Bowling Green, KY – Liberty remained undefeated as Kaidon Salter threw three touchdown passes and ran for another to overwhelm WKU into final period for a 42-29 victory. The Flames (8-0, 6-0) took a 35-16 lead on a six-yard TD run by Aaron Bedgood with 8:40 remaining in the game. The Hilltoppers (4-4, 2-2) put up two late scores on passes around Salter’s 27-yard scoring strike to Treon Sibley to make the final score respectable.
After a 14-10 halftime lead, Liberty moved the ball at will. They totaled 323 rushing yards while Salter performed efficiently with 10 of 15 passes for 169 yards. He led Liberty in rushing with 117 yards on 13 carries including a 20-yard touchdown run in the first period. Making no turnovers, the Liberty Flames allowed only one sack, and WKU made only one tackle for a loss. Liberty constantly moved the ball forward. They converted all three times on fourth downs to keep drives alive.
Liberty torch still burns slowly to start second half…
The first half concluded with the only turnover of the game when Topper QB Austin Reed lofted a “Hail Mary” into the end zone where Liberty CB Kobe Singleton hauled it in. The Flames took a 21-10 lead into the final period with Salter’s nine-yard scoring pass to Victor Venn who twisted in near the right pylon. The scoring heated up in the final period, but too little and too late for Western Kentucky.
In the first minute of the fourth, Liberty completed an 80-yard drive with Quinton Cooley’s two-yard TD run. WKU countered with a 75-yard drive capped by a 43-yard scoring pass to wide-open Elijah Young down the left sideline. The two-point conversion failed, and Liberty led, 28-16. The Flames followed with a 75-yard scoring drive as well. Bedgood’s run put the visitors up, 35-16. The 16,036 in attendance at Houchens Industries- L.T. Smith Stadium dwindled as Topper fans had seen enough. Their team tried to mount a comeback after, but it was too late.
Both teams on fire in fourth
As Guest Game analyst Al Tatum and I surmised early in the game, Austin Reed, who led the FBS in passing yards the previous season, finally threw long. One play after the kickoff return, his 63-yard pass to River Helms cut the Liberty lead once again. Reed finished with 30 of 44 passes for 365 yards, four touchdowns and one INT. Not to be denied, Liberty countered with Salter’s third scoring pass to Sibley. WKU scored again following a long drive before the Flames ran out the clock.
Under first-year Head Coach Jamey Chadwell who came from Coastal Carolina after Hugh Freeze left for Auburn, Liberty looks in fine shape to get to the ConferenceUSA championship game. The questions are who will they play and who, if any other conference foe, can beat them?
Next!
Liberty hosts Louisiana Tech (3-6, 2-3) on November 4. They’ve already defeated second place contenders Jacksonville State and New Mexico State in CUSA play. These two meet on November 25 to most likely determine who goes to Lynchburg, Virginia to thwart a Liberty CUSA title. Western Kentucky travels to UTEP (2-6,1-3) on November 4. The Miners will be the final CUSA foe Liberty will meet during the regular season. The Flames should clinch CUSA before that meeting.
Upcoming Miracle?
As for Collegefootballfan.com, for the third game in a row, we seen another undefeated team. No. 4 Florida State (7-0, 5-0) visits Wake Forest (4-3, 1-3). I selected this game by design. For what it’s worth, my personal record attending Demon Deacon games is 11-1. My Wake Forest friends have dubbed me as “11 and almost Oh” Koreivo! On top of that, the last time I attended an FSU game when they were undefeated and ranked in the Top Ten, they fell at Georgia Tech at “the Miracle on Techwood Drive,” 22-16. Click on this to buy my new book and can read all about it in Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good the Fun and the Ugly. Will history repeat itself? Check back here after next weekend.
