Liberty Flames football routs FIU 49-10 at Williams Stadium

The Liberty Flames scored on six of their first seven possessions and beat Florida International 49-10 on Saturday afternoon at Williams Stadium in Lynchburg, improving to 7-1.

Liberty led 28-0 at halftime and 42-0 after three quarters. FIU did not score until a 38-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter.

Purdie sharp through the air

Deshawn Purdie completed 16 of 19 passes for 227 yards and a touchdown, an 11-yard throw to Zeke Wimbush in the third quarter. He also threw an interception. Makai Jackson led the receivers with six catches for 86 yards, and LaKelsey Johnson Jr. had a 31-yard reception.

Liberty finished with 391 total yards to FIU's 210. The Flames averaged 10.7 yards per pass and went 5-for-8 on third down.

Ground game spread the scoring

Liberty ran for 145 yards on 35 carries, and the touchdowns came from several backs. Jaylon Coleman opened the scoring with a 14-yard run in the first quarter. Kam Davis ran for two second-quarter scores, from 3 yards and 2 yards. Ethan Vasko added 1-yard touchdown runs in the second and third quarters. Kanye Udoh led the team with 31 yards and finished a fourth-quarter drive with a 1-yard score.

That Udoh touchdown capped a drive in which he carried four times for 33 yards after a fourth-down stop gave Liberty the ball at the FIU 42.

Defense dominates

FIU managed 34 rushing yards on 23 carries, 1.5 yards per attempt, and converted 2 of 10 third downs. The Panthers' first three possessions ended in a punt, a missed field goal and another punt, and they later threw an interception in the first half.

Lorenzo Payne had 1.5 sacks, and Brenton Williams and Markus Clark each had one. Samuel Cohen intercepted a pass, and Deuce Spurlock led Liberty with seven tackles. Izaiah Guy had two tackles for loss.

FIU turned the ball over once, but Liberty also threw an interception, so turnovers were even at one apiece.

Late FIU touchdown

After the field goal, FIU got on the board with a touchdown when JJ Kohl hit Jojo Stone from 14 yards out with 3:26 left. Kohl finished 21 of 28 for 164 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Devonte Lyons ran for 52 yards on 10 carries, and Kyle McNeal had six catches for 56 yards.

FIU fell to 3-5, with an 0-4 road record.

Next up

Liberty, 4-0 at home and 4-0 in conference play, travels to face the New Mexico State Aggies on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. ET.