This wasn’t Hugh Freeze’s first time playing Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The former Ole Miss head coach was 0-2 against Arkansas on their home field, falling in 2014 and 2016. He wouldn’t walk out of the stadium winless another time, as his No. 23 Liberty Flames (8-1) defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks (5-4), 21-19.
“I’ve brought a lot of good teams up here to this stadium back when I was in the league as an assistant and then as a head coach,” Freeze said following the game. “I never left here real happy. Who would have thought that my first win at Fayetteville would have been with Liberty, a little FBS school just turned in the FBS the last four years. I think it speaks to our culture, our staff, our kids grit.”
It was Liberty’s defense that told the story, particularly in the first half. The Flames held the potent Arkansas rushing attack to a season low 144 yards on the ground. Liberty had 14 tackles for loss in the game, led by Durrell Johnson’s 3.5 TFLs and two sacks. They nearly held Arkansas scoreless in the first half, with the Razorbacks kicking in a 50-yard field goal as time expired, sending the home team into the locker room facing a 21-3 deficit.
Johnathan Bennett was questionable late in the week after he battled through the flu, causing him to miss practice time on Wednesday. He was able to fight through and led the team to the win, as he improved to 5-0 as Liberty’s starting quarterback.
The Flames got off to a slow start on the offensive side of the ball, though. The first three drives ended in punts, but then Bennett and the offense would find their groove, scoring touchdowns on three out of the final four drives to end the first half. Bennett spread the ball around, throwing touchdown passes to three different receivers.
“I thought early on, we were the better team,” said Freeze. “I thought we were the better team. I thought we played harder. I just thought we were better at halftime. Their depth wore us down some, but I thought our kids played really hard. Defensive played really, really well the first half.”
Liberty began the second half with possession and looked to put even more separation between themselves and the home-standing Razorbacks. The Flames would drive into Arkansas territory, where they would face a 4th and 2 at the 16. Freeze elected to go for it, and Shedro Louis was stuffed for a loss of one. This game Arkansas some momentum and kept the crowd in the game.
For most of the second half, Liberty and Freeze would opt to play conservatively on offense, trying to milk the clock and play the field position game. It nearly came back to bite them at the end as Arkansas mounted a fourth quarter comeback.
“I wanted to be more aggressive because I thought we had shots with Demario in the pass game,” said Freeze. “They just, really, I was kinda shocked, but they really just said, ‘We can’t stop ’em, let’s just blitz every play.’ I really thought we could have gotten 12 personnel and thrown some double moves. I keep looking at the clock and saying, we’re two scores ahead, that’s with two two-point conversions, just be smart. I’m a risk-taker by chance, maybe should have taken that field goal, but the book said to go and I kinda felt like we had a good play. I thought Shedro, he bounced it wide, instead of hugging the double team. It says a lot for us to manage the game we did, not score in the second half, and beat an SEC team, for sure.”
Dae Dae Hunter, the team’s top running back, was lost with a potential knee injury that will have to be further evaluated this week to see the extent of it. He went down in the first half after carrying the ball nine times for 29 yards. Shedro Louis was called on to carry the team home on offense in the second half, finishing the game with 15 carries for 57 yards.
The Razorbacks wouldn’t go away quietly. After blocking a Liberty punt that resulted in a safety to make the game 21-5, Arkansas was finally able to get into the end zone with 7:42 left in the game. The two-point conversion cut the game to just eight points at 21-13.
Liberty would pick up one first down on the ensuing drive, but Louis was stopped for a one yard gain on 4th and 2 near midfield. After a timeout, Freeze decided to punt the ball. Arkansas took over at their own 15 with 3:47 left in the game.
With all the momentum, the Razorbacks were able to drive the ball down the field, setting up a first goal as time ticked down towards the one minute mark. KJ Jefferson would connect with Trey Knox on the eight yard score as the Hogs drew to within a two-point conversion of tying the game.
On the two point try, Jefferson would take the snap and run towards the goal line where he was met by Liberty’s Stephen Sings and Ahmad Walker. The duo would knock Jefferson down just shy of the goal line. After a lengthy official’s review, the call on the field would stand. The Flames’ Michael Bollinger would fall on the onside kick, allowing Bennett to kneel on the ball and run the clock out.
“You just got to make a play,” Freeze said of his defense in the fourth quarter. “Obviously, I felt like we had control of the game. Give them credit, they converted I don’t know how many third downs and fourth downs on those last two drives, it felt like a hundred. We just got to make a play at some point. We were gassed and thin, but, man, we made one.”
The win is Liberty’s first ever over an SEC opponent, improving the team’s record to 8-1 on the season. Under Coach Freeze, the Flames have had a lot of success – top 25 rankings, wins over ACC opponents, three bowl wins – but this win ranks near the top for the former SEC coach.
“We are going to celebrate this one,” Freeze said. “Sam Pittman is a heck of a coach. I know the hurt and sting that comes with losses like this one. I hate that for him, Barry and his staff, but I won’t take away from our celebration. I’m more happy for Liberty than I am sad for them. I do understand what you go through in this profession. So thankful. Thankful for our administration, just really thankful for our kids.”
