The Liberty Flames Football team intends to spoil Halloween for Florida International University (FIU), but the Panthers’ defense could present one of the Flames’ toughest battles yet.
The Flames are 3-0 in Conference USA (CUSA) play, while FIU has only found one conference win this season. Junior quarterback Deshawn Purdie has led the Flames offense to an average of 31.6 points per game. Meanwhile, the Panthers sit at 20.1.
Despite the numbers, Head Coach Jamey Chadwell warned the Flames not to underestimate their conference foe.
“If you watch their games, they’re really a play here or there from being easily 5-2, maybe 6-1,” Chadwell said.
FIU boasts one of the best third-down operations in the country, offensively and defensively. They convert 46% of their offensive third downs while holding opponents to a mere 28% conversion rate.
“We’ve got to do a good job of getting them in third and long,” Chadwell said. “From our standpoint it’s very similar, we have to stay out of third and longs and we’ve got to get it to third and short.”
Despite the looming threat of a lockdown defense, Liberty’s coaching staff and players remain confident in their offensive capabilities and evolving identity, particularly with the running backs.
“No matter who we are playing, we have to execute to our ability and the scoreboard will fix itself,” junior running back Kam Davis said.
Davis has been the core of the Flames’ run-first offense, leading the charge with 83 carries.
The depth of Liberty’s rushing attack is one of the most dangerous parts of their offense with workhorses like Davis, senior running back Peyton Jones and sophomore running back Jaylon Coleman.
“We’ve got a lot of guys in that room that could come in, be starters,” Davis said. “It brings a different element to the defense, not knowing which back they are going to get.”
Coleman had an offensive masterclass in Liberty’s 34-6 win over Kennesaw State University, in which he recorded two touchdowns. He caught a 56-yard touchdown pass from Purdie to reinforce Liberty’s signature belief in a dual-threat offense.
With an undefeated conference record to protect, the Flames approach their Homecoming matchup with a simple mentality.
“It’s week by week, day by day,” Davis said. “We just got to win.”
The Flames and Panthers are set to face off at Williams Stadium at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. The game will stream live on ESPN+.
Gross is the Club Sports editor for The Liberty Champion.