Flames Club and football team host annual March game and tailgate beforehand
Food, fun and football. That is what brought out families, students and even community members to William’s Stadium Saturday, March 30, for Liberty’s Spring Game, the first with Coach Hugh Freeze at the helm.
This year’s spring football scrimmage looked different. While it still included the interactive tailgate games for people to enjoy, the game play itself ran a different format. The Liberty Flames football team followed a more traditional 12-minute quarters with a running clock until the final two minutes of each half.
The football team’s defense dominated most of the game until offense finally caught up to win 38-34.
“This fall will be the first year my family will be season ticket holders,” Cassandra Cantrell, a staff member with Liberty, said. “We came out today because we love football, and it also had some fun stuff for our kids to do before the game.”
The tailgate festivities started at 11:30 a.m. Saturday morning and with that brought inflatable obstacle courses, giant connect four, corn hole, music, giveaways and even a juggler. Liberty cheerleaders were out in front of the stadium to give more information to attendees.
Attendees received free T-shirts, hats, coins and posters from Liberty’s inaugural year in the FBS. Free Zaxby’s was given out to people in attendance before kickoff at 1 p.m. There were also giveaways that only students could enter.
“I am a big supporter of the team,” Liberty freshman Daniel Hamlet said. “I really like to see what they do, and the giveaways added to us coming. I am excited to see what the team has to offer this year.”
Flames senior quarterback Buckshot Calvert looked sharp and in command, showing Flames fans that their senior quarterback is prepared to play under a former SEC coach.
Allison Heise | Liberty Champion 
Allison Heise | Liberty Champion
Calvert is reportedly receiving interest from multiple NFL scouts.
Flames senior linebacker Solomon Ajayi brought physicality to Saturday’s spring game, igniting applause from the crowd multiple times following loud hits.
The red team played against the white team, offense versus defense. The white team, defense, started the game with 24 points. It was a game that would end with the red team, offense, winning 38-34.
Freeze said there are still areas where they can grow, but he was happy with the outcome.
“Something clicked defensively (this week),” Hugh Freeze said. “The first three weeks of spring, offense had their way, but something clicked, and the defense truly dominated the whole week.”
