Liberty University led the Football Bowl Subdivision in come-from-behind victories with eight last season, and it needed another one on Saturday.
The Flames spotted the University of Maine the game’s first touchdown but responded by scoring 28 unanswered points, including 21 in the fourth quarter, to beat the Football Championship Subdivision Black Bears 28-7 at Williams Stadium in Lynchburg, Va. in a mutual season opener.
It was Liberty’s sixth straight season-opening win.
UMaine is now 4-28 against teams in the FBS. FBS teams have more scholarships and financial resources than FCS schools. Liberty is 10-0 vs. FCS schools since joining the FBS in 2018 and has made six straight bowl game appearances.
Redshirt junior quarterback Ethan Vasko, a transfer from Coastal Carolina (S.C) making his first start for the Flames, threw three touchdown passes and rushed for the other one to lead the Flames.
Junior running back Sincere Baines scored UMaine’s touchdown on a 77-yard run which opened the scoring early in the second quarter.
The game was tied 7-7 early in the fourth quarter when the Black Bears turned the ball over on downs at the Liberty-38 yard line.
The Flames scored what proved to be the winning touchdown on the ensuing drive, marching 62 yards on six plays with Georgia Tech transfer Evan Dickens hauling in a 24-yard TD pass from Vasko with 10:34 remaining.
On UMaine’s next possession, Amarian Williams intercepted a Carter Peevy pass at the Black Bears’ 48-yard line and the Flames cashed in on the turnover with Vasko passing to Donte Lee Jr. for a 16-yard TD with 4:04 remaining.
UMaine turned the ball over on downs deep in its own territory on its next drive and Vasko capped the scoring with a 13-yard run.
The Black Bears were in position to take at least a seven-point lead into the intermission but Peevy had the ball slip out of his hands as he was trying to pass and CJ Bazile Jr. recovered the fumble at the UMaine 38 yard-line with 24 seconds left in the half.
Vasko completed a nine-yard pass to Reese Smith and a 20-yarder to Jamari Person before finding the wide open Smith in the corner of the end zone to tie it 7-7 with seven seconds left.
Baines, who led NCAA Division II and set a school record by averaging 7.59 yards per carry for the University of North Carolina Pembroke in 2023, had staked the Black Bears to a 7-0 lead with his 77-yard touchdown dash.
UMaine outgained Liberty 163-161 in the first half but the Flames had a 230-153 edge in the second half.
Vasko completed 19 of 33 passes for 197 yards and he was also the Flames’ leading rusher with 63 yards on 13 carries. Caden Williams carried the ball nine times for 52 yards. Smith caught a game-high six passes for 46 yards.
Aidan Vaughan’s six tackles and Williams’ five led the Liberty defense.
Baines, a junior, rushed for a game-high 118 yards on 11 carries in his Black Bear debut. He also caught two passes for 11 yards. Rashawn Marshall ran for 76 yards on 11 carries. Peevy completed just 13 of 31 passes for 132 yards including a 4-for-16 showing in the second half for 52 yards.
Harvard University transfer Scott Woods caught four passes for 34 yards and Mo Irefin snared three for 35.
Linebacker Christian Thomas had a game-high and career-high 15 tackles for UMaine and safety Devin Vaught had nine.
UMaine turned the ball over twice leading to 14 Liberty points while Liberty did not have a turnover. Liberty went 11 for 19 on third down and UMaine was 2 for 11.
UMaine will travel to William and Mary (Va.) for its first Coastal Athletic Association game next Saturday at 6 while Liberty will travel to Jacksonville State (Ala.).for a noon Conference USA contest.
