Here are our quick-hit notes following Liberty’s 17-10 win over the New Mexico Lobos:
- This game had an over/under of 71.5, after both teams entered the game expected to duplicate last season’s performance where the Flames and Lobos combined for 1,148 yards of offense and 95 points. Hopefully, you didn’t take the over.
- The story of the game was Liberty’s defense. New Mexico came into the game averaging 36 points and 482 yards per game. The Flames held the Lobos to season lows with 10 points and 362 yards.
- On the final play of the first quarter, Antonio Gandy-Golden became the program leader for touchdown receptions with his 28th. It was a 3-yard catch on 2nd and goal to give the Flames a 7-0 lead.
- Both teams had first half blunders in the red zone, with UNM’s Tevaka Tuioti throwing an interception in the end zone which was picked off by Jimmy Faulks. A few possessions later, Buckshot fumbled near the goal line and it was recovered by the Lobos in the end zone for a touch back. On the previous play, Frankie Hickson dropped a sure touchdown as he was wide open on the screen pass to the left side of the field.
- Speaking of Buckshot running, he was much more mobile tonight than he normally is. He scrambled seven yards for a first down in the first quarter on a 3rd & 6. He finished the game with 14 rushing yards, but he also extended numerous plays with his legs by evading the pass rush.
- Calvert passed Robby Justino for 2nd all-time in school history with 9,753 passing yards. Josh Woodrum sits in first place with 10,266.
- Redshirt-sophomore tight end Jerome Jackson caught his first career pass in the 2nd quarter, a 2-yard touchdown with 23 seconds left in the half to give Liberty a 14-3 lead entering the break.
- Alex Probert made his first field goal of the season, a 42-yarder, midway through the 3rd quarter. It was Liberty’s first attempted field goal since the Syracuse game when Probert missed his only previous attempt this season. Probert did miss his 2nd attempt, a 33-yarder. He is now 1-for-3 on the season.
- Through 3 games, New Mexico hadn’t allowed a sack all season. The Flames got into the backfield for two sacks, as Ralfs Rusins and Austin Lewis combined for one and true freshman Treshaun Clark also got to Tuioti.
- Joshua Mack had his best game as a Flame, leading the team in rushing with 95 yards.
- This was the fewest points a Liberty defense has held an opponent since last year’s season opener against Old Dominion when the Flames won 52-10.
- New Mexico becomes the first team Liberty has ever defeated multiple times.