It wasn’t the start head coach Jamey Chadwell would have drawn up for the start to his second season at Liberty, but it resulted in a 41-24 win over Campbell on Saturday night at Williams Stadium in Lynchburg, Virginia.
“We’re thankful for the victory and awesome crowd, and especially after the delay, the students coming back and everybody come back,” said Coach Chadwell following the game. “I apologize to them that we didn’t play a game that’s worthy of our University. We had 11 penalties and just foolish ones, and that’s on me. Obviously if it’s happening, I’m allowing it, and so I’m very frustrated by that. But anytime we got in some type of rhythm, something would happen Something foolish, and it would give them an opportunity.”
After taking an early 7-0 lead thanks to strong defensive play and a 45-yard Brylan Green punt return, the Flames would surrender 10 straight points to the FCS Camels, falling behind 10-7 early in the 2nd quarter.
With imposing clouds inching ever close towards Liberty’s campus, the game entered a nearly 40-minute weather delay later in the 2nd quarter as the Flames were driving into the red zone for the third time. Liberty faced a 3rd and 8 following the delay, but were unable to pick up the first down. Colin Karhu came on and made a 25-yard field goal to tie the game at 10. This was Karhu’s second field goal attempt of the evening, as the North Greenville transfer missed a 33-yarder earlier in the contest.
The Liberty defense was able to stop the following Campbell drive near midfield, regaining possession with just under two minutes remaining in the opening half of the 2024 campaign. On the third play of the Flames’ drive, they finally got the explosive play it had lacked to begin the contest. Kaidon Salter connected with Treon Sibley on a 10-yard pass. The senior receiver, one of the only prominent returners at the position, was able to shake free from two defenders and then outraced the rest of the Camels secondary for a 70-yard touchdown, giving Liberty the 17-10 lead at the intermission break.
Receiving the kickoff to open the second half, Liberty relied on its rushing attack. The Flames marched down the field in 11 plays, traveling 58 yards, in a drive that lasted exactly 6 minutes. It ended in a 2-yard Salter pass to tight end Bentley Hanshaw for the score, as the margin widened to 24-10.
Liberty would score 20 unanswered points to take a commanding 27-10 lead, but Campbell would come right back. A 74-yard pass completion would set up another Camels touchdown, as they fought to get back in the game, narrowing the gap to 27-17.
To start the 4th quarter, the Flames went back to its tried and true run game and marched down the field, taking 6 minutes off the clock and punching in another touchdown pushing the lead back to 17 at 34-17. With the backups in, Liberty would tack on another touchdown, this one coming from Appalachian State transfer quarterback Ryan Burger on a six yard touchdown run. Burger would also complete 2 of 3 passes while on the field.
The Camels tacked on a late touchdown in the closing minutes for the final margin.
Liberty improves to 12-0 under Coach Chadwell when entering the fourth quarter with a lead. Chadwell’s teams have closed out the game with a win each of the last 41 times it took a lead into the fourth quarter.
The Flames finished with 533 yards of offense, 254 on the ground and 279 through the year. It marked the eighth time Liberty has surpassed 500 yards in total offense under Chadwell.
Salter completed 16 of 23 passes for 242 yards and 2 touchdowns. he added 48 rushing yards on nine carries, giving him 290 yards of total offense on the evening.
“I thought he did some good stuff. He made some nice plays,” Chadwell said of Salter. “I thought sometimes maybe trying to do a little too much, some of the RPOs that you have tagged, maybe it’s better to hand it off, some of those things. There’s some things improvement-wise, but he was in control. Didn’t let anything get too big. A lot of new guys, he managed that well, kept them going. We’ll have to continue with that mindset there, as we continue to get into conference play.”
Cooley rushed 16 times for 110 yards and a touchdown. He has now rushed for 21 career touchdowns and has eight career 100 yard rushing games. Billy Lucas had 78 yards on 17 carries and a touchdown.
Treon Sibley led the Flames with five receptions for 109 yards, highlighted by his career long 70-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. Newcomer Elijah Canion had three receptions for 77 yards, including a 50-yard catch in his first game as a Flame since transferring from Purdue.
JP Flores suffered a lower body injury late in preseason practice. He was unable to play in the season opener against Campbell. The expected starter at left guard is expected to miss several weeks. Starting right tackle and captain Xavior Gray left the game Saturday night in the first half and did not return.
“JP will probably be out for a while,” Chadwell said. “He’s not out for the year, but maybe we can get him back by the open date is the plan. Xavior, I’ve not heard all the details there, but the anticipation there is he’s probably going to be out a while. That’s a position we cannot afford to lose anybody.”
In their absence, Aaron Fenimore made the start at center, his first career start. Jordan White was shifted to left guard. Jordan Hall spent much of the game at left tackle with Jack Tucker at right tackle. North Carolina transfer DJ Geth received plenty of playing time at guard.
“Some of those guys came in and did well and made some mistakes, and that’s probably going to happen because they’re playing football for the first time at a high level, and that’s part of it,” Chadwell explained. “It was good for them to get out there and do some things, though, and not a practice, you know, they can see it. Hopefully we’ll learn from it and get better.”
Teylor Jackson tied his career high with seven tackles in his Liberty debut after transferring from East Carolina.
Karhu connected on 2 of 3 field goals and all five of his extra points in his first game at Liberty.
The Flames committed 11 penalties for 112 yards. Coach Chadwell was not happy with that stat.
“We can’t win any games by just having the foolish things we had,” he said. “Some penalties are going to happen, PI’s, some of the things, ok you figure those out. But these foolish ones frustrate me, because we lose why we’re doing it. If we’re playing for each other. Then when something happens and somebody says something to you, you want to respond in a way that we shouldn’t, and that’s something we work hard on all the time, and obviously I’m not doing a good job at it. I’ve got to do better there, but I hope after the game, they know, we can be a good football team. I believe that, if we can get better, we can be a great football team. I believe that, but doing the things that we’re doing, we won’t win another game. That’s true. You mark it down, put it on A Sea of Red, put it on TV. If we do what we did tonight, we will not win another game, and then you’ll be looking for a new coach in another year. That’s what’s going to happen. We’ve gotta do a better job of why we play and not doing foolish stuff. Again, it’s on me and that’s the big picture of it. I’m thankful for the win, but I’m frustrated because that’s not who we are. We will get better.”
The Flames will have its next opportunity to get better and get in the win column once again next Saturday night at New Mexico State. Liberty will face the Aggies with kickoff scheduled for 10:15 p.m. ET on ESPn2.
