 25) to secure a 12-0 undefeated regular season.
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025
Location: El Paso, Texas (Sun Bowl)
TV: CBS Sports Network
Radio: LFSN Radio (Flagship Station: The Journey 88.3 FM Lynchburg)
Kickoff: 8 p.m. (ET)/6 p.m. (MT)
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Team Stats
LU
ODU
Total Yards
210
489
Pass Yards
77
271
Rushing Yards
133
218
Penalty Yards
70
25
1st Downs
11
25
3rd Downs
4
6
4th Downs
0
1
TOP
26:38
31:19
2nd Quarter
LU 0, ODU 7
ODU - Johnson,TJ 22 yd pass from Joseph,Colton (Callaghan,Riley kick) 5 plays, 69 yards, TOP 01:54
LU 0, ODU 14
ODU - Thomas,Ja'Cory 31 yd pass from Joseph,Colton (Callaghan,Riley kick) 4 plays, 78 yards, TOP 01:18
3rd Quarter
LU 7, ODU 14
LU - Gray,Julian 4 yd run (Billingsley,Jay kick), 4 plays, 64 yards, TOP 01:45
4th Quarter
LU 7, ODU 21
ODU - Thomas,Ja'Cory 55 yd pass from Joseph,Colton (Callaghan,Riley kick) 2 plays, 56 yards, TOP 00:40
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
6
TD
0
YDS
77
INT
0
CMP
0
TD
0
YDS
0
INT
1
Players Mentioned
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/ FootballCoach Chadwell Talks About The ODU Game
Sunday, September 28
Michael Merdinger & Derrell Farrar Talk About The ODU Game
Sunday, September 28
Coach Chadwell Talks About Preparing For ODU
Tuesday, September 23
Joseph Carter & Aaron Fenimore Talk About Preparing For ODU
Tuesday, September 23