CONWAY, S.C. (Interstat) — Liberty used a fast start, a pair of explosive plays from Makai Jackson and a strong closing effort to defeat Coastal Carolina 34-17 in an NCAA Football Bowl Division game on Thursday at Brooks Stadium. The Flames, the visiting team, improved to 3-1. The Chanticleers dropped to 1-3. Liberty finished with a balanced attack that produced big plays in the passing game and on the ground, while Coastal Carolina moved the ball effectively at times behind quarterback Deuce Bailey but could not sustain its scoring after a promising first half. The game featured four sacks and two interceptions by the Liberty defense, which made key stops down the stretch. The game drew attention for its back-and-forth scoring early before Liberty pulled away late.

The Flames opened the scoring in the first quarter when Chase Reeves made a 29-yard field goal. Coastal Carolina answered with Nico Cavanillas Alti’s 41-yard field goal. Liberty reclaimed the lead when D. Purdie connected with Makai Jackson for a 58-yard touchdown. Jackson finished with five receptions for 149 yards and two touchdowns. He also returned one punt for 1 yard and made one tackle. The Chanticleers responded in the second quarter as Bailey threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Colton Hinton and a 39-yard touchdown pass to Tristian Gardner, giving Coastal Carolina a 17-10 advantage at halftime. Coastal Carolina’s scoring burst gave the home crowd momentum before halftime. Bailey completed 17 of 34 passes for 213 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran 15 times for 31 yards. The 6-foot, 170-pound Bailey is from Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Liberty regained control in the third quarter. Purdie again found Jackson, this time for a 33-yard touchdown. Reeves added a 24-yard field goal later in the quarter to put the Flames ahead for good. In the fourth quarter, Ethan Vasko scored on an 8-yard run. Vasko later completed a 6-yard touchdown pass to Kam Davis. Vasko completed his only pass attempt for 6 yards and a touchdown and ran once for 8 yards and another score. Davis powered the Liberty running game with 18 carries for 166 yards and one rushing touchdown. He also caught two passes for 7 yards. Peyton Jones added 14 carries for 66 yards. Jaylon Coleman ran twice for 13 yards. Liberty’s fourth-quarter scores sealed the outcome.

Jackson was Liberty’s leading receiver. Darius Copeland added two receptions for 18 yards. Jamari Person had one catch for 34 yards. Bryce Randolph recorded one reception for 6 yards. Zeke Wimbush added one catch for 8 yards. Sam Crossan punted twice for 88 yards. Jon Monteiro returned two kickoffs for 40 yards. Tyler Black made one tackle and also converted a kicking attempt. The Liberty special teams also got a 1-yard punt return from Jackson. Liberty’s Ethan Vasko, a 6-foot-4, 200-pound quarterback from Chesapeake, Virginia, provided a steady presence in limited work. Darius Copeland, a 6-foot, 195-pound wide receiver from Birmingham, Alabama, contributed in the passing game. Makai Jackson, a 6-foot, 193-pound wide receiver from Croydon, Pennsylvania, was the game’s most productive pass catcher.

Defensively, Ronald Moore Jr. led Liberty with eight tackles. Aidan Vaughan added seven stops. Derrell Farrar had five tackles. Jiquavious Marshall and Jeffrey Hairston Jr. each finished with four tackles. Hairston also recorded a sack. Brenton Williams had three tackles, one sack and one quarterback hurry. Micah Pollard added three tackles. Jeremiah Vessel recorded one tackle and one interception. Elijah Hopkins had one interception. Kennedi Bailey and Markus Clark each had one tackle and one sack. Lorenzo Payne, Dillano Glaud, Deuce Spurlock, Ashton McShane, Joe Strickland and D-Icey Hopkins each made two tackles. Nathan Pirolli had three tackles. Izaiah Guy, Myke Gunn, Samuel Cohen, Ashton Whitner, Mike Jarvis, Jamal Miles and Tyler Black each recorded one tackle. Moore is a 5-foot-11, 195-pound cornerback from Griffin, Georgia. Vaughan is a 6-foot-3, 220-pound linebacker from Wixom, Michigan. Farrar is a 6-foot-1, 220-pound linebacker from Loganville, Georgia. Brenton Williams is a 6-foot-3, 260-pound defensive end from Opelika, Alabama. Micah Pollard is a 6-foot-2, 202-pound linebacker from Jacksonville, Florida. Jiquavious Marshall is a 6-foot-4, 180-pound cornerback from Macon, Georgia.

Coastal Carolina’s defense was led by Marcellius Pulliam, who made 12 tackles. Ahmad Poole and Donovan Grayson each had seven tackles. Ibrahim Diawara added six tackles and two sacks. Se’Von McDowell finished with four tackles. Goldie Lawrence caught one pass for 16 yards. Karmello English had two receptions for 15 yards. Robby Washington added two catches for 5 yards. Cyrus Ellison had one reception for 10 yards. Ben Verges caught one pass for 4 yards. Coastal Carolina’s defensive front generated pressure, but Liberty’s offense answered with timely plays in the second half. The Chanticleers’ tackling leaders kept the game within reach into the second half. Pulliam is a 6-foot-3, 230-pound linebacker from Tyrone, Georgia. Diawara is a 6-foot-3, 245-pound linebacker from Philadelphia. Poole is a 6-foot, 300-pound defensive lineman from Danville, Virginia. Grayson is a 6-foot-3, 240-pound defensive end from Stafford, Virginia. Lawrence is a 6-foot, 190-pound wide receiver from Sanford, Florida. English is a 5-foot-11, 190-pound wide receiver from Phenix City, Alabama. Washington is a 5-foot-11, 180-pound wide receiver from Miami. Ellison is a 6-foot-4, 225-pound wide receiver from Pamplico, South Carolina. Verges is a 6-foot-5, 250-pound tight end from Franklin, Wisconsin.

The victory gave Liberty its third win in four games this season. The Flames previously beat Ball State and Gardner-Webb and lost to James Madison. Coastal Carolina’s lone win came against Fordham. The Chanticleers have lost to West Virginia and Delaware. Liberty next plays at Delaware, while Coastal Carolina hosts Georgia Southern. The Flames will then host Sam Houston, visit Kennesaw State, host Florida International, visit New Mexico State, host Middle Tennessee, host Western Kentucky and visit Missouri State. Coastal Carolina will visit Marshall, host Appalachian State, visit Georgia State, host Old Dominion, host Arkansas State, visit Louisiana and visit James Madison.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Liberty 37, Coastal Carolina 34. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Coastal Carolina with a 75.3 percent probability to win.