Liberty Grabs Their First C-USA Conference Win, Defeating New Mexico St 33-17 (9-9-23)
By: Ty Tracy
Headline Photo Credit: Liberty Athletics
The Liberty coming off a marvelous home opener victory against the Blowing Green Falcons last week 34-24 now they were looking to go two and zero and get their first conference win in Program history against New Mexico State Aggies. Both teams met last year in November at Williams Stadium, the Aggies came in and manhandled the Flames on their home turf on both sides of the ball.
It was a tight heavyweight battle in the first half between both teams. Both teams were trading touchdowns back and forth with each other on every offensive possession from both teams. The Flames defense was having a hard time containing the Aggies offense in the first half. The Flames defense came out flat the entire first half. New Mexico State was able to get seven points on the board first after their first offensive drive then three possessions later Liberty Flames QB Kaidon Salter hits WR CJ Daniels on a cross route on the other side of the field for a 40-yard TD pass, tying the game 7-7 with 2 minutes left in the first Quarter. The Aggies responded with a Field Goal, but Kaidon Salter found CJ Daniels again on a deep post route for 60 yards putting the Flames on the 1-yard line then 2 plays later Kaiden decided to take in himself for taking the lead again 13 to 10.
The Aggies didn’t waste any time marching down the field when QB Diego Pavia threw a quick slant pass to WR Chris Bellamy taking it down for 52 yards until getting taken down on the Liberty’s 17 yard line then 3 plays QB Diego Pavia threw up a 13 yard back shoulder pass to Trent Hudson retaking the lead 17-13 midway through the 2nd Quarter, but that will be the last time that the Aggies scored throughout the game.
The Flames started taking over after the Aggies’ last touchdown. When Kaidon Salter threw his second touchdown pass to TE Bentaly Hanshaw taking a 3-point lead 20 to 17. One possession later the Flames’ defense came to life after Brandon Bishop got his first interception of the season, giving the Flames the ball back with a minute and 45 seconds left in the game. The Flames went down the field and Teagan Lenderink made a 22-yard Field Goal to increase the lead to 23-17 right at halftime.
Right when the second half started, Coach Chadwell decided to keep possession of the ball for the entire 9 minutes of the third quarter for 17 plays resulting in Kaidon’s second rushing TD of the game 30 to 17. Diego Pavia and the Aggies’ offense were just struggling to find their rhythm for the rest of the game while the Flames’ defense was too much to handle for the Aggies causing a fumble a 3-and-out and an interception on their first three possessions as the Flames created a shutout in the second half 33-17.
Head Coach Chadwell’s offense had another performance once again racking up 526 total yards of offense with Salter completing 15 of 25 passes with 319 total yards and 4 total touchdowns and Daniels had 129 receiving yards, one touchdown. Quinten Cooley and Billy Lucas took over the run game combing for 196 rushing yards.
The Flames get their first conference win in program history while improving to two and zero. The Flames will travel to Amherst, NY to take on the zero and two Buffalo Bulls next Saturday, September 16th as they trying to go three and zero.
