LYNCHBURG, Va. — In an exciting matchup on Saturday, Quinton Cooley showcased his skills, rushing for 166 yards and scoring two touchdowns, while Billy Lucas contributed 131 yards along with a touchdown, leading Liberty to a commanding 38-21 victory over Western Kentucky. The Flames amassed a total of 419 rushing yards and secured four touchdowns on the ground, demonstrating their physical prowess.

With this win, Liberty improved its season record to 8-2, including a conference mark of 5-2 in Conference USA. This marks the sixth consecutive season the Flames have secured eight or more victories, keeping their hopes alive for a back-to-back appearance in the conference championship game. They will face Sam Houston, who also holds an 8-3 record and 5-2 in the conference, in their next game on Friday.

The Flames made a decisive move by scoring 21 unanswered points to wrap up the first quarter, culminating in a swift 90-yard drive that took only 45 seconds, extending their lead to 21-7.

On the defensive side, Amarian Williams made significant contributions with two interceptions, one of which occurred with just 2:03 remaining in the game, effectively sealing the Flames’ victory. For Western Kentucky, quarterback Caden Veltkamp experienced a challenging outing, throwing three interceptions before completing 20 of 34 passes for 262 yards and two touchdowns.

Cooley not only excelled in this game but also surpassed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the second consecutive season. Liberty entered the contest ranked fifth nationally in terms of rushing yards per game, averaging 249.8. Quarterback Kaidon Salter also played a pivotal role, rushing 11 times for 66 yards and contributing a touchdown. Overall, the Flames ran the ball 63 times, with three players recording at least two carries each.

This season finale at Williams Stadium was particularly special for Liberty, as they managed to avoid suffering multiple home losses in the conference for the first time since 2005. The victory underscores their determination and achievement as they look forward to the upcoming challenges ahead.