The Shadow
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (VR) – Two fourth-quarter scores and a trio of Chase Reeves’ field goals lifted Liberty to a hard-fought 30-14 Conference USA road win over New Mexico State, Saturday evening, at Aggie Memorial Stadium.
With the victory, Liberty runs its win streak to eight, moving to 8-1 on the season and remains atop the CUSA standings with a 5-0 conference record.
Liberty is tied with Boise State for the third-longest FBS win streak in the country, ranking behind Utah (15 games) and UCLA (nine games).
The loss drops New Mexico State to 3-6 on the season and to 2-3 in Conference USA play.
Liberty, who came into the day with the top ranked offense in CUSA (411.0 yards per game), found its stride in the fourth quarter.
The Flames racked up 159 of their 399 total offensive yards during the final 15 minutes of play, while scoring two of their three touchdowns to put the game out of reach.
With his three field goals during the first half of the game, kicker Chase Reeves etched his name into the Liberty record books. The sixth-year kicker has connected on his first 14 field goal attempts of the year, setting a new program record for consecutive field goals made.
New Mexico State running back James Jones came into the game leading CUSA and ranked No. 13 in the country in rushing yards (889) and rushing yards per carry (6.40). The Flames limited him to 51 yards on 15 carries, averaging just 3.4 yards per carry.
Kam Davis led the Flames’ rushing attack with 15 carries for 63 yards, while scoring his team-leading eighth rushing touchdown.
Deshawn Purdie finished the night completing 19-of-28 passing attempts for 252 yards and a touchdown pass.
Purdie’s scoring throw was to Makai Jackson at the end of the first half, which was one of six receptions for the wide receiver. Jackson led all Flames’ wide receivers with 76 yards.
Derrell Farrar led Liberty’s defensive effort, finishing the night with a season-high 10 tackles. He was part of a defense that forced a season-best three turnovers (two interceptions and a fumble).
The Flames’ win today:
- Gives the Flames their first eight-game winning streak since Liberty opened the 2023 season with 13 consecutive victories (Sept. 2-Dec. 1, 2023). It is the sixth winning streak of eight-plus contests in program history.
- Marks the Flames’ fifth consecutive victory over New Mexico State, improving the team’s all-time record against the Aggies to 8-2.
- Enables the Flames to start CUSA play with a 5-0 record for the first time since they went 8-0 in conference play in 2023.
- Gives the Flames a 22-8 record in their first 30 matchups with CUSA opponents since joining the conference in 2023.
- Is the Flames’ fourth road triumph of the year, equaling the team’s total amount of road wins from the 2024 and 2025 seasons combined.
- Marks the 17th time in 54 seasons as a football program the Flames have recorded eight or more victories, including the seventh eight-plus win campaign in the last eight years.
Box Score Highlights:
Final Score: 30-14 (Liberty)
Liberty (8-1, 5-0 CUSA)
New Mexico State (3-6, 2-3 CUSA)
Location: Aggie Memorial Stadium (Las Cruces, N.M.)
Attendance: 9,459
Play-By-Play Breakdown:
First Quarter
- For the first time since the Ball State game on Sept. 19, Liberty allowed a first quarter touchdown with the Aggies taking a 7-0 lead at the 11:29 mark. NMSU quickly moved down the field on a seven-play, 75-yard drive that was capped by a 24-yard touchdown pass from Trey Hedden to AJ Williams, III.
- For the eighth-straight game, the Flames scored on their opening drive of the contest, trimming their deficit to 7-3 on a 35-yard Chase Reeves field goal at 4:02. The 13-play, 61-yard drive took 7:23 off the clock and featured an even mix of six rushing plays and six passing plays.
Second Quarter
- Following Liberty’s 12th takeaway of the 2026 season, the Flames were able to cut their deficit to one point, 7-6, on a 41-yard Reeves field goal at 9:19. A 51-yard Sam Crossan punt pinned NMSU deep in their own territory and the Aggies fumbled the ball away after Deuce Spurlock jarred the ball loose and Jayden Davis jumped on the loose ball.
- Reeves’ record setting kick gave the Flames their first lead of the night, 9-7, with 4:11 left to play before halftime. The nine-play, 25-yard scoring drive was finished off by Reeves’ 49-yard field goal, his third field goal of the game and matched his longest field goal as a Flame.
- With 18 seconds left before the half, the Flames found the end zone for the first time, giving Liberty a 16-7 edge at the intermission. A video review allowed the officials to rule a 15-yard touchdown pass from Deshawn Purdie was complete to Makai Jackson, finishing an 11-play, 68-yard scoring drive.
Third Quarter
- Neither team found much of an offensive rhythm during the third quarter. The two teams combined for 146 yards of total offensive and just two third-down conversions.
- NMSU picked up one-third of those yards on the second-to-last play of the quarter, a 44-yard pass play from Hedden to Williams.
Fourth Quarter
- The lengthy pass play set up New Mexico State’s second touchdown play of the game, allowing the home team to cut its deficit to two, 16-14, with 13:00 left in the game. On the sixth play of the quarter, Hedden completed a five-yard pass to Williams, finishing off a 12-play, 90-yard scoring drive for the Aggies.
- The Flames quickly responded on the following drive, scoring on a bruising eight-yard run by Kam Davis at 10:12 to put Liberty up 23-14. The run was set up by back-to-back sideline completions from Purdie to Jackson (24 yards) and Jamari Person (34 yards).
- Liberty put the game out of reach with 10-play, 72-yard scoring drive that was finished off by a one-yard touchdown run by Peyton Jones with 1:03 left on the clock.
What’s Next:
The Flames will begin their final homestand of the 2026 regular season when they host Middle Tennessee at Williams Stadium on Saturday, November 14.
The game will serve as Liberty’s annual Military Appreciation Day game. The day will include a moving halftime performance by the Spirit of the Mountain marching band where each branch of the military will be honored.
Liberty has won each of the last three meetings against Middle Tennessee, including both games since the Flames joined Conference USA in 2023.
The last time the Blue Raiders visited Lynchburg, Liberty needed a fourth-quarter defensive stand to secure a 42-35 win on Oct. 17, 2023.
