The Liberty Flames Football team held the Florida International University Panthers scoreless for three quarters Oct. 31 to win 49-10.
Liberty entered the matchup on a six-game winning streak, with an undefeated record at home.
Sophomore running back Jaylon Coleman scored a touchdown on the Flames’ third offensive play of the game. Later, Liberty’s sixth-year defensive lineman Mike Jarvis blocked a 47-yard field goal attempt from the Panthers midway through the first quarter.
“Arguably our best game offense, defense and special teams that we played all season,” Head Coach Jamey Chadwell said.
Junior running back Kam Davis ran for 3 yards to bring the score to 14-0 early in the second quarter.
The crowd came alive when FIU redshirt junior quarterback JJ Kohl was sacked by Liberty’s fifth-year defensive lineman Markus Clark for a loss of 12 yards.
Fifth-year quarterback Ethan Vasko came in on third-and-1, rushing up the middle to extend the Flames’ lead to 21-0.
The Flames continued to ride the momentum when sophomore defensive lineman Samuel Cohen dropped into coverage and intercepted Kohl at the 39-yard line.
“The stadium erupted, and I looked around, and Samuel had the ball,” Jarvis said. “It was awesome.”
Davis scored again on a 2-yard rush, navigating the line of scrimmage and driving the ball into the end zone along the left side.
At the end of the first half, Liberty led 28-0.
Liberty kept the fire ablaze in the third quarter when senior tight end Zeke Wimbush caught an 11-yard pass from junior quarterback Deshawn Purdie for another touchdown.
Later, Purdie completed a 36-yard pass to fifth-year wide receiver Makai Jackson, putting the Flames on the 1-yard line. Vasko was then able to score on the ensuing play.
The Flames maintained their lead heading into the fourth quarter, 42-0.
The Panthers earned 10 points, but senior running back Kanye Udoh rushed for another Flames touchdown near the end of the game. When regulation expired, Liberty emerged victorious at 49-10, improving its season record to 7-1.
“You want your guys to be confident,” Chadwell said. “You want them to be humble, a humble confidence there, but you want them to be confident.”
Liberty hits the road next week to take on New Mexico State University Nov. 7 at 8 p.m. The game will air on ESPNU.
Potter is the NCAA women’s editor for The Liberty Champion.