The 22nd-ranked Liberty Flames rolled up a season-high 633 yards of total offense on the way to a 58-14 victory over Western Carolina on Saturday at Williams Stadium.
The Flames are off to their best start in program history at 8-0. Liberty extended its overall winning streak to 10 games, the Flames’ longest since a program-record 11-game winning streak spanning Oct. 20, 2007 through Oct. 11, 2008. The Flames’ home winning streak also stands at 10 games, one shy of the program record. The Catamounts, playing their first game in 357 days, open their season at 0-1.
Liberty is now 4-3 all-time against Western Carolina, having won the last three meetings in a row. Prior to today, the last meeting was a 19-16 Flames win at WCU on Sept. 13, 2008.
Liberty’s Malik Willis passed for 306 yards on 14-of-19 attempts with three touchdowns passes, while adding a team-high 97 yards rushing and two rushing touchdowns. Joshua Mack and Peytton Pickett added one rushing touchdown apiece. Kevin Shaa caught two passes for 137 yards and a touchdown, while CJ Daniels (two catches, 96 yards) had a pair of touchdown catches.
On defense, Liberty’s Durell Johnson and Carl Poole had one interception apiece, while Poole posted a fumble recovery and forced fumble.
Liberty outgained WCU 633-282 for the game, while the Flames totaled a season-high 379 yards passing and 254 yards rushing. Liberty scored on big plays, with six out of the Flames’ touchdowns were scored from 34 or more yards out. The Flames’ 633 total yards are the fifth most in a single game in program history and were their most in a home game since rolling up 681 yards against Monmouth on Oct. 22, 2016. Liberty scored 13 points off of WCU’s three turnovers, while the Catamounts scored seven points off of the Flames’ lone turnover.
Box Score Highlights:
Final Score: 58-14 Liberty
Liberty (8-0)
Western Carolina (0-1)
Location: Williams Stadium (Lynchburg, Va.)
Attendance: 1,000
Turning Point:
After WCU narrowed the gap to 14-7 early in the second quarter, Liberty scored two more times before the half, leading 28-7 after 30 minutes. All told, Liberty outscored the Catamounts 44-7 over the final 42:09 of game time.
COURTESY LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
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