LYNCHBURG, Va. — Despite a promising 14-3 first-quarter lead, BYU football fell 41-14 at Liberty as it was unable to contain the Flames' offense or sustain its own drives at Arthur L. Williams on Saturday afternoon.
While BYU's defense held Liberty to a field goal on the Flames' game-opening drive, the Cougars struggled to stop the home team the rest of the way. Liberty outgained BYU 547-258 in total yards, including 300 to 71 on the ground and 247 to 187 through the air. The Flames posted 28 1st Downs to the Cougars' 12.
Third downs were problematic for BYU on both sides of the ball. The Cougars converted on just 3 of 11 attempts and were unsuccessful on all three attempts to convert on 4th down. Meanwhile, Liberty converted 7 of 12 3rd downs and both of its 4th-down attempts.
Third-down woes also led to a Liberty advantage in both plays run and time of possession. The BYU offense ran 50 plays with 20:47 on the field to Liberty's 77 plays on nearly 40 minutes of possession.
Jaren Hall went 16-of-34 for 187 yards and two touchdowns. Puka Nacua record back-to-back weeks surpassing 100 receiving yards as he snagged seven receptions for 114 yards and a touchdown. Kody Epps caught five passes for 36 yards. Christopher Brooks ran three times for 26 yards. Micah Harper and Keenan Pili tied for the team-high in tackles with eight a-piece. Harper also added a tackle-for-loss.
Safety Talan Alfrey recorded his first-career interception for the Cougars only forced-turnover of the game.
BOX SCORE
PHOTO GALLERY
POSTGAME NOTES
First Half
The Liberty offense began the game with an 11-play, 84-yard scoring drive that culminated in a 22-yard field goal with 7:29 remaining in the first. While a 40-yard completion set the Flames deep in BYU territory, a tackle-for-loss by BYU defensive lineman Caden Haws held Liberty out of the end zone and forced the field goal.
Despite its first possession ending in a three-and-out, the BYU offense responded to the Liberty field goal with a touchdown drive. Hall moved the chains on 1st down with a completion across the middle of the field to Isaac Rex who hauled-in the pass through tight coverage. Positive carries by Nacua and Christopher Brooks moved BYU into Liberty territory before a false start penalty threatened to derail the drive. On 3rd and 11, Hall swung a pass to Nacua out of the backfield and watched as a key downfield block by Keanu Hill sprung Nacua for the 46-yard touchdown. With the score, BYU regained the lead at 7-3 with 4:14 in the quarter.
The BYU defense then wasted no time getting the ball back. A Harper tackle-for-loss set Liberty behind schedule on its first play of the drive. Alfrey then intercepted the ensuing Liberty pass and returned the ball to the Cougar offense at the Flames’ 27-yard line.
Just two plays later, Hall found Rex alone near the end zone, able to turn around and walk in for a 20-yard scoring strike that put BYU up 14-3 at the 2:41 mark in the first.
The Flames surged in the second period on both sides of the ball as they scored 17 unanswered with points born of three consecutive long drives. Meanwhile, the BYU offense was hamstrung by unsuccessful attempts to convert on 3rd and 4th down. Liberty scored early in the quarter as running back Shedro Louis scampered for a three-yard touchdown to cap-off an 11-play, 75-yard scoring drive then followed it up with an 80-yard touchdown drive and a field goal to end the half for a 20-14 lead at the break.
Second Half
The Flames controlled the third quarter, scoring two touchdowns. A 12-play, 75-yard drive was finished with a six-yard return to the end zone by Louis and then an 80-yard rush put Liberty in front 34-14 with 6:54 to go in the third.
With 10:36 to go in the fourth quarter, the Flames scored the final points of the game with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Bennett to C.J. Daniels, going on to win 41-14.
BYU (4-4) returns home to face East Carolina on Friday at 6 p.m. at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Watch BYU battle the Pirates on ESPN2 or listen to live play-by-play from the Voice of the Cougars Greg Wrubell on BYU Radio Sirius XM 143, BYURadio.org/BYU Radio App or KSL 102.7 FM//1160 AM.