The 2017 Liberty Flames football team represented Liberty University in the 2017 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by sixth-year head coach Turner Gill and played their home games at Williams Stadium. They were a member of the Big South Conference. They finished the season 6–5, 2–3 in Big South play to finish in fourth place.
School president Jerry Falwell Jr. announced plans to undergo the two-year transition period join the Division I FBS as a football independent, while remaining in the Big South Conference in all other sports. While normally against NCAA rules to transition to FBS without a conference invite, Liberty was granted a waiver.
Preseason Media poll The 2017 Big South preseason prediction poll was released on July 18. The Flames were ineligible due to their transition to the FBS.
Schedule
Source: Schedule
Rankings
* Due to their transition to FBS, they are not eligible to be ranked in the FCS Coaches Poll.
Game summaries
At Baylor
Statistics LIBBAY First downs 31 22 Total yards 585 532 Rushing yards 138 254 Passing yards 447 278 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 38:16 21:44 Team Category Player StatisticsLiberty Passing Stephen Calvert 44/60, 447 yards, 3 TD Rushing Carrington Mosley 28 rushes, 122 yards Receiving Antonio Gandy-Golden 13 receptions, 192 yards, 2 TDBaylor Passing Anu Solomon 14/29, 278 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Anu Solomon 6 rushes, 97 yards Receiving Chris Platt 3 receptions, 102 yards, 2 TD
Morehead State
Statistics MORELIB First downs 16 24 Total yards 300 523 Rushing yards 64 196 Passing yards 236 327 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 33:31 26:29 Team Category Player StatisticsMorehead State Passing Lawson Page 18/31, 187 yards, TD, INT Rushing Logan Holbrook 13 rushes, 44 yards, TD Receiving Jarin Higginbothom 2 receptions, 64 yardsLiberty Passing Stephen Calvert 13/21, 281 yards, 5 TD Rushing Kentory Matthews 13 rushes, 103 yards, 2 TD Receiving B. J. Farrow 6 receptions, 177 yards, 3 TD
Indiana State
Statistics INSTLIB First downs 21 28 Total yards 543 500 Rushing yards 107 121 Passing yards 436 379 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 31:28 28:32 Team Category Player StatisticsIndiana State Passing Cade Sparks 22/36, 405 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Lemonte Booker 26 rushes, 95 yards, TD Receiving Bob Pugh 8 receptions, 260 yards, 2 TDLiberty Passing Stephen Calvert 30/42, 379 yards, 4 TD, INT Rushing Carrington Mosley 22 rushes, 102 yards, 2 TD Receiving Antonio Gandy-Golden 7 receptions, 171 yards, TD
At Jacksonville State
Statistics LIBJVST First downs 17 19 Total yards 316 385 Rushing yards 31 140 Passing yards 285 245 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 30:17 29:43 Team Category Player StatisticsLiberty Passing Stephen Calvert 22/47, 285 yards, TD, INT Rushing Carrington Mosley 14 rushes, 36 yards Receiving Antonio Gandy-Golden 7 receptions, 126 yardsJacksonville State Passing Bryant Horn 9/19, 181 yards, TD, INT Rushing Roc Thomas 18 rushes, 87 yards, 2 TD Receiving Trae Berry 1 reception, 80 yards, TD
Saint Francis (PA)
Statistics SFULIB First downs 14 15 Total yards 275 338 Rushing yards 92 119 Passing yards 183 219 Turnovers 0 4 Time of possession 35:33 24:27 Team Category Player StatisticsSaint Francis (PA) Passing Bear Fenimore 23/35, 183 yards, 2 TD Rushing Jymere Jordan-Toney 22 rushes, 105 yards Receiving Kamron Lewis 10 receptions, 95 yards, TDLiberty Passing Stephen Calvert 21/42, 219 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Kentory Matthews 5 rushes, 50 yards Receiving Cephas Reddick 3 receptions, 70 yards, TD
Kennesaw State
Statistics KENNLIB First downs 26 20 Total yards 507 337 Rushing yards 498 103 Passing yards 9 234 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 38:38 21:22 Team Category Player StatisticsKennesaw State Passing Chandler Burks 2/7, 9 yards, TD, INT Rushing Shaquil Terry 9 rushes, 126 yards, TD Receiving Justin Sumpter 2 receptions, 9 yards, TDLiberty Passing Stephen Calvert 19/26, 234 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Carrington Mosley 14 rushes, 75 yards, 2 TD Receiving Antonio Gandy-Golden 4 receptions, 89 yards, TD
At Monmouth
Statistics LIBMON First downs 24 26 Total yards 529 608 Rushing yards 121 364 Passing yards 408 244 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 26:32 33:28 Team Category Player StatisticsLiberty Passing Stephen Calvert 25/50, 408 yards, 2 TD Rushing Carrington Mosley 10 rushes, 71 yards Receiving Antonio Gandy-Golden 9 receptions, 127 yards, 2 TDMonmouth Passing Kenji Bahar 14/25, 244 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Eric Zokouri 18 rushes, 193 yards, 2 TD Receiving Reggie White Jr. 10 receptions, 187 yards, 2 TD
At Gardner–Webb
Statistics LIBWEBB First downs 22 24 Total yards 458 483 Rushing yards 125 277 Passing yards 333 206 Turnovers 1 3 Time of possession 26:56 33:04 Team Category Player StatisticsLiberty Passing Stephen Calvert 21/34, 333 yards, 2 TD Rushing Carrington Mosley 20 rushes, 123 yards, 2 TD Receiving Antonio Gandy-Golden 4 receptions, 123 yards, TDGardner–Webb Passing Tyrell Maxwell 13/32, 206 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing Jayln Cagle 24 rushes, 179 yards, TD Receiving Brody Rollins 3 receptions, 61 yards, TD
Duquesne
Statistics DUQLIB First downs 15 29 Total yards 434 421 Rushing yards 295 210 Passing yards 139 211 Turnovers 4 0 Time of possession 25:23 34:37 Team Category Player StatisticsDuquesne Passing Tommy Stuart 13/23, 139 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing A. J. Hines 25 rushes, 253 yards, 2 TD Receiving Chavas Rawlins 5 receptions, 51 yards, TDLiberty Passing Stephen Calvert 23/46, 211 yards, TD Rushing Carrington Mosley 30 rushes, 151 yards, 2 TD Receiving Antonio Gandy-Golden 8 receptions, 65 yards
Presbyterian
Statistics PRESLIB First downs 16 30 Total yards 452 628 Rushing yards 155 317 Passing yards 297 311 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 29:28 30:32 Team Category Player StatisticsPresbyterian Passing Will Brock 16/33, 297 yards, 2 TD Rushing C. J. Marable 23 rushes, 126 yards Receiving Darquez Watson 2 receptions, 67 yardsLiberty Passing Stephen Calvert 14/26, 311 yards, 3 TD Rushing Carrington Mosley 27 rushes, 149 yards, TD Receiving Cephas Reddick 4 receptions, 125 yards, 2 TD
At Charleston Southern
Statistics LIBCHSO First downs 19 18 Total yards 306 415 Rushing yards 51 229 Passing yards 255 186 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 24:46 35:14 Team Category Player StatisticsLiberty Passing Stephen Calvert 25/44, 255 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Frankie Hickson 11 rushes, 33 yards Receiving Antonio Gandy-Golden 10 receptions, 113 yards, 2 TDCharleston Southern Passing London Johnson 13/27, 186 yards Rushing Noah Shuler 13 rushes, 84 yards, TD Receiving Kameron Brown 4 receptions, 106 yards
References