Willis, Douglas propel Liberty past North Texas 35-26
DENTON, Texas (AP) Malik Willis threw three touchdown passes and Demario Douglas returned a punt 72 yards for the go-ahead score as Liberty scored the final 21 points to upend North Texas 35-26 in nonconference play on Saturday.
Liberty (6-2), playing as an independent, trailed 20-7 after Aaron Beckham's 27-yard field goal for the Mean Green with 1:51 left in the first half. But backup quarterback Johnathan Bennett fired a 39-yard scoring strike to CJ Daniels to pull the Flames within six at intermission.
North Texas (1-6) stretched its lead to 26-14 on Austin Aune's 6-yard TD toss to Jason Pirtle with 7:27 remaining in the third quarter, but Aune's 2-point pass attempt failed and it was all downhill for the Mean Green from there. Willis connected with Daniels for a 20-yard TD to cut the Flames' deficit to 26-21. Liberty's defense forced a three-and-out and Douglas delivered his go-ahead TD with 3:03 remaining in the third quarter. Willis capped the scoring with a 37-yard TD strike to Shedro Louis early in the fourth.
Willis completed 12 of 18 passes for 222 yards, while Bennett was 7-of-18 passing for 88 yards. Daniels finished with seven receptions for 135 yards.
Aune completed 22 of 35 passes for 212 yards with two interceptions for North Texas. Ayo Adeyi had a 42-yard TD run and finished with 99 yards on 16 carries.
---
More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25
Copyright 2025 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
|
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
M. Willis
7 QB
|
M. Willis | 12/18 | 215 | 3 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Bennett
11 QB
|
J. Bennett | 7/18 | 88 | 1 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
T. Green
15 RB
|
T. Green | 5 | 25 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Mack
8 RB
|
J. Mack | 5 | 16 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Louis
1 RB
|
S. Louis | 3 | 11 | 0 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Bennett
11 QB
|
J. Bennett | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Willis
7 QB
|
M. Willis | 13 | -8 | 0 | 12 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
C. Daniels
4 WR
|
C. Daniels | 12 | 7 | 128 | 2 | 39 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Shaa
2 WR
|
K. Shaa | 5 | 2 | 55 | 1 | 28 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
S. Louis
1 RB
|
S. Louis | 1 | 1 | 37 | 1 | 37 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Stubbs
5 WR
|
D. Stubbs | 4 | 2 | 27 | 0 | 22 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Douglas
3 WR
|
D. Douglas | 3 | 2 | 21 | 0 | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Green
15 RB
|
T. Green | 1 | 1 | 18 | 0 | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
N. Frith
81 WR
|
N. Frith | 2 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. Brumm
19 WR
|
B. Brumm | 3 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Mack
8 RB
|
J. Mack | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Huntley
0 TE
|
J. Huntley | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
R. Harding
0 LB
|
R. Harding | 6-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Jackson
12 LB
|
S. Jackson | 5-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Jimmerson
13 S
|
J. Jimmerson | 5-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Scruggs
1 S
|
J. Scruggs | 5-0 | 0.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Walker
34 LB
|
A. Walker | 4-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Treadwell
9 S
|
J. Treadwell | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Lowe
29 CB
|
D. Lowe | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Thomas
5 S
|
S. Thomas | 2-0 | 0.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Dupree
35 LB
|
T. Dupree | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
E. James
55 DT
|
E. James | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Rusins
99 DT
|
R. Rusins | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Stone
23 S
|
C. Stone | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Clark
10 DE
|
T. Clark | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Sings V
3 DE
|
S. Sings V | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Anthony
22 CB
|
D. Anthony | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Washington
24 DE
|
A. Washington | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Megginson
4 CB
|
C. Megginson | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
B. Beck
36 K
|
B. Beck | 0/1 | 0 | 5/5 | 5 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
M. Morgan
37 K
|
M. Morgan | 5 | 33.6 | 1 | 47 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
D. Douglas 3 WR
|
D. Douglas | 1 | 72.0 | 72 | 1 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
A. Aune
2 QB
|
A. Aune | 22/35 | 212 | 1 | 2 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
A. Adeyi
39 RB
|
A. Adeyi | 16 | 99 | 1 | 42 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Torrey
3 RB
|
D. Torrey | 29 | 73 | 1 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Aune
2 QB
|
A. Aune | 11 | 56 | 0 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Burns
14 WR
|
R. Burns | 1 | 10 | 0 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||
I. Ragsdale
25 RB
|
I. Ragsdale | 2 | 5 | 0 | 3 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
D. Ward Jr.
83 WR
|
D. Ward Jr. | 5 | 4 | 57 | 0 | 33 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
R. Burns
14 WR
|
R. Burns | 9 | 6 | 53 | 0 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Pirtle
88 TE
|
J. Pirtle | 8 | 5 | 38 | 1 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Torrey
3 RB
|
D. Torrey | 3 | 2 | 24 | 0 | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Lyles
13 WR
|
K. Lyles | 2 | 2 | 19 | 0 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. Jackson
0 WR
|
B. Jackson | 4 | 2 | 18 | 0 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Adeyi
39 RB
|
A. Adeyi | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Brown
11 WR
|
D. Brown | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
D. Novil
97 DL
|
D. Novil | 3-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Nixon III
30 LB
|
L. Nixon III | 3-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Davis
1 LB
|
K. Davis | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Davis
5 LB
|
T. Davis | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Gaddie
2 DB
|
D. Gaddie | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Davis Jr.
8 DB
|
J. Davis Jr. | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Sanders
10 DB
|
M. Sanders | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Williams
4 DB
|
D. Williams | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
H. West
27 DB
|
H. West | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
G. Murphy
9 DE
|
G. Murphy | 1-1 | 1.5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Colvin
3 DL
|
C. Colvin | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
G. Murphy
11 DE
|
G. Murphy | 0-1 | 0.5 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
A. Beckham
49 K
|
A. Beckham | 2/2 | 34 | 2/2 | 8 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
B. Rodriguez
32 P
|
B. Rodriguez | 2 | 45.0 | 1 | 51 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
R. Burns 14 WR
|
R. Burns | 1 | 20.0 | 20 | 0 |