Box Score
Kentucky Wesleyan had no answer for Liberty on Saturday night in Lynchburg, Va.
The Flames scored early and often, built a 38-point halftime lead, and went on to defeat the visiting Panthers 73-7 in a college football mismatch at Williams Stadium.
Liberty scored a pair of touchdowns in the opening three minutes and a 34-yard field goal by John Lunsford pushed the Flames in front 17-0 at 7:06 of the first quarter.
KWC responded with a 48-yard TD strike from Dalton Oliver to Jeff Ward, but it would prove to be the Panthers' only offensive highlight of the evening.
A 21-yard scoring pass from Josh Woodrum to Darrin Peterson made it 24-7 with just under four minutes left in the opening stanza.
The Flames (3-2) put the game away with touchdowns by Desmond Rice, D.J. Abnar and Gary Sampson — on a 31-yard interception return — in the second period to build a 45-7 cushion by intermission.
Rice and Abnar each scored again in the third quarter, and Liberty rounded out its scoring by getting a pair of 1-yard TD runs by Austin Kaigler in the fourth quarter.
Liberty rolled up 462 yards of total offense and limited KWC (0-4) to 212.
The Panthers were intercepted four times, and also had a blocked punt returned for a toucdown.
Liberty's Abnar led all rushers with 108 yards on 15 carries with two TDs. Through the air, Woodrum was 6-of-11 for 114 yards and two touchdowns, and backup Javan Sashaty finished 7-of-8 for 107 yards and one score.
KWC's Oliver was 12-of-23 for 141 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions. The Panthers were limited to only 41 rushing yards on 27 attempts. Ward led Wesleyan with 26 yards on seven carries, and Cole Keelan had six receptions for 68 yards. Ward caught four passes for 76 yards and a TD.
Kentucky Wesleyan plays its third consetive game on the road when it visits Saint Joseph's next Saturday. The Panthers return to Steele Stadium on Oct. 12 for their homecoming game against Missouri S&T.
