Flames Open Season with Thrilling 4 OT Win Over Golden Eagles
Liberty’s defense forced its highest turnover total since 2012, but it was a stop in the fourth overtime period that sealed a thrilling 29-27 win for the Flames, Saturday night, at M.M Roberts Stadium.
The Flames overcame two fourth-quarter deficits to force its first overtime game since its win over No. 9 Coastal Carolina in the 2020 Cure Bowl. The game was the longest in program history, as Liberty had previously only played in a pair of games that went to three overtimes.
Kaidon Salter, the third quarterback to play for the Flames in the game, finished the night completing 8-of-13 passing attempts for 148 yards with two passing touchdowns.
Both his scoring throws went to wide receiver Demario Douglas in the fourth quarter. The second was a 23-yard strike in the corner of the end zone with 36 seconds left in regulation to force the overtime drama.
Liberty’s defense was the story of the night, finishing the game with five caused turnovers (three interceptions and two forced fumbles). The unit finished 2021 with a combined 11 turnovers forced (nine interceptions and two forced fumbles).
The Flames outgained the Golden Eagles on the night. Liberty finished the game with 447 total offensive yards on 83 total offensive plays (5.4 yards per play). Southern Miss ended the night with 391 yards on 68 plays (5.8 yards per play).
Salter was Liberty’s top offensive weapon, finishing the night with 213 total offensive yards (4 carries for 65 yards, 8-of-13 passing for 148 yards and two touchdowns).
Douglas was the top target for Liberty’s quarterbacks on the night. He finished the game with seven receptions for 97 yards and scored his 11th and 12th career touchdowns.
Linebackers Mike Smith, Jr., a Mississippi native, and Ahmad Walker each paced Liberty’s defensive efforts with eight tackles.
The Flames’ win today:
- Evened the Flames’ all-time record in season openers at 25-25.
- Was the Flames’ third straight victory in a season opener played on the road, after Liberty went only 2-18 in its first 20 season-opening contests played away from Lynchburg.
- Marked the Flames’ third consecutive season-opening triumph overall and their fifth win in their last six lid-lifters.
- Boosted the Flames’ all-time record against Sun Belt opponents to 8-3.
- Gave the Flames their first-ever victory in Mississippi (in their third try) and their 20th different state in which Liberty has won a football game all-time.
- Improved Hugh Freeze’s record to 2-0 when facing his alma mater.
Final Score: 29-27 (4 OT)
Liberty (1-0)
Southern Miss (0-1, 0-0 Sun Belt)
Location: M.M Roberts Stadium (Hattiesburg, Miss.)
Attendance: 24,051
Turning Point:
Liberty moved to its third quarterback of the night on its opening drive of the fourth quarter when Salter took over the Flames’ offense.
The redshirt freshman completed his final three passing attempts on the 10-play, 79-yard scoring driving, including a 10-yard touchdown pass to Douglas with 11:30 left to play in regulation.
A Salter interception in the end zone on Liberty’s next drive eventually led to Southern Miss taking the lead, 24-17. A direct snap to Frank Gore, Jr. allowed the running back to score on a five-yard run with 1:54 left to give the Golden Eagles a 24-17 lead.
However, Salter responded, leading Liberty on a four-play, 81-yard scoring drive that took only 71 seconds off the clock. Douglas’ 23-yard touchdown tied the game 24-24 with 36 left in regulation.
Play-By-Play Breakdown:
First Quarter
- Neither team found the end zone during the first 15 minutes of game, marking the first time Liberty and its opponent went scoreless in the first quarter since the Flames’ matchup against Syracuse on Sept. 24, 2021.
- Southern Miss was the closest team to finding the end zone with the Eagles getting near the goal line midway through the quarter. However, Antavious Willis fumbled the ball into the end zone which was recovered by Flames defensive lineman Durrell Johnson.
- The Golden Eagles finally broke the scoreless tie on the first play of the second quarter when Briggs Bourgeois knocked down a field goal six seconds in the quarter. The 40-yard kick capped an 11-play, 63-yard drive that took 5:25 off the game clock.
- Following Liberty’s third caused turnover of the game, an interception by Durrell Johnson, Liberty got on the scoreboard when Nick Brown knocked his first career field goal, a 32-yarder with 7:54 left to play in the quarter.
- The fourth turnover of the opening 30 minutes led to the first touchdown of the game, starting interception by linebacker Mike Smith, Jr. Two plays later, Bennett scrambled and found an opening up the middle to score from 18 yards out to give Liberty a 10-3 lead with 1:51 left to play in the first half.
- The Golden Eagles tied the game on their first drive of the third quarter. Gore took a direct snap from center, avoided a few attempted tacklers and scored from 46 yards out to knot the game at 10-10 at the 10:27 mark.
- The fourth quarter saw the two teams score a combined 28 points, beginning with a 22-yard interception return by Eric Scott, giving Southern Miss a 17-10 lead 16 seconds in the period.
- Gore (five-yard rushing touchdown) and Douglas (receiving touchdowns of 10 and 23 years) did the rest of the scoring over the remainder of the period, setting the stage for the thrilling overtime game.
- Both team’s kickers knocked down field goals during the second overtime period. Nick Brown gave Liberty a 27-24 lead following his 26-yard field goal. However, Briggs Bourgeois answered with a career-long 53-yard field goal to send the game into the third overtime.
- Salter found senior tight end Jerome Jackson in the end zone to start the fourth overtime period, giving Liberty a 29-27 edge.
- The Flames needed two stops during the last period of the game to walk away with the victory. Liberty was flagged for pass interference on Southern Miss’ first attempt to score in the fourth overtime. On the second attempt, Liberty’s defensive line stood up Gore who tried to run up the middle to keep the overtime madness alive.
The Flames return home next weekend to host UAB during their first home game of 2022 and Hall of Fame Weekend on Liberty Mountain. Last year, the Flames spoiled the opening of Protective Stadium, the Blazer’s new $200 million home in Birmingham, Ala., when Liberty scored 36-unanswered points to secure a 36-12 win on October 2.
Original source can be found https://www.liberty.edu/flames/news/flames-open-season-with-thrilling-4-ot-win-over-golden-eagles/here
Alerts Sign-up