Liberty Starts The Season On The Right Foot Against Maine (8-30-25)
By: Ty Tracy
Headline Photo Credit: Brynne Smith-LMS Network
The Liberty Flames open their 2025 season at Williams Stadium, hosting the Maine Black Bears. Head coach Jamey Chadwell and the Flames are entering the year seeking a fresh start after closing the 2024 campaign with an 8–4 record and lingering locker room issues. After former QB Kaidon Salter transferred to Colorado Buffaloes, Liberty entered the offseason facing uncertainty at the QB position between Coastal Carolina transfer QB Ethan Vasko and Ryan Burger.
On Wednesday, head coach Jamey Chadwell announced that Vasko would get the starting nod, making his Liberty debut in Saturday’s season opener. Chadwell noted that the quarterback battle had been ‘tight and competitive’ over the past six months but ultimately chose to rely on Vasko’s experience to lead the Flames’ offense.
The first half was a defensive battle between Liberty and Maine, with both offenses struggling to find rhythm as the score remained knotted at seven to seven. Late in the half, defensive end C.J. Bazile Jr. sparked momentum for the Flames by forcing a strip-sack on Black Bears quarterback Carter Peevy, giving Liberty the ball back. The Flames capitalized just before halftime when quarterback Ethan Vasko connected with Reese Smith in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown, evening the score at seven apiece.
Then midway through the fourth quarter, Ethan Vasko found Evans Dickens on an RB slip screen for a 24-yard TD pass giving the Flames the momentum as they took their lead in the game 14-7. On the next drive, the Flames’ defense was able to force an interception giving the Flames the ball back in good field position on Maine’s 48-yard line. Chadwell and the Flames offense took advantage of the turnover and found the endzone nine plays later from Ethan Vasko’s third touchdown pass increasing the score 21-7. Maine’s quarterback Carter Peevy and the Black Bears’ offense looked for another opportunity to close the gap. Still, Liberty’s defense came up with another turnover to swing momentum back to the Flames. Quarterback Ethan Vasko then sealed the victory himself, calling his own number on a 13-yard untouched run into the end zone. The score capped a strong second-half surge, giving Liberty a 28–7 win in the season opener. QB Vasko closed out his Liberty debut completing 57 percent of his passes while accounting for four total touchdowns and 260 yards of total offense.
The Flames hit the road for their Conference USA opener against the defending champions Jacksonville State Gamecocks. Kickoff is set for noon next Saturday in Jacksonville, Alabama.
