Purdie throws 3 TD passes as Liberty rolls past Ball State 51-15

Deshawn Purdie throws three touchdown passes to lead Liberty to a 51-15 victory over Ball State on SaturdayByThe Associated PressSeptember 19, 2026, 7:22 PMLYNCHBURG, Va. -- Deshawn Purdie threw three touchdown passes to lead Liberty to a 51-15 victory over Ball State on Saturday. Purdie connected twice with Jamari Person for scores and another to Makai Jackson, who finished with four receptions for 88 yards. Purdie was 13-of-20 passing for 211 yards.Kam Davis, Ethan Vasko and Jaylin Belford added touchdown runs for Liberty (2-1). Jaylen Henderson threw a 21-yard pass to Terron Kellman with 7:29 left to play. TJ Horton's 2-yard touchdown run capped a nine-play, 75-yard drive for Ball State (1-2) that tied it 7-all late in the first quarter. Purdie later answered with 16- and 7-yard touchdown passes to Person to help the Flames take a 23-7 lead into halftime. Horton finished with 79 yards rushing on eight carries. He added another short-yardage touchdown run in the third quarter for the Cardinals. Liberty is 4-0 at home against Mid-American Conference opponents and 8-12 overall. Popular ReadsBall State: At Kent State on Saturday. Liberty: At Coastal Carolina on Saturday. ___Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here. Visit the Top 25 here and see AP’s full college football coverage here.Sponsored Content by Taboola