Liberty Kicks Off The Season The Right Way (8-31-24)

By: Ty Tracy

All Photo Credit: Liberty Athletics
 
Second-year Head Coach Jamey Chadwell and the Liberty Flames kick off week one against the Campbell Fighting Camels for their season home opener on Saturday, August 31st at Williams Stadium in Lynchburg, VA. The Liberty Flames coming off a phenomenal season last year finishing 13-1(8-0 in conference) having an undefeated regular winning the Conference USA title, and becoming the first undefeated team in program history to win the Conference USA title under first-year Jamey Chadwell only receiving their first lost against the Powerhouse Oregon Ducks in the Fiesta Bowl. While for Campbell Fighting Camels, Head Coach Braxton Harris make his debut as the Campbell Head Coach Saturday.

 
The Fighting Campbell was keeping up with Liberty for the first half of the game when the halftime score was Liberty 17 and Campbell 10 until the Liberty started taking over the second half with the final score 41 to 24. The Flames didn’t play as well as they were supposed to. Coach Chadwell wasn’t pleased with the team’s performance on both sides especially dealing with nonsense penalties that frustrated Coach the entire game. The Flames finished the game with 11 penalties for 127 yards, Coach [Chadwell] mentioned he takes full responsibility for the 11 penalties, but the team’s overall performance was unacceptable.

 
Liberty’s Star QB Kaidon Salter completed 16 out of 23 with a 69.5% completion for 242 yards. He managed to throw two touchdown passes in the game. The Flame’s run game had some success on the ground with Quinton Cooley and Billy Lucas leading the backfield for a combined 191 yards one touchdown each from both backs. But WR Treon Sibley, who has been with the team for some years had a game with a career night of receptions, yards, and touchdowns the game with 5 catches for 109 yards and one touchdown. As the Flames defense managed to play a good game the entire game getting pressure on Campbell’s QB Chad Mascoe holding him under 200passing yards finishing the game only throwing for 180 yards completing 10 out of 17 passes with 1 passing touchdown to WR Sincere Brown, who finished the game with 5 catches for 126 yards and 1 TD catch. 
 
The Kadion Salter and The Flames will open up their first conference play next Saturday, September 7 against New Mexico State at 10:30 PM EST. Last year, Liberty beat New Mexico St in the Conference USA Championship 49 to 35 to capture the Conference USA title.