# 2017 Liberty Flames football team

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

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 2 | 7:00 p.m. | at Baylor* | | McLane StadiumWaco, TX | FS2 | W 48–45 | 45,784 |
| September 9 | 6:00 p.m. | Morehead State* | No. 20 | Williams StadiumLynchburg, VA | BSN, ESPN3 | W 58–17 | 17,118 |
| September 16 | 6:00 p.m. | Indiana State* | No. 19 | Williams StadiumLynchburg, VA | BSN, ESPN3 | W 42–41 | 16,060 |
| September 23 | 7:00 p.m. | at No. 5 Jacksonville State* | No. 16 | JSU StadiumJacksonville, AL | OVCDN | L 10–31 | 23,944 |
| September 30 | 6:00 p.m. | Saint Francis (PA)* | No. 22 | Williams StadiumLynchburg, VA | BSN, ESPN3 | L 7–13 | 15,886 |
| October 14 | 6:00 p.m. | Kennesaw State | | Williams StadiumLynchburg, VA | ESPN3 | L 28–42 | 17,726 |
| October 21 | 1:00 p.m. | at Monmouth | | Kessler FieldWest Long Branch, NJ | ESPN3 | L 39–56 | 4,235 |
| October 28 | 12:00 p.m. | at Gardner–Webb | | Ernest W. Spangler StadiumBoiling Springs, NC | Stadium | W 33–17 | 3,850 |
| November 4 | 3:30 p.m. | Duquesne* | | Williams StadiumLynchburg, VA | BSN, ESPN3, MASN | W 27–24 | 14,634 |
| November 11 | 3:30 p.m. | Presbyterian | | Williams StadiumLynchburg, VA | CFDS | W 47–28 | 18,001 |
| November 18 | 12:00 p.m. | at Charleston Southern | | Buccaneer FieldCharleston, SC | | L 19–20 | 3,345 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from STATS Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Eastern time ||||||||
* Source: Schedule

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
| STATS FCS | RV | 20 | 19 | 16 | 22 | RV | RV | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Coaches* | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
* Due to their transition to FBS, they are not eligible to be ranked in the FCS Coaches Poll.

## Game summaries
### At Baylor

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Flames | 6 | 11 | 17 | 14 | 48 |
| Bears | 0 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 45 |
| Statistics | LIB | BAY |
| 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 | Statistics |
| Liberty | Passing | Stephen Calvert | 44/60, 447 yards, 3 TD |
| Liberty | Rushing | Carrington Mosley | 28 rushes, 122 yards |
| Liberty | Receiving | Antonio Gandy-Golden | 13 receptions, 192 yards, 2 TD |
| Baylor | Passing | Anu Solomon | 14/29, 278 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Baylor | Rushing | Anu Solomon | 6 rushes, 97 yards |
| Baylor | Receiving | Chris Platt | 3 receptions, 102 yards, 2 TD |

### Morehead State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 0 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
| • No. 20 Flames | 24 | 21 | 7 | 6 | 58 |
| Statistics | MORE | LIB |
| 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 | Statistics |
| Morehead State | Passing | Lawson Page | 18/31, 187 yards, TD, INT |
| Morehead State | Rushing | Logan Holbrook | 13 rushes, 44 yards, TD |
| Morehead State | Receiving | Jarin Higginbothom | 2 receptions, 64 yards |
| Liberty | Passing | Stephen Calvert | 13/21, 281 yards, 5 TD |
| Liberty | Rushing | Kentory Matthews | 13 rushes, 103 yards, 2 TD |
| Liberty | Receiving | B. J. Farrow | 6 receptinos, 177 yards, 3 TD |

### Indiana State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Sycamores | 7 | 17 | 14 | 3 | 41 |
| • No. 19 Flames | 14 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 42 |
| Statistics | INST | LIB |
| 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 | Statistics |
| Indiana State | Passing | Cade Sparks | 22/36, 405 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Indiana State | Rushing | Lemonte Booker | 26 rushes, 95 yards, TD |
| Indiana State | Receiving | Bob Pugh | 8 receptions, 260 yards, 2 TD |
| Liberty | Passing | Stephen Calvert | 30/42, 379 yards, 4 TD, INT |
| Liberty | Rushing | Carrington Mosley | 22 rushes, 102 yards, 2 TD |
| Liberty | Receiving | Antonio Gandy-Golden | 7 receptions, 171 yards, TD |

### At Jacksonville State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 16 Flames | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
| • No. 5 Gamecocks | 0 | 10 | 14 | 7 | 31 |
| Statistics | LIB | JVST |
| 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 | Statistics |
| Liberty | Passing | Stephen Calvert | 22/47, 285 yards, TD, INT |
| Liberty | Rushing | Carrington Mosley | 14 rushes, 36 yards |
| Liberty | Receiving | Antonio Gandy-Golden | 7 receptions, 126 yards |
| Jacksonville State | Passing | Bryant Horn | 9/19, 181 yards, TD, INT |
| Jacksonville State | Rushing | Roc Thomas | 18 rushes, 87 yards, 2 TD |
| Jacksonville State | Receiving | Trae Berry | 1 reception, 80 yards, TD |

### Saint Francis (PA)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Red Flash | 0 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 13 |
| No. 22 Flames | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Statistics | SFU | LIB |
| 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 | Statistics |
| Saint Francis (PA) | Passing | Bear Fenimore | 23/35, 183 yards, 2 TD |
| Saint Francis (PA) | Rushing | Jymere Jordan-Toney | 22 rushes, 105 yards |
| Saint Francis (PA) | Receiving | Kamron Lewis | 10 receptions, 95 yards, TD |
| Liberty | Passing | Stephen Calvert | 21/42, 219 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Liberty | Rushing | Kentory Matthews | 5 rushes, 50 yards |
| Liberty | Receiving | Cephas Reddick | 3 receptions, 70 yards, TD |

### Kennesaw State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Owls | 7 | 21 | 7 | 7 | 42 |
| Flames | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 28 |
| Statistics | KENN | LIB |
| 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 | Statistics |
| Kennesaw State | Passing | Chandler Burks | 2/7, 9 yards, TD, INT |
| Kennesaw State | Rushing | Shaquil Terry | 9 rushes, 126 yards, TD |
| Kennesaw State | Receiving | Justin Sumpter | 2 receptions, 9 yards, TD |
| Liberty | Passing | Stephen Calvert | 19/26, 234 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Liberty | Rushing | Carrington Mosley | 14 rushes, 75 yards, 2 TD |
| Liberty | Receiving | Antonio Gandy-Golden | 4 receptions, 89 yards, TD |

### At Monmouth

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Flames | 7 | 12 | 20 | 0 | 39 |
| • Hawks | 21 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 56 |
| Statistics | LIB | MON |
| 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 | Statistics |
| Liberty | Passing | Stephen Calvert | 25/50, 408 yards, 2 TD |
| Liberty | Rushing | Carrington Mosley | 10 rushes, 71 yards |
| Liberty | Receiving | Antonio Gandy-Golden | 9 receptions, 127 yards, 2 TD |
| Monmouth | Passing | Kenji Bahar | 14/25, 244 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Monmouth | Rushing | Eric Zokouri | 18 rushes, 193 yards, 2 TD |
| Monmouth | Receiving | Reggie White Jr. | 10 receptions, 187 yards, 2 TD |

### At Gardner–Webb

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Flames | 6 | 6 | 7 | 14 | 33 |
| Runnin' Bulldogs | 0 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 17 |
| Statistics | LIB | WEBB |
| 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 | Statistics |
| Liberty | Passing | Stephen Calvert | 21/34, 333 yards, 2 TD |
| Liberty | Rushing | Carrington Mosley | 20 rushes, 123 yards, 2 TD |
| Liberty | Receiving | Antonio Gandy-Golden | 4 receptions, 123 yards, TD |
| Gardner–Webb | Passing | Tyrell Maxwell | 13/32, 206 yards, TD, 3 INT |
| Gardner–Webb | Rushing | Jayln Cagle | 24 rushes, 179 yards, TD |
| Gardner–Webb | Receiving | Brody Rollins | 3 receptions, 61 yards, TD |

### Duquesne

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Dukes | 14 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| • Flames | 7 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 27 |
| Statistics | DUQ | LIB |
| 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 | Statistics |
| Duquesne | Passing | Tommy Stuart | 13/23, 139 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Duquesne | Rushing | A. J. Hines | 25 rushes, 253 yards, 2 TD |
| Duquesne | Receiving | Chavas Rawlins | 5 receptions, 51 yards, TD |
| Liberty | Passing | Stephen Calvert | 23/46, 211 yards, TD |
| Liberty | Rushing | Carrington Mosley | 30 rushes, 151 yards, 2 TD |
| Liberty | Receiving | Antonio Gandy-Golden | 8 receptions, 65 yards |

### Presbyterian

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Blue Hose | 7 | 0 | 14 | 7 | 28 |
| • Flames | 24 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 47 |
| Statistics | PRES | LIB |
| 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 | Statistics |
| Presbyterian | Passing | Will Brock | 16/33, 297 yards, 2 TD |
| Presbyterian | Rushing | C. J. Marable | 23 rushes, 126 yards |
| Presbyterian | Receiving | Darquez Watson | 2 receptions, 67 yards |
| Liberty | Passing | Stephen Calvert | 14/26, 311 yards, 3 TD |
| Liberty | Rushing | Carrington Mosley | 27 rushes, 149 yards, TD |
| Liberty | Receiving | Cephas Reddick | 4 receptions, 125 yards, 2 TD |

### At Charleston Southern

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Flames | 0 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 19 |
| • Buccaneers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 13 | 20 |
| Statistics | LIB | CHSO |
| 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 | Statistics |
| Liberty | Passing | Stephen Calvert | 25/44, 255 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Liberty | Rushing | Frankie Hickson | 11 rushes, 33 yards |
| Liberty | Receiving | Antonio Gandy-Golden | 10 receptions, 113 yards, 2 TD |
| Charleston Southern | Passing | London Johnson | 13/27, 186 yards |
| Charleston Southern | Rushing | Noah Shuler | 13 rushes, 84 yards, TD |
| Charleston Southern | Receiving | Kameron Brown | 4 receptions, 106 yards |