Host Liberty University scored 62 unanswered points in the second and third quarters en route to 69-21 pasting of Norfolk State on Saturday afternoon at Williams Stadium. The loss was the eighth in a row for the Spartans, breaking the old school-record of seven consecutive losses set in 1998-99.

The 69 points represents the second-most NSU has ever allowed, surpassed only by the 84 Florida A&M put up in 1998.

NSU (1-9) appeared as though it might break its losing streak after a solid first quarter. The Spartans led 14-7 after one quarter thanks to two long touchdown passes from Dontrell Leonard. Two plays after a Liberty punt pinned NSU at its own 1, the redshirt junior quarterback hooked up with another redshirt junior, Howard Gilmore, for a school-record 97-yard touchdown pass on a fade pattern down the right sideline. Gilmore caught the ball at about his own 40, then outran two Flames to the end zone as NSU scored first in a game for just the second time this season. Antonio Gomez’s extra point made it 7-0 with 10:06 left in the first quarter.

Liberty responded with an eight-play, 66-yard drive which Sam Gado capped with a 3-yard run, tying the game at 7-all with 6:13 left.

Leonard struck again. He capped a six-play, 75-yard drive with a 50-yard scoring strike to senior Darryl Johnson on a post pattern, and NSU led 14-7 with 3:29 left in the opening quarter. But the Flames erupted in the second quarter, scoring on all seven of their possessions The first was set up by a Terrell Johnson fumble, which LU recovered at the NSU 32. Scott Kiovsky kicked a 42-yard field goal to bring LU within four early in the second quarter.

After NSU went three-and-out, the Flames took over at the 50. A Dre Barnes 44-yard run set up Eugene Goodman’s 3-yard touchdown, giving the Flames the lead for good with 12:42 left in the half.

A short punt set up the Flames at the NSU 43. On first down, Adrian Hall took a lateral from quarterback J.R. Barley and found Lauren Williams for a 43-yard trick TD pass play, and LU led 24-14 with 10:55 left in the half.

Special teams again proved critical. Liberty’s Harris blocked Gomez’s punt, and the Flames recovered at the NSU 2, setting up a 2-yard run by Barnes for a 31-14 lead with 9:37 left.

NSU’s woes continued. After a three-and-out, which included another sack of Leonard, Gomez took a bad snap and punted just 19 yards to the NSU 33. Two plays later, Barnes scored from 35 yards to make it 38-14 with 7:10 left in the half.

After yet another three-and-out, Gomez had trouble handling another bad snap, and C. Vaden tackled the freshman NSU punter at the Spartan 24. Five plays later, Barnes had a 3-yard run for a 45-14 lead with 2:57 left in the half.

A Leonard interception, by C.J. Moore, set up the Flames’ final score of the first half, a 23-yard field goal by Kiovsky.

The 41-point outburst set a new Liberty record for points scored in a quarter. Barnes finished the first half with 26 carries for 220 yards.

He wouldn’t be needed much in the second half. He finished the day with 230 yards on 30 carries, giving way early in the third quarter to Gado, Goodman and others. Gado scored on a 62-yard run in the third quarter, and Goodman had two scoring runs in the quarter, giving the Flames a 69-14 lead entering the fourth.

NSU closed the scoring with an 11-yard run by Monte Anthony with 11:25 left.

NSU surrendered a season-high 459 yards rushing, including 230 by Barnes, 110 on seven carries by Gado, and 79 on eight carries by Goodman. Goodman and Barnes had three TDs each, and Gado had two.

NSU ends the season with two MEAC road games, starting next Saturday at fellow winless MEAC opponent Delaware State (0-9, 0-5).