Liberty Dominates Western Kentucky 38-21 in Week 13
Liberty defeated Western Kentucky 38-21 in Week 13, with the Flames controlling much of the contest despite a competitive second half. Liberty's defense set the tone early, with Jerome Jolly Jr. intercepting a Caden Veltkamp pass and returning it to the Western Kentucky 11-yard line in the first quarter. The home team built momentum in the second quarter, scoring 21 points to establish command of the game.
Western Kentucky mounted a brief challenge in the third quarter before Liberty pulled away with 10 fourth-quarter points. Ryan Burger led Liberty's passing attack with 29 completions, while Kaidon Salter contributed 66 rushing yards. For Western Kentucky, Kisean Johnson led receivers with 94 yards despite the lopsided final score.
The game exceeded the over-under of 55.5 points, with the final total of 59 points going over. Liberty covered the spread as the 1-point favorite. The contest featured 10 lead changes, indicating competitive play throughout, though Liberty's second-quarter explosion proved decisive in securing the victory.
AI-generated recap · Sep 2, 2026
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Western Kentucky | 0 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 21 |
 Liberty | 0 | 21 | 7 | 10 | 38 |
Scoring Timeline
Drive Chart
Box Score
| Statistic | Western Kentucky | Liberty |
|---|---|---|
| Passing | 20-34 | 7-12 |
| Pass Yards | 262 | 137 |
| Rush Yards | 107 | 419 |
| Total Yards | 369 | 556 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 1 |
| 3rd Down | 6-10 | 8-13 |
| Penalties | 2-26 | 3-20 |
| Possession | 25:17 | 34:43 |
Player Leaders
Player Leaders
Play-by-Play
Riley Stephens kickoff for 57 yds , Julian Gray return for 43 yds to the LIB 22 Liberty Penalty, Offensive Holding (10 Yards) to the LIB 20
Julian Gray run for 3 yds to the LIB 23
Quinton Cooley run for 18 yds to the LIB 41 for a 1ST down
Quinton Cooley run for 5 yds to the LIB 46
Quinton Cooley run for 4 yds to the 50 yard line
Quinton Cooley run for 5 yds to the WKU 45 for a 1ST down
Kaidon Salter run for 10 yds to the WKU 35 for a 1ST down
Quinton Cooley run for a loss of 4 yards to the WKU 39
Quinton Cooley run for 4 yds to the WKU 35
Kaidon Salter pass incomplete
Max Morgan punt for 35 yds for a touchback
Elijah Young run for 4 yds to the WKU 24
Caden Veltkamp pass intercepted Kisean Johnson return for no gain to the WKU 34
Kaidon Salter pass incomplete
Kaidon Salter run for 7 yds to the WKU 27
Kaidon Salter run for a loss of 4 yards to the WKU 31
Kaidon Salter pass incomplete
Elijah Young run for 5 yds to the WKU 36
Caden Veltkamp pass complete to Elijah Young for 15 yds to the LIB 49 for a 1ST down
Caden Veltkamp pass complete to Easton Messer for 20 yds to the LIB 29 for a 1ST down
Caden Veltkamp run for a loss of 1 yard to the LIB 30
Caden Veltkamp pass complete to Elijah Young for 4 yds to the LIB 26
Caden Veltkamp pass complete to Kisean Johnson for 10 yds to the LIB 16 for a 1ST down
George Hart III run for 1 yd to the LIB 15
Caden Veltkamp pass intercepted Jerome Jolly Jr. return for 3 yds to the LIB 11
Quinton Cooley run for no gain to the LIB 11
Kaidon Salter run for 12 yds to the LIB 23 for a 1ST down
Quinton Cooley run for 5 yds to the LIB 28
Vaughn Blue run for 18 yds to the LIB 46 for a 1ST down
Vaughn Blue run for 5 yds to the WKU 49
Quinton Cooley run for 4 yds to the WKU 45
Quinton Cooley run for 9 yds to the WKU 36 Quinton Cooley fumbled, recovered by WKU Devonte' Mathews D. Mathews return for 0 yds
Elijah Young run for 3 yds to the WKU 39
Caden Veltkamp pass complete to Dalvin Smith for 38 yds to the LIB 23 for a 1ST down
Elijah Young run for no gain to the LIB 23
Caden Veltkamp run for 10 yds to the LIB 13 for a 1ST down
Caden Veltkamp pass complete to Easton Messer for 4 yds to the LIB 9
Caden Veltkamp pass complete to Dalvin Smith for 9 yds for a TD (Lucas Carneiro KICK)
Riley Stephens kickoff for 63 yds , Julian Gray return for no gain to the LIB 8
(13:13) SALTER, Kaidon pass deep to the right incomplete intended for MOBLEY, Tyson thrown to the LU25, clock 13:08. PENALTY WKU Pass Interference on JOHNSON JR., Anthony enforced at the spot of the foul for 11 yards to the LU19 and results in automatic 1ST DOWN [NHSG]. NO PLAY (replay the down).
Kaidon Salter pass incomplete
Billy Lucas run for 11 yds to the LIB 30 for a 1ST down
Kaidon Salter pass complete to Vaughn Blue for 7 yds to the LIB 37
Billy Lucas run for 8 yds to the LIB 45 for a 1ST down
Billy Lucas run for 7 yds to the WKU 48
Billy Lucas run for 10 yds to the WKU 38 for a 1ST down
Kaidon Salter run for 36 yds to the WKU 2 for a 1ST down
Billy Lucas run for 2 yds for a TD (Colin Karhu KICK)
George Hart III run for 1 yd to the WKU 26
Caden Veltkamp pass incomplete
Caden Veltkamp pass complete to K.D. Hutchinson for 25 yds to the LIB 49 for a 1ST down
Caden Veltkamp pass incomplete
Elijah Young run for 6 yds to the LIB 43
Elijah Young run for 7 yds to the LIB 36 for a 1ST down
George Hart III run for no gain to the LIB 36
Caden Veltkamp pass complete to Kisean Johnson for 3 yds Kisean Johnson fumbled, recovered by LIB Bryce Dixon B. Dixon return for 0 yds
Quinton Cooley run for 15 yds to the LIB 48 for a 1ST down
Quinton Cooley run for 5 yds to the WKU 47
Julian Gray run for 5 yds to the WKU 42 for a 1ST down
Quinton Cooley run for 4 yds to the WKU 38
Quinton Cooley run for 5 yds to the WKU 33
Quinton Cooley run for 4 yds to the WKU 29 for a 1ST down
Quinton Cooley run for 7 yds to the WKU 22
Quinton Cooley run for 22 yds for a TD (Colin Karhu KICK)
Caden Veltkamp pass complete to Elijah Young for 7 yds to the WKU 32
Elijah Young run for 30 yds to the LIB 38 for a 1ST down
K.D. Hutchinson run for a loss of 6 yards to the LIB 44
Caden Veltkamp pass incomplete
Caden Veltkamp pass incomplete
Cole Maynard punt for 34 yds
Billy Lucas run for a loss of 3 yards to the LIB 7
Billy Lucas run for 4 yds to the LIB 11
Billy Lucas run for 36 yds to the LIB 47 for a 1ST down
Kaidon Salter pass complete to Reese Smith for 16 yds to the WKU 37 for a 1ST down
Western Kentucky Penalty, Personal Foul (Marcus Patterson) to the WKU 14 for a 1ST down
Billy Lucas run for 3 yds to the WKU 11
Kaidon Salter pass complete to Julian Gray for 11 yds for a TD (Colin Karhu KICK)
(00:10) [NHSG] Kneel down by VELTKAMP, Caden at WKU24 (team loss of 1), clock 00:03.
End of 2nd Quarter
Elijah Young run for 5 yds to the WKU 30
Caden Veltkamp pass complete to Dalvin Smith for 7 yds to the WKU 37 for a 1ST down
Elijah Young run for no gain to the WKU 37
Caden Veltkamp pass complete to Dalvin Smith for 9 yds to the WKU 46
Caden Veltkamp run for no gain to the WKU 46
Caden Veltkamp run for 2 yds to the WKU 48 for a 1ST down
Caden Veltkamp pass complete to Kisean Johnson for 32 yds to the LIB 20 for a 1ST down
Caden Veltkamp pass complete to Easton Messer for 18 yds to the LIB 2 for a 1ST down
George Hart III run for 2 yds for a TD (Lucas Carneiro KICK)
Riley Stephens kickoff for 59 yds , Julian Gray return for 56 yds to the WKU 38
Kaidon Salter pass complete to Julian Gray for 36 yds to the WKU 2 for a 1ST down
Quinton Cooley run for 2 yds for a TD (Colin Karhu KICK)
Jalen Hampton run for 9 yds to the WKU 34
Jalen Hampton run for 11 yds to the WKU 45 for a 1ST down
Caden Veltkamp pass incomplete
Caden Veltkamp pass complete to L.T. Sanders for 1 yd to the WKU 46
Caden Veltkamp pass complete to Kisean Johnson for 11 yds to the LIB 43 for a 1ST down
Caden Veltkamp pass incomplete
Caden Veltkamp pass complete to Kisean Johnson for 7 yds to the LIB 36
Caden Veltkamp run for 10 yds to the LIB 26 for a 1ST down
Caden Veltkamp pass incomplete
L.T. Sanders run for 2 yds to the LIB 24
Caden Veltkamp pass complete to Easton Messer for 11 yds to the LIB 13 for a 1ST down
George Hart III run for a loss of 3 yards to the LIB 16
Caden Veltkamp pass complete to Kisean Johnson for 16 yds for a TD (Lucas Carneiro KICK)
Riley Stephens kickoff for 54 yds , Julian Gray return for 17 yds to the LIB 28
Billy Lucas run for 6 yds to the LIB 34
Liberty Penalty, False Start (Jordan White) to the LIB 29
Vaughn Blue run for 11 yds to the LIB 40 for a 1ST down
Billy Lucas run for 7 yds to the LIB 47
Kaidon Salter sacked by Kent Robinson for a loss of 12 yards to the LIB 35
Kaidon Salter pass complete to Donte Lee Jr. for 24 yds to the WKU 41 for a 1ST down
Liberty Penalty, False Start (Jacob Jenkins) to the WKU 46
Billy Lucas run for 8 yds to the WKU 38
Billy Lucas run for 8 yds to the WKU 30 for a 1ST down
Billy Lucas run for no gain to the WKU 30
Billy Lucas run for 9 yds to the WKU 21
Julian Gray run for 6 yds to the WKU 15 for a 1ST down
Kaidon Salter run for 3 yds to the WKU 12
Billy Lucas run for 1 yd to the WKU 11
Kaidon Salter pass incomplete
Colin Karhu 29 yd FG GOOD
Caden Veltkamp pass incomplete
Caden Veltkamp pass complete to Kisean Johnson for 15 yds to the WKU 40 for a 1ST down
Caden Veltkamp run for 1 yd to the WKU 41
Caden Veltkamp pass incomplete
Caden Veltkamp pass incomplete
Cole Maynard punt for 47 yds , Brylan Green returns for 2 yds to the LIB 14
Quinton Cooley run for 14 yds to the LIB 28 for a 1ST down
Quinton Cooley run for 24 yds to the WKU 48 for a 1ST down
Quinton Cooley run for 3 yds to the WKU 45
Quinton Cooley run for 1 yd to the WKU 44
Kaidon Salter run for 7 yds to the WKU 37 for a 1ST down
Kaidon Salter run for a loss of 4 yards to the WKU 41
Quinton Cooley run for 8 yds to the WKU 33
Kaidon Salter pass complete to Donte Lee Jr. for 14 yds to the WKU 19 for a 1ST down
Quinton Cooley run for 2 yds to the WKU 17
Billy Lucas run for 7 yds to the WKU 10
Billy Lucas run for 6 yds to the WKU 4 for a 1ST down
Billy Lucas run for 1 yd to the WKU 3
Kaidon Salter run for 3 yds for a TD (Colin Karhu KICK)
Caden Veltkamp run for 3 yds to the WKU 28
Caden Veltkamp pass incomplete
Caden Veltkamp run for 5 yds to the WKU 33
Caden Veltkamp pass intercepted Kisean Johnson return for no gain to the WKU 38
Vaughn Blue run for 4 yds to the WKU 34
James Jointer Jr. run for 2 yds to the WKU 32
James Jointer Jr. run for 2 yds to the WKU 30
Ryan Burger pass complete to Treon Sibley for 29 yds to the WKU 1 for a 1ST down