2020 Liberty Flames football team

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

2020 Liberty Flames football
Cure Bowl champion
Cure Bowl, W 37–34OT vs. Coastal Carolina
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
CoachesNo. 18
APNo. 17
Record10–1
Head coach
Co-offensive coordinatorKent Austin (2nd season)
Co-offensive coordinatorMaurice Harris (2nd season)
Offensive schemeMultiple
Defensive coordinatorScott Symons (2nd season)
Base defense4–2–5
Home stadiumWilliams Stadium
Seasons
← 2019
2021 →
2020 NCAA Division I FBS independents football records
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 11 BYU       11 1  
No. 17 Liberty       10 1  
Army       9 3  
New Mexico State       1 1  
UMass       0 4  
  • Note: Due to COVID-19, UConn canceled the 2020 football season; New Mexico State was the only FBS school to play a spring schedule.
Rankings from AP Poll.

The 2020 Liberty Flames football team represented Liberty University in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by second-year head coach Hugh Freeze and played their home games at Williams Stadium. The Flames competed as an FBS independent.

Schedule

Liberty had games scheduled against

North Carolina A&T, UConn, and UMass, which were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1][2] These games were partially replaced with new match-ups announced with Coastal Carolina and North Alabama. The games against NC State and Syracuse were rescheduled for different days for the 2020 season.[3]

Because of an increased number of COVID-19 cases within the football program, Liberty University's medical staff decided to pause its football team's activities and cancel the game with Coastal Carolina in Conway, South Carolina, scheduled for December 5.[4] Ironically, the two teams were selected to play in the Cure Bowl at season's end, a match-up that Liberty won.

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 1912:00 p.m.at Western KentuckyESPNUW 30–244,276
September 261:00 p.m.FIUESPNUW 36–341,000
October 31:00 p.m.North Alabama
  • Williams Stadium
  • Lynchburg, VA
ESPN3W 28–71,000
October 1012:00 p.m.Louisiana–Monroe
  • Williams Stadium
  • Lynchburg, VA
ESPN2W 40–71,000
October 1712:00 p.m.at
Carrier Dome
  • Syracuse, NY
  • ACCRSNW 38–210 (Behind closed doors)
    October 241:00 p.m.Southern Miss
    • Williams Stadium
    • Lynchburg, VA
    ESPN3W 56–351,000
    November 712:00 p.m.at Virginia TechNo. 25ACCNW 38–351,000
    November 1412:00 p.m.Western CarolinaNo. 22
    • Williams Stadium
    • Lynchburg, VA
    ESPNUW 58–141,000
    November 217:30 p.m.at NC StateNo. 21ACCRSNL 14–154,032
    November 2712:00 p.m.UMass
    • Williams Stadium
    • Lynchburg, VA
    ESPN3W 45–0
    December 52:00 p.m.at No. 18 Coastal CarolinaESPNUNo contest[4] _
    December 267:30 p.m.vs. No. 12
    ESPN
    W 37–34 OT4,488
    Schedule Source:[5][6]

    Rankings

    In week 5, Liberty received votes in the

    AP Poll
    for the first time. In week 9, they were nationally ranked for the first time, when they were ranked at No. 25 in the AP Poll. They would spend 8 total weeks in the rankings, finishing at No. 17.

    Ranking movements
    Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
    — = Not ranked RV = Received votes
    Week
    PollPre12345678910111213141516Final
    AP
    RVRVRV252221RV2522222317
    CoachesRVRVRVRVRV2222RV2521212318
    CFPNot releasedNot released

    Game summaries

    At Western Kentucky

    Liberty at Western Kentucky
    1 234Total
    Flames 10 776 30
    Hilltoppers 0 1077 24
    • Date: September 19, 2020
    • Location:
      EDT
    • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 14 minutes
    • Game attendance: 4,276
    • Game weather: 64 °F (18 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: NE 9 MPH
    • Referee: Joe Lehring
    • TV announcers (ESPNU): Clay Matvick (play–by–play) and Rocky Boiman (analyst)
         
    Pregame line Over/under
    WKU −14.5 51.5[7]
    Statistics Liberty Western Kentucky
    First downs 27 19
    Total yards 487 291
    Rushing yards 354 110
    Passing yards 133 181
    Turnovers 0 0
    Time of possession 34:59 25:01
    Team Category Player Statistics
    Liberty Passing Malik Willis 13/21, 133 yards
    Rushing Malik Willis 21 carries, 168 yards, 3 TDs
    Receiving CJ Yarbrough 2 receptions, 53 yards
    Western Kentucky Passing Tyrrell Pigrome 18/25, 181 yards, 3 TDs
    Rushing Tyrrell Pigrome 14 carries, 74 yards
    Receiving Mitchell Tinsley 6 receptions, 69 yards, 1 TD

    FIU

    Florida International at Liberty
    1 234Total
    Panthers 14 0146 34
    Flames 14 0139 36
             
    Pregame line Over/under
    LIB −7 59[8]
    Statistics FIU Liberty
    First downs 16 31
    Total yards 304 527
    Rushing yards 168 219
    Passing yards 136 308
    Turnovers 0 0
    Time of possession 22:39 37:21
    Team Category Player Statistics
    FIU Passing Stone Norton 9/13, 120 yards, 2 TDs
    Rushing D'Vonte Price 13 carries, 148 yards, 2 TDs
    Receiving Bryce Singleton 2 receptions, 50 yards, 1 TD
    Liberty Passing Malik Willis 24/30, 285 yards, 2 TDs
    Rushing Joshua Mack 13 carries, 107 yards, 1 TD
    Receiving DJ Stubbs 8 receptions, 119 yards, 1 TD

    North Alabama

    North Alabama at Liberty
    1 234Total
    Lions 0 007 7
    Flames 0 7147 28
      
    Pregame line Over/under
    LIB −33 65[9]
    Statistics North Alabama Liberty
    First downs 14 22
    Total yards 247 357
    Rushing yards 63 250
    Passing yards 184 107
    Turnovers 3 1
    Time of possession 32:10 27:50
    Team Category Player Statistics
    North Alabama Passing Rett Files 15/24, 156 yards, 2 INTs
    Rushing Parker Driggers 7 carries, 55 yards, 1 TD
    Receiving Andre Little 1 reception, 47 yards
    Liberty Passing Chris Ferguson 12/21, 64 yards, 3 TDs
    Rushing Joshua Mack 16 carries, 130 yards
    Receiving CJ Yarbrough 2 receptions, 43 yards

    Louisiana–Monroe

    Louisiana–Monroe at Liberty
    1 234Total
    Warhawks 0 007 7
    Flames 14 1079 40
        
    Pregame line Over/under
    LIB −17 63.5[10]
    Statistics Louisiana–Monroe Liberty
    First downs 10 20
    Total yards 198 400
    Rushing yards 78 180
    Passing yards 120 220
    Turnovers 3 2
    Time of possession 27:49 32:11
    Team Category Player Statistics
    Louisiana–Monroe Passing Colby Suits 13/29, 78 yards, 2 INTs
    Rushing Josh Johnson 13 carries, 51 yards
    Receiving Josh Pederson 2 receptions, 21 yards
    Liberty Passing Malik Willis 11/29, 177 yards, 1 INT
    Rushing Malik Willis 13 carries, 87 yards, 1 TD
    Receiving DJ Stubbs 2 receptions, 69 yards

    At Syracuse

    Liberty at Syracuse
    1 234Total
    Flames 14 7143 38
    Orange 7 707 21
         
    Pregame line Over/under
    LIB −3.5 53[11]
    Statistics Liberty Syracuse
    First downs 24 19
    Total yards 520 308
    Rushing yards 338 97
    Passing yards 182 211
    Turnovers 2 1
    Time of possession 36:24 23:36
    Team Category Player Statistics
    Liberty Passing Malik Willis 16/20, 182 yards, 1 TD
    Rushing Shedro Louis 10 carries, 170 yards, 2 TDs
    Receiving DJ Stubbs 4 receptions, 58 yards, 1 TD
    Syracuse Passing Rex Culpepper 19/40, 211 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
    Rushing Sean Tucker 21 carries, 111 yards
    Receiving Taj Harris 9 receptions, 96 yards, 1 TD

    Southern Miss

    Southern Mississippi at Liberty
    1 234Total
    Golden Eagles 7 0217 35
    Flames 14 21714 56
             
    Pregame line Over/under
    LIB −14 59.5[12]
    Statistics Southern Miss Liberty
    First downs 19 25
    Total yards 416 537
    Rushing yards 215 192
    Passing yards 201 345
    Turnovers 1 1
    Time of possession 27:37 32:23
    Team Category Player Statistics
    Southern Miss Passing Tate Whatley 15/26, 188 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
    Rushing Tate Whatley 12 carries, 52 yards, 4 TDs
    Receiving Jason Brownlee 5 receptions, 114, 1 TD
    Liberty Passing Malik Willis 24/31, 345, 6 TDs
    Rushing Malik Willis 12 carries, 97 yards, 1 TD
    Receiving Demario Douglas 6 receptions, 115 yards, 1 TD

    At Virginia Tech

    Liberty at Virginia Tech
    1 234Total
    No. 25 Flames 7 7717 38
    Hokies 3 17015 35
            
    Pregame line Over/under
    VT −17 67.5[13]
    Statistics Liberty Virginia Tech
    First downs 29 24
    Total yards 466 418
    Rushing yards 249 201
    Passing yards 217 217
    Turnovers 2 1
    Time of possession 37:27 22:33
    Team Category Player Statistics
    Liberty Passing Malik Willis 20/30, 217 yards, 3 TDs
    Rushing Malik Willis 19 carries, 108 yards, 1 TD
    Receiving CJ Yarbrough 5 receptions, 65 yards, 1 TD
    Virginia Tech Passing Hendon Hooker 20/27, 217 yards, 3 TDs
    Rushing Hendon Hooker 20 carries, 156 yards, 1 TD
    Receiving Tré Turner 6 receptions, 90 yards, 1 TD

    The game featured a wild finish as Liberty got into field goal range with 8 seconds left to go in a 35–35 tie. Facing a 4th and 6 at the Virginia Tech 41-yard line, disaster appeared to strike when Liberty 59-yard field goal attempt was blocked and returned for a touchdown by Virginia Tech's Jermaine Waller with no time remaining. However, Virginia Tech had called a timeout to try to

    Icing the kicker before the play. Liberty then decided to go for it on fourth down, and got a 8-yard pass completion for a first down after Virginia Tech mistakenly thought that Flames would try a Hail Mary and went to a prevent defense. With 5 seconds remaining, the Flames converted a 51-yard field goal to win the game.[14]

    Western Carolina

    Western Carolina at Liberty
    1 234Total
    Catamounts 0 770 14
    Flames 7 211416 58
    • Date: November 14, 2020
    • Location:
      EST
    • Elapsed time:  
    • Game attendance:  
    • Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD MPH
    • Referee:  
    • Television network: ESPN3
    Pregame line Over/under
       
    Statistics Western Carolina Liberty
    First downs    
    Total yards    
    Rushing yards    
    Passing yards    
    Turnovers    
    Time of possession    
    Team Category Player Statistics
    Western Carolina Passing    
    Rushing    
    Receiving    
    Liberty Passing    
    Rushing    
    Receiving    

    At NC State

    Liberty at NC State
    1 234Total
    Flames 0 770 14
    Wolfpack 0 726 15
    • Date: November 21, 2020
    • Location:
      EST
    • Elapsed time:  
    • Game attendance: 4,032
    • Game weather: 57 °F (14 °C) • Weather: Party Cloudy • Wind: Calm MPH
    • Referee: Jeff Flanagan
    • TV announcers (ACCRSN): Tom Werme, James Bates, Kelly Crull
      
    Pregame line Over/under
       
    Statistics Liberty NC State
    First downs 17 19
    Total yards 279 321
    Rushing yards 107 167
    Passing yards 172 154
    Turnovers 3 1
    Time of possession 29:42 30:18
    Team Category Player Statistics
    Liberty Passing Malik Willis 13/32, 171 yards, 2 TD
    Rushing Joshua Mack 12 carries, 49 yards
    Receiving Noah Frith 4 receptions, 73 yards, 1 TD
    NC State Passing Bailey Hockman 14/27, 154 yards
    Rushing Zonovan Knight 14 carries, 96 yards, 2 TD
    Receiving Emeka Emezie 1 reception, 55 yards

    UMass

    Massachusetts at Liberty
    1 234Total
    Minutemen 0 000 0
    Flames 14 17140 45
    • Date: November 27, 2020
    • Location:
      EST
    • Game attendance: 250
    • Television network: ESPN3
        
    Pregame line Over/under
    Statistics UMass Liberty
    First downs 12 31
    Total yards 227 629
    Rushing yards 55 378
    Passing yards 172 251
    Turnovers 2 0
    Time of possession 25:50 34:10
    Team Category Player Statistics
    UMass Passing Garret Dzuro 9/22, 172 yards, 1 INT
    Rushing Cam Roberson 5 carries, 17 yards
    Receiving Samuel Emilus 4 receptions, 82 yards
    Liberty Passing Malik Willis 16/24, 223 yards, 3 TD
    Rushing Peytton Pickett 10 carries, 125 yards, 1 TD
    Receiving DeMario Douglas 4 receptions, 68 yards, 1 TD

    Vs. Coastal Carolina (Cure Bowl)

    Liberty vs. Coastal Carolina
    1 234OTTotal
    Flames 14 37103 37
    No. 12 Chanticleers 0 136150 34
    • Date: December 26, 2020
    • Location:
      EST
    • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 49 minutes
    • Game attendance: 4,488
    • Game weather: 44 °F (7 °C) • Weather: Frosty • Wind: Calm
    • Referee: Ron Hudson
    • TV announcers (ESPN): Roy Philpott (play–by–play), Kelly Stouffer (analyst), and Alex Chappell (sideline reporter)
            
    Pregame line Over/under
    CCU –6.5 60[15]
    Statistics Liberty Coastal Carolina
    First downs 26 24
    Total yards 475 483
    Rushing yards 255 165
    Passing yards 220 318
    Turnovers 3 1
    Time of possession 30:49 29:11
    Team Category Player Statistics
    Liberty Malik Willis 19/29, 220 yards, 2 INT
    Rushing Malik Willis 21 carries, 137 yards, 4 TD
    Receiving DJ Stubbs 5 receptions, 68 yards
    Coastal Carolina Passing Grayson McCall 21/32, 318 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
    Rushing Grayson McCall 15 carries, 96 yards, 1 TD
    Receiving Jaivon Heiligh 13 receptions, 178 yards

    References

    1. ^ "MEAC suspends all fall sports for indefinite period". ESPN.com. July 16, 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
    2. ^ "ACC Announces Plans for Football and Fall Olympic Sports". TheACC.com. July 29, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
    3. ^ "ACC Unveils 2020 Football Schedule". TheACC.com. August 6, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
    4. ^ a b Domingo, Ida (December 4, 2020). "Liberty, Coastal Carolina game canceled after coronavirus concerns within football program". WSET-TV. MSN.com.
    5. ^ "2020 Liberty Flames Schedule". ESPN. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
    6. ^ "2020 Season Football Schedule". Liberty Flames. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
    7. ^ "Liberty Flames vs WKU Hilltoppers". Odds Shark. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
    8. ^ "FIU Panthers vs Liberty Flames". Odds Shark. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
    9. ^ "North Alabama Lions vs Liberty Flames". Odds Shark. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
    10. ^ "Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks vs Liberty Flames". Odds Shark. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
    11. ^ "Liberty Flames vs Syracuse Orange". Odds Shark. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
    12. ^ "Southern Miss Golden Eagles vs Liberty Flames". Odds Shark. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
    13. ^ "Liberty Flames vs Virginia Tech". Odds Shark. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
    14. ^ "Liberty @ Virginia Tech - ESPN Game ID". ESPN. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
    15. ^ "Liberty Flames vs Coastal Carolina Chanticleers". Odds Shark. Retrieved December 29, 2020.