Willis’ Historic Outing Propels Flames Football Over southern Mississippi, 56-35

Saturday was a banner day for Liberty football with a high scoring win over Southern Mississippi moving the Flames to a 6-0 record, tying the program’s best start since 2008 as quarterback Malik Willis rubberstamped the impact he has had on the team this season.

Willis removed all doubt regarding his earlier injury, highlighting not just his top-notch running game but also his throwing ability. His seven touchdowns — six passing and one rushing — broke the previous school record for touchdowns from one individual in a game. Between his rushing and his passing game, Willis earned 442 yards, besting the entire Southern Miss Offense, which posted only 416 yards.

“I think he had his best week of prep leading to the game. Our plan was to throw it early, and I thought we did it and we did it really well,” Liberty Head Coach Hugh Freeze said.

The Golden Eagles scored first when quarterback Tate Whatley rushed for a touchdown just three minutes into the game. Whatley’s rushing style caught the Flames defense off-guard, as Southern Miss announced only hours before the game that starter Jack Abraham, a talented passing QB, tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in the week and did not even make the trip to Lynchburg Saturday.

“It did take us a while to get in that consistent pressure because we were just preparing to beat them around the edge and he wasn’t dropping as deep as the other quarterback would have. We had to really just step into our own element and really focus on our rushes,” Liberty defensive end Tre’Shaun Clark said.

But it didn’t take long for the Flames defense to find its rhythm and for the offense to find the endzone, as Willis fired back 42 seconds later with a 39-yard pass to Kevin Shaa – the first of two touchdowns for the redshirt senior wide receiver.

For the rest of the first half, every Liberty possession ended in a touchdown, leaving the Flames with a commanding 35-7 lead by the end of the first half. With a convincing advantage, the Flames faltered at the onset of the third quarter, however. Willis fumbled the ball, giving Whatley the ball with short yardage to the goal and the opportunity to scramble for a touchdown. Following that score, an onside kick by the Golden Eagles allowed them to retake possession and ended with another rushing touchdown from Whatley.

Both teams would score once more in the quarter, giving the Flames the edge at 42- 28.

“I didn’t call a good third quarter. I was a little greedy at that point, trying to make it 42-7,” Freeze said on his team’s mishaps in the third quarter.

Senior linebacker Anthony Butler felt that the defense also could have done better in the second half. “We’re a defense that’s not trying to be OK or good – we want to be great. Thirty-five points is never good enough,” said Butler.

But in the fourth quarter, the Flames rediscovered their rhythm, and Willis did what he’s best at – scoring.

Liberty silenced Southern Miss’s comeback with two rushing touchdowns from Willis and RB Joshua Mack. The Golden Eagles scored one last time when Whatley found the hands of Jason Brownlee for their first and only passing touchdown of the game.

Feeling pressure to perform in the fourth quarter, Willis and the offense managed to flip the script and grow the Flames lead.

“We were just anxious to get back there, trying to go put some more points up on the board,” Willis said. “That was my fault, that fumble. We just had to focus on getting back out there, putting up more points on the board and not letting them gain momentum.”

Willis and his offensive did just that, and the Auburn transfer ended the game with an impressive six touchdown passes.

After a strong start to the season, his teammates have learned to expect great things from their QB.

“That was amazing. I believe in him and I know he’s going to get the job done,” Clark said. The Flames will have a week off to rest and refocus for their biggest challenge of the season when they face in-state rival Virginia Tech Nov. 7. The 3-2 and previously nationally ranked Hokies are a potential roadblock in the Flames quest to stay undefeated in 2020.

“The game plan will be somehow to keep it close and give our kids a chance in the fourth quarter. We’ll have our hands full,” Freeze said.

For now, Freeze will use the off week to rest and to make any needed corrections.

“I think all of us need to take a little breather. We’re excited about having a week to kind of relax but still work,” Freeze said.

Mario Cosentino is a Sports Reporter. Follow him on Twitter at @Runner_of_steel.