2020 Liberty Flames football team explained
| Mode: | football |
| Year: | 2020 |
| Team: | Liberty Flames |
| Conference: | Independent |
| Record: | 10–1 |
| Coachrank: | 18 |
| Aprank: | 17 |
| Head Coach: | Hugh Freeze |
| Hc Year: | 2nd |
| Cooff Coach1: | Kent Austin |
| Cooc1 Year: | 2nd |
| Cooff Coach2: | Maurice Harris |
| Cooc2 Year: | 2nd |
| Def Coach: | Scott Symons |
| Dc Year: | 2nd |
| Off Scheme: | Multiple |
| Def Scheme: | 4–2–5 |
| Champion: | Cure Bowl champion |
| Stadium: | Williams Stadium |
| Bowl: | Cure Bowl |
| Bowl Result: | W 37–34 vs. Coastal Carolina |
The 2020 Liberty Flames football team represented Liberty University in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They were led by second-year head coach Hugh Freeze and played their home games at Williams Stadium. The Flames competed as an FBS independent.
Schedule
Liberty had games scheduled against Bowling Green, North Carolina A&T, UConn, and UMass, which were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] [2] These games were partially replaced with new match-ups announced with Coastal Carolina and North Alabama. The games against NC State and Syracuse were rescheduled for different days for the 2020 season.[3]
Because of an increased number of COVID-19 cases within the football program, Liberty University's medical staff decided to pause its football team's activities and cancel the game with Coastal Carolina in Conway, South Carolina, scheduled for December 5.[4] Ironically, the two teams were selected to play in the Cure Bowl at season's end, a match-up that Liberty won.
Schedule Source:[5] [6]
Rankings
In week 5, Liberty received votes in the Coaches Poll for the first time in program history and the following week, they received votes in the AP Poll for the first time. In week 9, they were nationally ranked for the first time, when they were ranked at No. 25 in the AP Poll. They would spend 8 total weeks in the rankings, finishing at No. 17.
Game summaries
At Western Kentucky
See also: 2020 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|
| WKU −14.5 | 51.5[7] | |
| Statistics | Liberty | Western Kentucky |
|---|
| First downs | 27 | 19 |
| Total yards | 487 | 291 |
| Rushing yards | 354 | 110 |
| Passing yards | 133 | 181 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 34:59 | 25:01 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Liberty | Passing | | 13/21, 133 yards |
| Rushing | Malik Willis | 21 carries, 168 yards, 3 TDs |
| Receiving | CJ Yarbrough | 2 receptions, 53 yards |
| Western Kentucky | Passing | | 18/25, 181 yards, 3 TDs |
| Rushing | Tyrrell Pigrome | 14 carries, 74 yards |
| Receiving | | 6 receptions, 69 yards, 1 TD | |
FIU
See also: 2020 FIU Panthers football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|
| LIB −7 | 59[8] | |
| Statistics | FIU | Liberty |
|---|
| First downs | 16 | 31 |
| Total yards | 304 | 527 |
| Rushing yards | 168 | 219 |
| Passing yards | 136 | 308 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 22:39 | 37:21 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| FIU | Passing | Stone Norton | 9/13, 120 yards, 2 TDs |
| Rushing | | 13 carries, 148 yards, 2 TDs |
| Receiving | Bryce Singleton | 2 receptions, 50 yards, 1 TD |
| Liberty | Passing | Malik Willis | 24/30, 285 yards, 2 TDs |
| Rushing | Joshua Mack | 13 carries, 107 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | DJ Stubbs | 8 receptions, 119 yards, 1 TD | |
North Alabama
See also: 2020 North Alabama Lions football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|
| LIB −33 | 65[9] | |
| Statistics | North Alabama | Liberty |
|---|
| First downs | 14 | 22 |
| Total yards | 247 | 357 |
| Rushing yards | 63 | 250 |
| Passing yards | 184 | 107 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 32:10 | 27:50 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| North Alabama | Passing | Rett Files | 15/24, 156 yards, 2 INTs |
| Rushing | Parker Driggers | 7 carries, 55 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | Andre Little | 1 reception, 47 yards |
| Liberty | Passing | Chris Ferguson | 12/21, 64 yards, 3 TDs |
| Rushing | Joshua Mack | 16 carries, 130 yards |
| Receiving | CJ Yarbrough | 2 receptions, 43 yards | |
Louisiana–Monroe
See also: 2020 Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|
| LIB −17 | 63.5[10] | |
| Statistics | Louisiana–Monroe | Liberty |
|---|
| First downs | 10 | 20 |
| Total yards | 198 | 400 |
| Rushing yards | 78 | 180 |
| Passing yards | 120 | 220 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 27:49 | 32:11 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Louisiana–Monroe | Passing | Colby Suits | 13/29, 78 yards, 2 INTs |
| Rushing | | 13 carries, 51 yards |
| Receiving | | 2 receptions, 21 yards |
| Liberty | Passing | Malik Willis | 11/29, 177 yards, 1 INT |
| Rushing | Malik Willis | 13 carries, 87 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | DJ Stubbs | 2 receptions, 69 yards | |
At Syracuse
See also: 2020 Syracuse Orange football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|
| LIB −3.5 | 53[11] | |
| Statistics | Liberty | Syracuse |
|---|
| First downs | 24 | 19 |
| Total yards | 520 | 308 |
| Rushing yards | 338 | 97 |
| Passing yards | 182 | 211 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 36:24 | 23:36 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Liberty | Passing | Malik Willis | 16/20, 182 yards, 1 TD |
| Rushing | Shedro Louis | 10 carries, 170 yards, 2 TDs |
| Receiving | DJ Stubbs | 4 receptions, 58 yards, 1 TD |
| Syracuse | Passing | Rex Culpepper | 19/40, 211 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT |
| Rushing | | 21 carries, 111 yards |
| Receiving | Taj Harris | 9 receptions, 96 yards, 1 TD | |
Southern Miss
See also: 2020 Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|
| LIB −14 | 59.5[12] | |
| Statistics | Southern Miss | Liberty |
|---|
| First downs | 19 | 25 |
| Total yards | 416 | 537 |
| Rushing yards | 215 | 192 |
| Passing yards | 201 | 345 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 27:37 | 32:23 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Southern Miss | Passing | Tate Whatley | 15/26, 188 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Rushing | Tate Whatley | 12 carries, 52 yards, 4 TDs |
| Receiving | | 5 receptions, 114, 1 TD |
| Liberty | Passing | Malik Willis | 24/31, 345, 6 TDs |
| Rushing | Malik Willis | 12 carries, 97 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | | 6 receptions, 115 yards, 1 TD | |
At Virginia Tech
See also: 2020 Virginia Tech Hokies football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|
| VT −17 | 67.5[13] | |
| Statistics | Liberty | Virginia Tech |
|---|
| First downs | 29 | 24 |
| Total yards | 466 | 418 |
| Rushing yards | 249 | 201 |
| Passing yards | 217 | 217 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 37:27 | 22:33 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Liberty | Passing | Malik Willis | 20/30, 217 yards, 3 TDs |
| Rushing | Malik Willis | 19 carries, 108 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | CJ Yarbrough | 5 receptions, 65 yards, 1 TD |
| Virginia Tech | Passing | | 20/27, 217 yards, 3 TDs |
| Rushing | Hendon Hooker | 20 carries, 156 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | | 6 receptions, 90 yards, 1 TD | |
The game featured a wild finish as Liberty got into field goal range with 8 seconds left to go in a 35–35 tie. Facing a 4th and 6 at the Virginia Tech 41-yard line, disaster appeared to strike when Liberty 59-yard field goal attempt was blocked and returned for a touchdown by Virginia Tech's Jermaine Waller with no time remaining. However, Virginia Tech had called a timeout to try to Icing the kicker before the play. Liberty then decided to go for it on fourth down, and got a 8-yard pass completion for a first down after Virginia Tech mistakenly thought that Flames would try a Hail Mary and went to a prevent defense. With 5 seconds remaining, the Flames converted a 51-yard field goal to win the game.[14]
Western Carolina
See also: 2020 Western Carolina Catamounts football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|
| LIB −39 | 63[15] | |
| Statistics | Western Carolina | Liberty |
|---|
| First downs | 15 | 21 |
| Total yards | 282 | 633 |
| Rushing yards | 142 | 254 |
| Passing yards | 140 | 379 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 30:44 | 29:16 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Western Carolina | Passing | Will Jones | 7/13, 74 yards, TD, INT |
| Rushing | Donnavan Spencer | 12 carries, 79 yards |
| Receiving | Owen Cosenke | 5 receptions, 56 yards |
| Liberty | Passing | Malik Willis | 14/19, 306 yards, 3 TD |
| Rushing | Malik Willis | 8 carries, 97 yards, 2 TD |
| Receiving | Kevin Shaa | 2 receptions, 137 yards, TD | |
At NC State
See also: 2020 NC State Wolfpack football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|
| NCSU −4 | 66.5 | |
| Statistics | Liberty | NC State |
|---|
| First downs | 17 | 19 |
| Total yards | 279 | 321 |
| Rushing yards | 107 | 167 |
| Passing yards | 172 | 154 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 29:42 | 30:18 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Liberty | Passing | Malik Willis | 13/32, 171 yards, 2 TD |
| Rushing | Joshua Mack | 12 carries, 49 yards |
| Receiving | Noah Frith | 4 receptions, 73 yards, 1 TD |
| NC State | Passing | Bailey Hockman | 14/27, 154 yards |
| Rushing | | 14 carries, 96 yards, 2 TD |
| Receiving | Emeka Emezie | 1 reception, 55 yards | |
UMass
See also: 2020 UMass Minutemen football team.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|
| LIB −35.5 | 57.5[16] | |
| Statistics | UMass | Liberty |
|---|
| First downs | 12 | 31 |
| Total yards | 227 | 629 |
| Rushing yards | 55 | 378 |
| Passing yards | 172 | 251 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 25:50 | 34:10 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| UMass | Passing | Garret Dzuro | 9/22, 172 yards, 1 INT |
| Rushing | Cam Roberson | 5 carries, 17 yards |
| Receiving | | 4 receptions, 82 yards |
| Liberty | Passing | Malik Willis | 16/24, 223 yards, 3 TD |
| Rushing | Peytton Pickett | 10 carries, 125 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | DeMario Douglas | 4 receptions, 68 yards, 1 TD | |
Vs. Coastal Carolina (Cure Bowl)
See also: 2020 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers football team and 2020 Cure Bowl.
| style= | Pregame line! | style= | Over/under |
|---|
| CCU –6.5 | 60[17] | |
| Statistics | Liberty | Coastal Carolina |
|---|
| First downs | 26 | 24 |
| Total yards | 475 | 483 |
| Rushing yards | 255 | 165 |
| Passing yards | 220 | 318 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 30:49 | 29:11 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Liberty | Passing | Malik Willis | 19/29, 220 yards, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Malik Willis | 21 carries, 137 yards, 4 TD |
| Receiving | DJ Stubbs | 5 receptions, 68 yards |
| Coastal Carolina | Passing | | 21/32, 318 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT |
| Rushing | Grayson McCall | 15 carries, 96 yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | | 13 receptions, 178 yards | |
Notes and References
- Web site: MEAC suspends all fall sports for indefinite period . ESPN.com . 16 July 2020 . en . 16 July 2020.
- Web site: ACC Announces Plans for Football and Fall Olympic Sports . TheACC.com . July 29, 2020 . en . July 29, 2020.
- Web site: ACC Unveils 2020 Football Schedule . TheACC.com . August 6, 2020 . en . August 6, 2020.
- Domingo, Ida (December 4, 2020). "Liberty, Coastal Carolina game canceled after coronavirus concerns within football program". WSET-TV. MSN.com.
- Web site: 2020 Liberty Flames Schedule . ESPN . September 26, 2020 . en.
- Web site: 2020 Season Football Schedule . Liberty Flames . September 26, 2020.
- Web site: Liberty Flames vs WKU Hilltoppers . Odds Shark . 8 October 2020 . en.
- Web site: FIU Panthers vs Liberty Flames . Odds Shark . 24 September 2020 . en.
- Web site: North Alabama Lions vs Liberty Flames . Odds Shark . 8 October 2020 . en.
- Web site: Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks vs Liberty Flames . Odds Shark . 13 October 2020 . en.
- Web site: Liberty Flames vs Syracuse Orange . Odds Shark . 7 November 2020 . en.
- Web site: Southern Miss Golden Eagles vs Liberty Flames . Odds Shark . 7 November 2020 . en.
- Web site: Liberty Flames vs Virginia Tech . Odds Shark . 7 November 2020 . en.
- Web site: Liberty @ Virginia Tech - ESPN Game ID . ESPN . 30 April 2021.
- Web site: Western Carolina Catamounts vs Liberty Flames . Odds Shark . 14 November 2020 . en.
- Web site: Massachusetts Minutemen vs Liberty Flames . Odds Shark . 27 November 2020 . en.
- Web site: Liberty Flames vs Coastal Carolina Chanticleers . Odds Shark . 29 December 2020 . en.
