Liberty shuts out UMass 45-0, Mack has TDs of 59, 54 yards

LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) — Malik Willis passed for three touchdowns in the first half and Liberty blanked winless UMass 45-0 on Friday, rebounding from a stinging one-point loss in its previous game.

Liberty (9-1), which outgained the Minutemen 629 yards to 227, scored touchdowns on four straight drives and added a field goal in the waning seconds of the first half to build a 31-0 halftime lead, adding another field goal and two more TDs on five second-half possessions.

Willis was 16-for-24 for 223 yards passing. He connected for TDs with Kevin Shaa, Michael Bolinger and Demario Douglas. Peytton Pickett and Joshua Mack each rushed for more than 100 yards — Pickett picked up 125 on 10 carries with a 16-yard TD. Mack ran for 109 on 11 carries and touchdown bursts of 59 and 54-yards.

Receiver DJ Stubbs caught 3 passes for 56 yards and surpassed 1,500 career receiving yards.

The Minutemen (0-4) end a truncated season. The school had originally opted not to play during the coronavirus pandemic but changed course in September, managing to schedule four games. UMass was outscored 161-16.

Liberty ends its season at unbeaten No. 16 Coastal Carolina next Saturday and had also been undefeated before falling 15-14 at NC State a week ago.

Attendance was capped at 250, per new orders from Virginia's governor.

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