The Liberty Flames move to 3-0 on the season following the team’s 28-7 win over North Alabama on Saturday.
The game was more of a defensive slug-fest than anticipated as the over/under was set for 63.5 prior to the game, but the teams would only combine for 35 points.
Liberty’s defense forced 3 turnovers and held North Alabama to 247 total yards, including just 63 yards on the ground. The Flames nearly had the team’s first upset since 2016 until the Lions got on the scoreboard with 5:49 left in the game.
“It was really good to see our defense get some turnovers,” Liberty head coach Hugh Freeze said. “We hadn’t turned the ball over until today offensively, but we hadn’t gotten any either. It was good to see, those were big today. I thought our defense played pretty sound, and we played a lot of kids over there which was good.”
On offense, it was a different story as the Flames struggled behind first-time starting quarterback Chris Ferguson. The Maine grad transfer got the call after Malik Willis was held out of the game out of precaution following his elbow injury suffered in the 4th quarter last week against Florida International.
“Malik could have played today, but we really thought it was wise for him just to not have any contact on that elbow,” Freeze said.
The offense would have to punt on three of the team’s five first half drives, sandwiched around a missed field goal and a touchdown as Liberty went into the locker room with a 7-0 lead at halftime. Ferguson would finish the game completing 12 of 21 passes for 64 yards and 3 touchdowns.
“I think just inconsistent, but some good things too,” Freeze said of Ferguson’s play. “Those numbers aren’t bad. He took care of the football, but he missed some throws that we expect him to make too, made a couple of reads that are different than what I know we would teach him to do, but it was his first start. Throwing three touchdowns is pretty good. Those were good balls down there in the red zone. I thought he did some good things, but was inconsistent.”
To start the second half, Liberty made it a point of emphasis to run the ball, and it paid off. The Flames scored touchdowns on its first three drives of the final 30 minutes as the lead grew to 28-0 by early in the 4th quarter. On those three drives, Freeze called 18 runs and 9 passing plays.
“I said, ‘these first two drives we’re putting it on your shoulders, and I need you to respond,'” Freeze said of his message to the offensive line at halftime. “They did. We called very few passes in those few drives, and I thought we rushed the football very effectively.”
Liberty would finish the game with 250 rushing yards on 40 carries compared to just 107 passing yards. Joshua Mack led the way with 130 rushing yards, his third consecutive 100-yard rushing game to open the season. He’s the first Liberty football player to accomplish that feat since Carrington Mosely in 2017.
Shedro Louis also added 57 yards on 9 carries and Peytton Pickett picked up 49 yards on 9 rushing attempts.
“We’re happy to be 3-0,” said Freeze. “This one means as much as last week’s, even though it was two weeks in a row I don’t feel like we’ve played great football. I’ve got to figure out how to get us prepared for next week to play a good game.”
