2022 Liberty Flames football team

Last updated

2022 Liberty Flames football
Liberty Flames wordmark.svg
Boca Raton Bowl, L 19–21 vs. Toledo
ConferenceIndependent
Record8–5
Head coach
Offensive coordinator Kent Austin (4th season)
Co-offensive coordinatorMaurice Harris (3rd season)
Offensive scheme Multiple
Co-defensive coordinators
Base defense 4–2–5
Home stadium Williams Stadium
Seasons
  2021
2023  
2022 NCAA Division I FBS independents football records
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
No. 18 Notre Dame    9 4  
Liberty    8 5  
BYU    8 5  
New Mexico State    7 6  
Army    6 6  
UConn    6 7  
UMass    1 11  
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2022 Liberty Flames football team represented Liberty University in the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Flames played their home games at Williams Stadium in Lynchburg, Virginia, and competed as an FBS independent. They were led by fourth-year head coach Hugh Freeze, who left before the bowl game leading to intern head coach Josh Aldridge.

Contents

The 2022 season was the program's last season as an independent as the Flames joined Conference USA in 2023. [1] [2] [3]

Schedule

Liberty hosted six home games and travelled to six away games. [3]

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 37:00 p.m.at Southern Miss ESPN+ W 29–27 4OT24,051
September 106:00 p.m. UAB ESPN+W 21–1418,892
September 175:00 p.m.at No. 19 Wake Forest ACCN L 36–3732,891
September 246:00 p.m. Akron
  • Williams Stadium
  • Lynchburg, VA
ESPN+W 21–1220,004
October 16:00 p.m.at Old Dominion ESPN+W 38–2418,368
October 83:30 p.m.at UMass ESPN+W 42–2411,217
October 153:30 p.m. Gardner–Webb Dagger-14-plain.png
  • Williams Stadium
  • Lynchburg, VA
ESPN+W 21–2020,924
October 223:30 p.m. BYU
  • Williams Stadium
  • Lynchburg, VA
ESPNU W 41–1424,012
November 54:00 p.m.at Arkansas SECN W 21–1970,072
November 1212:00 p.m.at UConn CBSSN L 33–3615,107
November 1912:00 p.m. Virginia Tech
  • Williams Stadium
  • Lynchburg, VA
ESPN+L 22–2323,055
November 2612:00 p.m. New Mexico State
  • Williams Stadium
  • Lynchburg, VA
ESPN+L 14–4918,837
December 207:30 p.m.vs. Toledo ESPN L 19–2120,622

Coaching staff

NameTitle
Hugh Freeze Head coach
Kent Austin Co-offensive coordinator / quarterbacks coach
Maurice Harris Co-offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach
Josh Aldridge Co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach intern head coach in the Boca Raton Bowl
Jack Curtis Co-defensive coordinator/safeties coach
Chris Klenakis Offensive line coach
Jeremy Garrett Defensive line coach
Darius Eubanks Defensive backs coach
Tanner Burns Special Teams coordinator/outside linebackers coach
Ben Aigamaua Tight ends coach
Bruce Johnson Running backs coach
Robert Bala Defensive analyst

Game summaries

At Southern Miss

1234OT2OT3OT4OTTotal
Flames010014030229
Golden Eagles03714030027

Statistics

StatisticsLIBUSM
First downs2319
Total yards447389
Rushing yards244252
Passing yards203137
Turnovers35
Time of possession29:0630:54
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
LibertyPassing Kaidon Salter 8/13, 148 yards, 2 TD, INT
RushingKaidon Salter9 rushes, 65 yards
ReceivingDemario Douglas5 receptions, 97 yards, 2 TD
Southern MissPassingTy Keyes4/8, 89 yards, 2 INT
Rushing Frank Gore Jr. 32 rushes, 178 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingJakarius Caston2 receptions, 54 yards

UAB

1234Total
Blazers700714
Flames077721
StatisticsUABLIB
First downs1518
Total yards355390
Rushing yards241188
Passing yards114202
Turnovers41
Time of possession31:2928:31
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
UABPassing Dylan Hopkins 10/15, 114 yards, TD
Rushing DeWayne McBride 20 rushes, 177 yards, TD
ReceivingTrea Shropshire1 reception, 56 yards
LibertyPassingKaidon Salter13/25, 202 yards
RushingKaidon Salter14 rushes, 79 yards, TD
ReceivingNoah Frith2 receptions, 75 yards

At No. 19 Wake Forest

1234Total
Flames08151336
No. 19 Demon Deacons31701737

Statistics

StatisticsLIBWFU
First downs2216
Total yards427346
Rushing yards17121
Passing yards256325
Turnovers42
Time of possession35:2824:32
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
LibertyPassingKaidon Salter19/34, 256 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
RushingDae Dae Hunter17 rushes, 89 yards, TD
ReceivingDemario Douglas7 receptions, 124 yards, TD
Wake ForestPassing Sam Hartman 26/44, 325 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
RushingSam Hartman8 rushes, 11 yards
Receiving Ke'Shawn Williams 5 receptions, 129 yards

Akron

1234Total
Zips033612
Flames770721

At Old Dominion

1234Total
Flames14710738
Monarchs1437024

Statistics

StatisticsLIBODU
First downs2320
Total yards478415
Rushing yards210118
Passing yards268297
Turnovers21
Time of possession28:5731:03
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
LibertyPassingKaidon Salter10/19, 170 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
RushingDae Dae Hunter15 rushes, 121 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingCJ Yarbrough4 receptions, 94 yards, TD
Old DominionPassing Hayden Wolff 27/46, 297 yards, 2 TD, INT
Rushing Blake Watson 15 rushes, 80 yards
ReceivingAli Jennings III8 receptions, 129 yards, TD

At UMass

1234Total
Flames02114742
Minutemen7301424

Gardner-Webb

1234Total
Runnin' Bulldogs0107320
Flames770721

BYU

1234Total
Cougars1400014
Flames31714741

At Arkansas

Game Nine – Liberty Flames (7–1) at Arkansas Razorbacks (5–3)
Quarter1234Total
Flames7140021
Razorbacks0321419

at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback StadiumFayetteville, Arkansas

  • Date: Saturday, November 5, 2022
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Clear • Temperature: 56 °F (13 °C) • Wind: 10 mph SW
  • Game attendance: 70,072
  • Referee: Scott Walker
  • TV announcers (SEC Network): Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play), Aaron Murray (analyst), Alyssa Lang (sideline)
  • ESPN
Game information
First quarter
  • (0:17) Liberty – Noah Frith 16 yard pass from Johnathan Bennett, Nick Brown kick (Drive: 5 plays, 59 yards, 1:19; Liberty 7–0)
Second quarter
  • (6:09) Liberty – Demario Douglas 20 yard pass from Johnathan Bennett, Nick Brown kick (Drive: 5 plays, 53 yards, 2:46; Liberty 14–0)
  • (0:42) Liberty – Treon Sibley 18 yard pass from Johnathan Bennett, Nick Brown kick (Drive: 10 plays, 80 yards, 4:13; Liberty 21–0)
  • (0:00) Arkansas – Cam Little 50 yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 44 yards, 0:35; Liberty 21–3)
Third quarter
  • (5:33) Arkansas – Punt blocked through the end zone by Quincey McAdoo, safety (Liberty 21–5)
Fourth quarter
  • (7:42) Arkansas – Trey Knox 5 yard pass from KJ Jefferson, 2-point rush good (Drive: 17 plays, 84 yards, 5:07; Liberty 21–13)
  • (2:36) Arkansas - Trey Knox 8 yard pass from KJ Jefferson, 2-point pass failed (Drive: 7 plays, 85 yards; Liberty 21-19)
StatisticsLIBARK
First downs1722
Plays–yards63–31579–428
Rushes–yards38–9142–144
Passing yards224284
Passing: compattint15–25–123–37–2
Time of possession30:3829:22
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
LibertyPassingJohnathan Bennett15–25, 224 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT
RushingShedro Louis15 carries, 57 yards
Receiving Demario Douglas 7 receptions, 145 yards, 1 TD
ArkansasPassing KJ Jefferson 23–37, 284 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing Raheim Sanders 17 carries, 60 yards
Receiving Matt Landers 6 receptions, 119 yards

At UConn

Game Ten - Liberty Flames (8-1) at UConn Huskies (5-5)
Quarter1234Total
Flames31410633
Huskies14701536

at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler FieldEast Hartford, Connecticut

  • Date: November 12
  • Game time: 12:02 p.m.
  • Game weather: Temperature: 68 °F (20 °C) • Weather: Sunny
  • Game attendance: 15,107
  • Referee: Marcus Woods
  • TV announcers (CBSSN): Meghan McPeak (play-by-play), Christian Fauria (color analyst), and Justin Walters (sideline)
  • Box Score
Game information
StatisticsUConnLiberty
First downs1529
Total yards318474
Rushing yards209267
Passing yards109207
Turnovers22
Time of possession32:1827:42

Virginia Tech

1234Total
Hokies7100623
Flames7105022

New Mexico State

1234Total
Aggies72114749
Flames700714

Vs. Toledo (Boca Raton Bowl)

1234Total
Flames7001219
Rockets0310821

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend:██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
AP RVRV2319RV
Coaches RVRVRV2319RVRV
CFP Not releasedNot released

References

  1. Damien Sordelett (November 5, 2021). "Liberty accepts invitation, set to join Conference USA". The News & Advance. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  2. Eddie Callahan (November 5, 2021). "Liberty sports moving to Conference USA beginning in 2023-24". WDBJ. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  3. 1 2 David Cobb (November 24, 2021). "Hugh Freeze signs contract extension with Liberty as Flames plan to be a force in Conference USA". CBSSports.com. Retrieved December 9, 2021.