Things looked bleak for the Flames midway through the 2nd quarter as they were down 20-7 against North Texas. QB Malik Willis left the game with a foot injury, the defense couldn’t get off the field, and flashbacks of Liberty’s abysmal loss against ULM last week began to creep in.
Back-up QB Jonathan Bennett entered the game and quickly looked to redshirt-freshman WR CJ Daniels to get the offense going. It was slow going in the beginning, but Daniels would eventually become a pivotal player in Liberty’s comeback against the UNT Mean Green.
On Bennett’s second drive, the offense drove down to the UNT39 (aided by a few defensive penalties) via five straight pass plays. On a 3rd and 15, Bennett stepped up in the pocket and connected with Daniels, who was streaking down the right sideline, on a beautiful 39 yard touchdown toss. The Flames went into the half down 20-14.
Midway through the 3rd quarter QB Malik Willis emerged from the shadows and took the field now down 26-14. Willis’ return looked short-lived behind an incompletion and sack. Now 3rd and 16, Willis forced a defender offsides, took the snap, shifted left outside the pocket and saw Daniels working down the sideline. He threw the ball a touch short, forcing Daniels to work back. With a defender all over him, Daniels would still haul in the 40-yard reception. This same drive would be capped off with a 20-yard touchdown reception for Daniels making the score 26-21 North Texas.
On Liberty’s next offensive drive, Daniels picked up a crucial 15 yards on a 3rd and 10 to keep the Flames from going 3 and out. Liberty would go on to score on a 37-yard screen, putting the game out of reach for the Mean Green. CJ Daniels finished the night with 7 receptions on 13 targets for 135 yards and 2 touchdowns, and he earns this week’s ASOR Player of the Game.
*photo courtesy Liberty Athletics
