Flames Rolled To A 59–30 Victory Over Delaware (11-1-25)
By: Ty Tracy
Headline Photo Credit: Brynne Smirh-LMS Network
The Liberty Flames return home to Williams Stadium this weekend to host the Delaware Blue Hens following a two-week rest period after their mid-October matchup against New Mexico State. With five games remaining in the regular season, the Flames are looking to regroup, stay in the Conference USA championship conversation, and secure bowl eligibility. Head Coach Jamey Chadwell understands the importance of this matchup for both the team and the program as Liberty aims to turn the corner after a rough start to the season in September. Fans will be watching closely to see how the Flames respond, hoping to see renewed energy and improved execution after several inconsistent performances in the first half of the season.
Midway through the first quarter, Liberty quarterback Ethan Vasko broke free on a scramble for a 15-yard rushing touchdown, giving the Flames an early 7–3 lead. From that point on, Head Coach Jamey Chadwell and his offense committed to pounding the ground game, exploiting Delaware’s unusual three-man front throughout the first half. Running back Evan Dickens quickly became the difference-maker, taking advantage of the defensive looks and carrying the load for the Flames. Dickens found the end zone three times, accounting for 21 points and helping Liberty build a 28–6 lead — one of the team’s best first-half performances of the season. The Flames offense totaled 221 yards, converting 80% of their third downs and going a perfect 100% in the red zone. On the defensive side, Liberty turned in an equally strong effort, holding the Delaware offense to just nine points in the first half. The Flames limited the Blue Hens to under 40 rushing yards and forced them to settle for three field goals, heading into halftime with a commanding 28–9 advantage
When the second half began, Coach Jamey Chadwell stuck with what was working — the ground game — and it paid off immediately. On the first drive of the third quarter, Evan Dickens broke loose for a 72-yard touchdown run, extending Liberty’s lead to 35–9. However, Delaware refused to back down. The Blue Hens’ passing attack began to find its rhythm, leading to two consecutive touchdown drives that trimmed the deficit from 26 points down to just 11, making it 35–24 midway through the third quarter. Despite the momentum shift, Liberty’s offense never lost its composure. Quarterback Ethan Vasko remained sharp, orchestrating balanced drives through the air and on the ground. Vasko connected with wide receiver Jacob Jenkins on a 15-yard touchdown, then found Donte Lee Jr. for a 31-yard scoring strike, pushing the lead back to 49–24 — marking the first time this season the Flames surpassed the 40-point mark. Delaware managed one more scoring drive to close the gap to 49–30, but Liberty quickly answered. Running back Vaughn Blue sealed the win with a 12-yard touchdown run, capping an explosive offensive performance as the Flames rolled to a 59–30 victory. Liberty finished the night with over 560 total yards of offense, highlighted by a monster performance from Evan Dickens, who rushed for 219 yards on 22 carries and found the end zone four times — just one touchdown shy of the program’s single-game record. The Flames also notched their third 50-point game under Coach Chadwell, the most since his first season in 2023, when Liberty hit the 50-point mark twice.
Coach Jamey Chadwell was highly pleased with his team’s performance — particularly on the offensive side — following Liberty’s dominant 59–30 win. “Obviously, we played a great game offensively — the best game we’ve played all season,” Chadwell said. “I was really pleased with how we took care of the ball and didn’t put ourselves in any bad situations.” The Flames have battled injuries for much of the first half of the season, but the two-week break appeared to pay off, as several key players returned to action. Chadwell credited the team’s resilience and focus during the bye week. “We had a bad September, and I felt like we were never that bad,” he said. “We didn’t play well — and that’s on Coach Chadwell. But I never felt like our team overall was as bad as our record showed. We had some things go against us, and injuries hurt us.” Now sitting at 4–4 overall and 3–1 in Conference USA, Chadwell believes the Flames are turning the corner at the right time. “I think this is the direction we needed,” he added. “You can feel a turning point that can change the season around.” The Flames will look to keep their momentum going as they return home next Saturday for another crucial conference matchup against the 5-3 Missouri State Bears, who are coming off a 28–21 victory over the FIU Panthers.
