Liberty Stays Undefeated, Beats Middle Tennessee 42-35 (10-17-23)

By: Ty Tracy

All Photo Credit: Kendall Tidwell: Liberty Athletics

Liberty is back at home in Williams Stadium on Tuesday Night for another conference against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders. The Liberty Flames coming off a tough road victory against Jacksonville St Gamecocks 31-13 keeping themselves on top of C-USA. Meanwhile, the Blue Raiders coming off a conference victory against Louisiana Tech 31-23 and looking for their second win in conference play with four more conference games left in the season. It was a high-scoring game until the Flames were able to escape with the victory keeping their undefeated overall and conference record alive.

The Flames’ run game was playing a key factor in tonight’s game with QB Kaidon Salter and RB Quinton Cooley combined for 295 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns on the ground for Head Coach Chadwell’s rushing attack offense that has been a key part of the Liberty’s success for the last several games. This has been the first time a Liberty QB rushed over 100 yards since Malik Willis back in 2020 made his first start as a Liberty Flames. Also threw a season-low of 140 passing yards while throwing 60% of his passes with 2 TD passes.

The Liberty Flames receive the ball first then on the first play of the drive Flames QB Kaidon Salter throws an interception putting the Blue Raiders in great field possession after the turnover. The Blue Raiders were able to find the endzone in three plays after QB Nicholas Vattiato found WR DJ Riles for a three-yard TD pass getting on the board first seven to zero. QB Kaidon Salter and the Flames offense get another opportunity back on the field after throwing an interception, but KaidonSalter managed to make up the turnover setting up RB Quinton Cooley five yard yard-rushing TD after carrying the ball six times during that drive tying the score seven to seven.
The Blue Raiders were able to strike back putting themselves in good field possession after the P. I (Pass Interference) and Unsportsmanlike Conduct flag on back-to-back play setting up QB Nicholas Vattiato 20 yard touchdown pass to Elijah Metcalf taking the lead 14-7, but Middle Tennessee was having a hard time maintaining the Flames run game the entire drive RB Quinton Cooley dragged several Blue Raiders defenders in the endzone with him tying the game 14-14 at the end of the first Quarter.

Midway through the second quarter the Flames took the lead 21-14 with 8:29 left in the game second quarter until Middle Tennessee managed to score with 20 seconds left on the clock tying it once again 21-21 right at halftime.

In the third quarter, it’s been a back-and-forth scoring battle between both offenses tying the game 35-35 until the fourth Quarter when the Flames’ Defense came up big once again when the team needed them to cause a fumble turnover, giving the ball back to the Flames putting them in four down territory, but the Blue Raiders was pushing the Flames offense back almost a three and out until an Unsportsmanlike Conduct Penalty on one of the Blue Raiders defenders giving the Flames another chance to keep the drive alive then setting a play up for KaidonSalter finding his favorite target CJ Daniels on a 37 yard TD pass taking the lead 42-35 and winning the game. The Blue Raiders were able to get the ball on the final drive, but the Flames forced a turnover on down sealing the game once again.

Middle Tennessee QB Vattiato completed 24 of 37 passes for 332 yards and four touchdowns to all four different receivers, but the Liberty’s Defensive Back was an issue for Vattiato during the fourth Quarter making him 2-of-10 passing for 17 yards with two interceptions midway through the fourth quarter. The Liberty Flames will travel on the road to face Western Kentucky Hilltoppers next Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. The Hilltoppers fell short against the Jacksonville St Gamecocks from a game-winning field goal 20-17 suffering their first conference loss. The Liberty Flames remain number one in C-USA with Jacksonville St at number two and New Mexico St number three in the conference standing.