Liberty Remains Undefeated,Defeats Sam Houston 21-16 (10-5-23)
By: Ty Tracy
All Photos Courtesy: Liberty Athletics
Head Coach Chadwell and the Liberty Flames return home after their two-game road facing against the (0-4) Sam Houston Bearkats on a Thursday night before hitting the road again next Tuesday. It was an ugly game for the Flames offense second half not scoring any points in the second half making it their lowest point scored this year so far, but the Sam Houston Bearkats gave the Liberty Flames a great fight and nobody didn’t see it coming. The Bearcats were one play away from getting their first victory until the Liberty Flames found a way to pull away the upset and keep their undefeated conference play record alive.
The Flames offense wasted no time on their first drive of the game marching down the field for the first two minutes of the game from Liberty QB Kaidon Salter splitting Bearkats’ defense to find the endzone making it 7-0, but the Bearkats were able to respond on their first drive of the game when Sam Houston QB Keegan Shoemaker hits WR Al’vonte Woodard on the back shoulder pass for a seven-yard TD pass tying the game 7-7.
Then midway through the first Quarter, QB Kaidon Salter threw his second pick in the season giving the Bearkats the ball back in Liberty’s red zone. The Flames defense was able to hold the Sam Houston offense kicking a field goal making the score 10-7 with 4:27 left at the beginning of the quarter. Flames’ Kaidon Salter was able to redeem himself on the next drive completing a pass to WR Treon Sibley for 32 yards then three plays later finding TE Austin Henderson for 16 yards pass putting the Flames in the red zone, finishing the drive with RB Quinton Cooley getting first rushing TD of the season from a 1 yard TD on the ground 14-10 Midway the two-minute mark in the second Kaidon Salter found his favorite target CJ Daniels wide open up the sideline for a 51 yard TD pass increasing the score 21-10before the first half ended finishing the game with 5 catches for 157 yards (Season high) and 1 TD.
At the beginning of the second half, it was both teams punted twice from each drive until Sam Houston Bearkats was able to find the endzone on their third drive from Keegan Shoemaker’s second touchdown pass to Landan Brown cutting the game down 16-21. The Bearkats made a crucial decision to go for a two-point conversion early, but they failed to get the two-point conversion. The Bearkats were giving the Flames problems on the offensive end, making the Flames end their drives on punts and also missing two Field Goals, holding the Flames to zero points in the second half. During the final minutes of the last drive, the Bearkats marched down for 96 yards until Liberty defensive backs made Keegan Shoemaker force four incomplete passes in the goal line sealing the game.
Multiple players turned in solid performances to lead Liberty to victory with QB Kadion Salter completing 57.8% of his passes, collecting 315 total yards along with two total touchdowns and RB Quinton Cooley rushed for 102 yards on only 12 carries.
The Flames are now 3-0 in C-USA seating first place in the conference. The Flames will have a short week this week as they travel down to Jacksonville, AL to take on Jacksonville St Gamecocks Tuesday night the Gamecocks are 3-0 in the conference, but 5-1.
