No. 19 Liberty (8-2) fell at UConn (6-5), 36-33, on Saturday afternoon. The loss snaps the Flames’ six game win streak and helps the Huskies become bowl eligible.
The Flames bell behind on the opening drive, 7-0. The Huskies would continue their first half momentum, with leading margins of 14-3 and 21-10. UConn would go into the locker room with a 21-17 lead. The big play in the opening half was a 31 yard scoop and score fumble return for the Huskies as Kaidon Salter fumbled when sacked.
It seemed like things were turning for Liberty in the third quarter, outscoring UConn, 10-0, in the period to take the lead. The Huskies would outscore the Flames, 15-6, in the 4th quarter though to win the game.
FLAMES UNABLE TO CONVERT 4TH AND 1
With about 9 minutes left in the game, the Flames faced a 4th and 1 on their own 45. Liberty was leading at the time, 33-28. Head coach Hugh Freeze elected to go for the first down and Johnathan Bennett’s screen pass to running back Malik Caper was short as he was tackled for a four yard loss.
With the short field, UConn was able to take advantage and punched the ball into the end zone and converting the two point conversion to take the lead and ultimately win the game.
Before the 4th down play, Liberty had a 2nd and 1. Bennett elected to pull the ball on the RPO and throw a deep fade which was incomplete. On 3rd down, Caper was stuffed for no gain. With Liberty’s top two running backs out, Dae Dae Hunter and Shedro Louis, the Flames were unable to pick up the first down.
DEFENSE UNABLE TO GET THE JOB DONE
All season, Liberty’s defense has carried the team, helping the Flames out to the 8-1 season start. There were several times that the offense was inconsistent and unable to score enough points to win games on their own throughout the early part of the year. The defense did their job, holding teams to 21.2 points per game while allowing just 341.1 yards per game, 125.6 of those on the ground.
UConn, not the most potent offense so far this season, was able to find holes in the Liberty defense and rack up the yards and points. The Huskies only rushed for 110 yards but picked up 208 yards on the ground. They took advantage of Liberty being without starting linebacker Mike Smith, Jr., who missed the entire game due to injury. Fellow starting linebacker, Ahmad Walker was ejected from the game in the second half due to targeting.
PLAYING AT YOUR BEST EVERY WEEK IS DIFFICULT
Entering today’s game, Liberty had put together one of the team’s best seasons in school history. The Flames had picked up program defining wins over BYU and Arkansas, only losing by one point on the road to a then-ranked Wake Forest team.
The two big wins over the past three weeks had the team ranked No. 19 in the country and riding high. That comes crashing down in East Hartford, Connecticut on Saturday afternoon though as the Flames fall despite being approximately two touchdown favorites over the Huskies.
Up Next
Liberty will return home for its final two regular season games of the season. The Flames play host to Virginia Tech next Saturday at noon in a game that will be televised on ESPN+. The Hokies are currently 2-8 on the season and coming off a 24-7 loss at Duke.
