2022 Liberty Flames football team

2022 Liberty Flames football
2022 Liberty Flames football
Boca Raton Bowl, L 19–21 vs. Toledo
Conference	Independent
Record	8–5
Head coach	Hugh Freeze (4th season; regular season); Josh Aldridge (interim; bowl game);
Offensive coordinator	Kent Austin (4th season)
Co-offensive coordinator	Maurice Harris (3rd season)
Offensive scheme	Multiple
Co-defensive coordinator	Josh Aldridge (4th season)
Co-defensive coordinator	Jack Curtis (2nd season)
Base defense	4–2–5
Home stadium	Williams Stadium
	Seasons ← 2021 2023 →

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.

2022 NCAA Division I FBS independents football records
v t e
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 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]

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 3	7:00 p.m.	at Southern Miss	M. M. Roberts Stadium Hattiesburg, MS	ESPN+	W 29–27 ^4OT	24,051
September 10	6:00 p.m.	UAB	Williams Stadium Lynchburg, VA	ESPN+	W 21–14	18,892
September 17	5:00 p.m.	at No. 19 Wake Forest	Truist Field at Wake Forest Winston-Salem, NC	ACCN	L 36–37	32,891
September 24	6:00 p.m.	Akron	Williams Stadium Lynchburg, VA	ESPN+	W 21–12	20,004
October 1	6:00 p.m.	at Old Dominion	S.B. Ballard Stadium Norfolk, VA	ESPN+	W 38–24	18,368
October 8	3:30 p.m.	at UMass	Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium Hadley, MA	ESPN+	W 42–24	11,217
October 15	3:30 p.m.	Gardner–Webb	Williams Stadium Lynchburg, VA	ESPN+	W 21–20	20,924
October 22	3:30 p.m.	BYU	Williams Stadium Lynchburg, VA	ESPNU	W 41–14	24,012
November 5	4:00 p.m.	at Arkansas	Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium Fayetteville, AR	SECN	W 21–19	70,072
November 12	12:00 p.m.	at UConn	Rentschler Field East Hartford, CT	CBSSN	L 33–36	15,107
November 19	12:00 p.m.	Virginia Tech	Williams Stadium Lynchburg, VA	ESPN+	L 22–23	23,055
November 26	12:00 p.m.	New Mexico State	Williams Stadium Lynchburg, VA	ESPN+	L 14–49	18,837
December 20	7:30 p.m.	vs. Toledo	FAU Stadium Boca Raton, FL (Boca Raton Bowl)	ESPN	L 19–21	20,622
Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll (and CFP Rankings, after November 1) - Released prior to game All times are in Eastern time

Coaching staff

Name	Title
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

	1	2	3	4	OT	2OT	3OT	4OT	Total
Flames	0	10	0	14	0	3	0	2	29
Golden Eagles	0	3	7	14	0	3	0	0	27

Statistics

Statistics	LIB	USM
First downs	23	19
Total yards	447	389
Rushing yards	244	252
Passing yards	203	137
Turnovers	3	5
Time of possession	29:06	30:54

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Liberty	Passing	Kaidon Salter	8/13, 148 yards, 2 TD, INT
	Rushing	Kaidon Salter	9 rushes, 65 yards
	Receiving	Demario Douglas	5 receptions, 97 yards, 2 TD
Southern Miss	Passing	Ty Keyes	4/8, 89 yards, 2 INT
	Rushing	Frank Gore Jr.	32 rushes, 178 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Jakarius Caston	2 receptions, 54 yards

UAB

	1	2	3	4	Total
Blazers	7	0	0	7	14
Flames	0	7	7	7	21

Statistics	UAB	LIB
First downs	15	18
Total yards	355	390
Rushing yards	241	188
Passing yards	114	202
Turnovers	4	1
Time of possession	31:29	28:31

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UAB	Passing	Dylan Hopkins	10/15, 114 yards, TD
	Rushing	DeWayne McBride	20 rushes, 177 yards, TD
	Receiving	Trea Shropshire	1 reception, 56 yards
Liberty	Passing	Kaidon Salter	13/25, 202 yards
	Rushing	Kaidon Salter	14 rushes, 79 yards, TD
	Receiving	Noah Frith	2 receptions, 75 yards

At No. 19 Wake Forest

	1	2	3	4	Total
Flames	0	8	15	13	36
No. 19 Demon Deacons	3	17	0	17	37

Statistics

Statistics	LIB	WFU
First downs	22	16
Total yards	427	346
Rushing yards	171	21
Passing yards	256	325
Turnovers	4	2
Time of possession	35:28	24:32

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Liberty	Passing	Kaidon Salter	19/34, 256 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
	Rushing	Dae Dae Hunter	17 rushes, 89 yards, TD
	Receiving	Demario Douglas	7 receptions, 124 yards, TD
Wake Forest	Passing	Sam Hartman	26/44, 325 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
	Rushing	Sam Hartman	8 rushes, 11 yards
	Receiving	Keshawn Williams	5 receptions, 129 yards

Akron

	1	2	3	4	Total
Zips	0	3	3	6	12
Flames	7	7	0	7	21

At Old Dominion

	1	2	3	4	Total
Flames	14	7	10	7	38
Monarchs	14	3	7	0	24

Statistics

Statistics	LIB	ODU
First downs	23	20
Total yards	478	415
Rushing yards	210	118
Passing yards	268	297
Turnovers	2	1
Time of possession	28:57	31:03

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Liberty	Passing	Kaidon Salter	10/19, 170 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
	Rushing	Dae Dae Hunter	15 rushes, 121 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	CJ Yarbrough	4 receptions, 94 yards, TD
Old Dominion	Passing	Hayden Wolff	27/46, 297 yards, 2 TD, INT
	Rushing	Blake Watson	15 rushes, 80 yards
	Receiving	Ali Jennings III	8 receptions, 129 yards, TD

At UMass

	1	2	3	4	Total
Flames	0	21	14	7	42
Minutemen	7	3	0	14	24

Gardner-Webb

	1	2	3	4	Total
Runnin' Bulldogs	0	10	7	3	20
Flames	7	7	0	7	21

BYU

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cougars	14	0	0	0	14
Flames	3	17	14	7	41

At Arkansas

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

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Flames	7	14	0	0	21
Razorbacks	0	3	2	14	19

at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium • Fayetteville, 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)
Pregame line: Arkansas by 14.5 • FPI odds to win: Arkansas 75.5% • Game summary: 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)

Statistics	LIB	ARK
First downs	17	22
Plays–yards	63–315	79–428
Rushes–yards	38–91	42–144
Passing yards	224	284
Passing: comp–att–int	15–25–1	23–37–2
Time of possession	30:38	29:22

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Liberty	Passing	Johnathan Bennett	15–25, 224 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT
	Rushing	Shedro Louis	15 carries, 57 yards
	Receiving	Demario Douglas	7 receptions, 145 yards, 1 TD
Arkansas	Passing	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)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Flames	3	14	10	6	33
Huskies	14	7	0	15	36

at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field • East 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

First quarter

CONN – Victor Rosa 16 yd run (Noe Ruelas kick), 10:28. Huskies 7–0. Drive: 8 plays, 51 yards, TOP 04:27
LU – Nick Brown 38-yard field goal, 7:31. Huskies 7–3. Drive: 8 plays, 55 yards, TOP 02:57
CONN – Jackson Mitchell 31 yd fumble recovery (Noe Ruelas kick), 1:47. Huskies 14–3.

Second quarter

LU – CJ Yarbrough 3 yd pass from Johnathan Bennett (Nick Brown kick), 13:00. Huskies 14–10. Drive: 4 plays, 49 yards, TOP 01:13
CONN – Robert Burns 1 yd run (Noe Ruelas kick), 5:16. Huskies 21–10. Drive: 8 plays, 94 yards, TOP 04:08
LU – Malik Caper 1 yd run (Nick Brown kick), 00:35. Huskies 21–17. Drive: 8 plays, 47 yards, TOP 01:36

Third quarter

LU – TJ Green 1 yd run (Nick Brown kick), 12:33. Flames 24–21. Drive: 7 plays, 80 yards, TOP 02:21
LU – Nick Brown 34-yard field goal, 4:24. Flames 27–21. Drive: 17 plays, 59 yards, TOP 06:12

Fourth quarter

CONN – Victor Rosa 27 yd run (Noe Ruelas kick), 14:52. Huskies 28–27. Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:32
LU – Demario Douglas 75 yd run (2 pt conv no good), 14:39. Flames 33–28. Drive: 1 plays, 75 yards, TOP 00:13
CONN – Kevens Clercius 30 yd pass from Zion Turner (Keelan Marion pass good), 5:43. Huskies 36–33. Drive: 6 plays, 41 yards, TOP 02:57

Top passers

CONN – Zion Turner – 15/21, 102 yards, 1 TD
LU – Johnathan Bennett – 23/37, 201 yards, 1 TD

Top rushers

CONN – Robert Burns – 11 rushes, 104 yards, 1 TD
LU – TJ Green – 24 rushes, 119 yards, 1 TD

Top receivers

CONN – Aaron Turner – 10 receptions, 65 yards
LU – Demario Douglas – 8 receptions, 70 yards

Top defense

CONN – Ian Swenson – 11 tackles
LU – Javon Scruggs – 8 tackles

Statistics	UConn	Liberty
First downs	15	29
Total yards	318	474
Rushing yards	209	267
Passing yards	109	207
Turnovers	2	2
Time of possession	32:18	27:42

Virginia Tech

	1	2	3	4	Total
Hokies	7	10	0	6	23
Flames	7	10	5	0	22

New Mexico State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Aggies	7	21	14	7	49
Flames	7	0	0	7	14

Vs. Toledo (Boca Raton Bowl)

	1	2	3	4	Total
Flames	7	0	0	12	19
Rockets	0	3	10	8	21

Rankings

Ranking movements
**Legend:** ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	Final
AP	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	RV	RV	23	19	RV	—	—	—	—
Coaches	—	—	—	—	—	—	RV	RV	RV	23	19	RV	RV	—	—	—
CFP	Not released									—	—	—	—	—	—	Not released

References

^ Damien Sordelett (November 5, 2021). "Liberty accepts invitation, set to join Conference USA". The News & Advance. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
^ Eddie Callahan (November 5, 2021). "Liberty sports moving to Conference USA beginning in 2023-24". WDBJ. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
^ ^a ^b 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.

[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.

[cbs21-3] 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.

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