Liberty head coach Hugh Freeze was asked about his quarterback, Malik Willis, and his injury status on Monday following the Flames’ 35-26 win over North Texas this past Saturday. In the game, Willis left early with an apparent injury to his left foot before returning in the third quarter and finishing the game.
“I think good,” Freeze said of Willis’ status early this week during his press conference on Monday. “I asked him this morning and yesterday how he felt, he said, ‘I’m good, I’m good.’ We will see how the week goes with his treatment. I think he’s feeling pretty good today.”
Willis left the game in the second quarter at North Texas after suffering an injury on a third down play as he was sacked for the fifth time against the Mean Green Saturday afternoon. As he walked to the sideline with a slight limp, he was seen talking to Coach Freeze and pointing to his left foot. He would then make his way to the locker room for further tests. Later in the second quarter, Willis was seen entering a vehicle behind the south end of Apogee Stadium.
He didn’t reveal following the game if he left in the vehicle for additional tests, but Willis was away from the team for close to an hour. He would return to the sidelines early in the second half and re-entered the game at the 7:27 mark of the third quarter. The Flames were trailing 26-14 when Willis returned, but behind him Liberty would rattle off touchdowns on three consecutive drives to take the lead and never look back.
Willis had completed all four of his pass attempts for 60 yards and a touchdown pass before exiting the game. His 9 carries amassed for -7 yards as he was sacked five times. He would finish the game completing 12 of 18 passes for 222 yards and 3 touchdowns. Willis was limited to -8 rushing yards as he was sacked six times. It marked the first time he has been held to less than 44 rushing yards during his time at Liberty.
In his absence, backup quarterback Johnathan Bennett completed 7 of 18 passes for 88 yards and a crucial second quarter touchdown pass to CJ Daniels to bring Liberty back to within one score. It was the redshirt-freshman’s first significant amount of live game reps outside of in the fourth quarter of Liberty blowout wins.
Willis has been one of the top quarterbacks in the country this season. He has completed 121 of his 183 passes for 1,679 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. Willis also leads the team in rushing 647 yards and 9 touchdowns.
“I was kind of scared, though,” Willis said on Saturday night after the game. “I didn’t want to put no pressure on it. Then, I started putting pressure on it and it felt good. So I was good, so I came back and played.”
Liberty and Willis play host to UMass this coming Saturday where the Flames are currently a 36.5 point favorite. Liberty defeated UMass, 45-0, on Black Friday in Lynchburg a season ago. Following Saturday’s game against UMass, the Flames head on the road for their final away game of the regular season to face No. 10 Ole Miss before returning home to host Louisiana and Army. The final three teams on Liberty’s schedule currently has a combined record of 16-5.
