Liberty Starts The 2023 Season With A 34-24 Victory Over Bowling Green (9-2-23)
By: Ty Tracy
Headline Photo Credit: Liberty Flames Football
Week one of the College Football kicks off as the Bowling Green Falcons travel down to Williams Stadium in Lynchburg, VA to take on Liberty Flames.
As for the Liberty Flames, first-year Head Coach Jamey Chadwell is looking to get his first win as Liberty Flames Head Coach. Jamey Chadwell, took the Head Coach position back in early December after former Head Coach Hugh Freeze announced that he was heading back to the SEC to become Auburn Tigers’ new Head Football Coach.
Liberty Flames started the game by getting the ball first. Head Coach Chadwell’s offense set the tone for the game scoring on their first opener drive on a 9-play, 71-yard drive finishing with a 2-yard rushing touchdown from Liberty’s Sophomore Running Back Billy Lucas. Then Liberty QB Kaidon Salter spotted a mismatch seeing a Falcon Linebacker trying to guard RB Vaughn Blue on Man covers, but ending up hitting Blue right up the seam for a 12-yard touchdown pass adding 7 more points on the board. Then two minutes later Liberty was able to capitalize by picking off Falcons QB Connor Bazelak twice on back-to-back drives with one being returned for 36 yards for a pick-six by DB Kobe Singleton making the game 24-0.
Midway through the second quarter Blowing Green Falcons started to find some light at the end of the tunnel scoring two quick points on back-to-back drives from a 14-yard rushing touchdown by RB Ta’ron Keith and 76 yard touchdown field goal block by BG Simms’ making it 24-14 with seconds left in the first half. Then right at the start of the second half of the game, they were able to capitalize on their opening drive with a Field Goal making it a one-score game 17-24 after scoring 17 unanswered points.
The Falcons knocked at the door and almost made the Flames push the panic button, but the Flames offense was able to find the endzone making it a two-touchdown score of 31-17 then four minutes later, the Falcons offense responded right back cutting it to a touchdown game again 31-24. The Liberty defense came up huge at the end when the team needed them. Linebacker Jerome Jolly Jr., came up big for the Flames making a big play when the Flames needed it by grabbing his second pick of the game helping the Flames to get the ball back, and kicking a go-head field goal increasing the lead by 34-24.
Afterward, the Flames’ Defense came up huge for the final drive, coming up with two sacks and two incomplete passes forcing a turnover on down for the Flames to win their first home opener game of the season under first-year Head Coach Chadwell. He was able to collect his 100th win as a head coach and first win as a Liberty Flames head coach as well.
The Flames defensive back finished the game with five interceptions, having Jerome Jolly Jr. leading the team with two picks and also winning the turnover battle.
