Liberty (4-0, 2-0 CUSA) outlasted East Carolina (2-2, 0-0 AAC), 35-24 on a game that went into the early hours of Sunday morning at Williams Stadium in Lynchburg, Virginia. A record crowd of 24,075 was the announced attendance, but many of them did not return after a nearly five hour weather delay.

The weather delay was officially 4 hours and 37 minutes. The Flames would overcome that and also an early deficit of 17-0 to pick up the win.

Both teams exchanged three and outs to begin the game before the delay halted play. Following the delay, East Carolina moved the ball into the Liberty red zone. The Flames appeared to get a stop on 3rd and goal to force a potential ECU field goal attempt, but Liberty LB Joe Carter was whistled for a late hit following the play. Three plays later, ECU QB Jake Garcia broke free from a TJ Bush would-be sack and was able to dive into the end zone to give the Pirates the lead. It marked the fourth straight game the Flames faced a first half deficit to begin this season.

The teams would then exchange punts once again with East Carolina winning the field position battle and getting their punt downed at the 1-yard line. Liberty’s Kaidon Salter would fumble the exchange with the running back with ECU recovering at the one. On the next play, the Pirates punched it in for the 14-0 lead.

After another Liberty punt which was returned 33-yards to the Liberty 40, the visiting Pirates would tack on a 36-yard field goal to extend their advantage to 17-0. On the ensuing Liberty possession, Salter would scramble out of the pocket and throw on the run, his pass sailing over his intended receiver and intercepted for the first time on the season. Fortunately, the Flames were able to force an ECU field goal attempt from 25-yards which was missed.

Liberty would finally get something going with a 12-play, 80-yard drive that took over 6 minutes of game action. Quinton Cooley would pick up 42 yards on the ground in the drive that culminated in a 14-yard touchdown pass from Salter to Elijah Canion to put the Flames on the board. The game would enter halftime at 17-7 East Carolina.

Getting the ball to start the second half, Liberty was able to cut the deficit to one score. The Flames converted a 2nd and 24 with two Salter passes to pick up the first down. Salter would then connect with Reese Smith on 3rd and five in the red zone to score the touchdown to draw within 17-14.

The Pirates then drove into Liberty territory but turned it over on downs as a pass on 4th and 4 fell incomplete. Liberty came roaring right back with Salter once again finding Reese Smith in the end zone on a 3rd and 8 play from the 14 yard line to give Liberty its first lead of the game at 21-17 late in the third quarter.

The visitors from Greenville would not go away easily. They came back and took the lead once again at 24-21, scoring just before the third quarter ended. Liberty answered once again and again it was Salter hooking up with Smith. This touchdown strike came from 15 yards out on third down again, putting the Flames up 28-24.

ECU would drive into Liberty territory but fumbled and the Flames’ A’Khori Jones recovered the ball. From there, Liberty would methodically move the ball down the field and get in the end zone with a Quinton Cooley touchdown run as the Flames took the lead to 35-24.

FLAMES OVERCOME WEATHER DELAY, SLOW START

Almost five hours of a weather delay and a 17-0 deficit was not enough to topple the Flames. Liberty did not stop striking and were able to overcome to pick up the win and remain unbeaten.

This marks the fourth straight game to begin the season that Liberty has trailed at some point during the first half. This one was similar to the deficit faced at New Mexico State where the Flames fell behind 17-3. That game also did not finish until the early morning hours on the East Coast.

On Saturday night/Sunday morning against East Carolina, Liberty once again got off to a slow start. The deficit was 17-0 and threatened to increase further after a Kaidon Salter interception. The Pirates returned the ball inside the 15 and a penalty set them up with first and goal at the 7. The Liberty defense would stand strong and force a field goal attempt that was missed. From there, the Flames would score on five straight drives to take the lead and seize control of the game.

After the 17-0 deficit, Liberty would go on to outscore the Pirates, 35-7. For ECU, it’s a seconds straight loss after picking up a multiple score lead in the first half. Last week, the Pirates led Appalachian State 16-0 early before falling, 21-19.

REESE SMITH GAME

What a tremendous performance by the West Virginia transfer wide receiver Reese Smith. He missed all of 2023 after transferring to Liberty due to a torn ACL and meniscus. He was then cleared to return to the field earlier this summer but suffered another torn meniscus in the same knee during summer workouts. That set him back once again, but Smith kept fighting and would persevere.

He came through clutch for the Flames against the Pirates, scoring three touchdowns. All three scoring plays came on third downs in the red zone and two of the scores would put Liberty in the lead. He’s the first Liberty player to have three receiving touchdowns in a game since Antonio Gandy-Golden accomplished the feat in Liberty’s first game as an FBS opponent in 2018 against Old Dominion.

Reese Smith finished the night with 6 catches for 80 yards and the 3 scores. He also nearly hauled in a fourth touchdown catch in the fourth quarter but the deep pass over the middle was just out of Smith’s reach and he was unable to haul it in and secure the catch.

THIRD DOWN SUCCESS

Liberty began the game 0 for 3 on third downs, helping to contribute to that 17-0 early deficit. From there, the Flames were nearly flawless on third down. Liberty would convert its next 13 third down opportunities including three touchdown passes from Salter to Smith. The next third down conversion Liberty did not convert came on its last full possession of the game that was followed up by a fourth down conversion. The Flames finished the game 13 of 17 on third downs.

The Flames began the game with three punts, an interception, and a fumble on its first five drives. It’s final five drives ended in touchdowns as the Flames picked up its first ever win over an American Athletic Conference team..

Up Next

Liberty heads to Boone, North Carolina this coming week to take on Appalachian State. The Mountaineers are currently 2-2 on the season following their 48-14 loss to South Alabama on Thursday. App has also defeated ETSU (38-10) and East Carolina (21-19) while suffering a defeat at No. 22 Clemson (66-20). Next Saturday’s kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on ESPN+.