N.C. State hands Liberty first defeat

North Carolina State blocked Alex Barbir’s 39-yard field-goal attempt with 1:18 left to beat No. 21 Liberty 15-14 on Saturday night, handing the Flames their first loss this season.

Liberty (8-1) was trying to earn a third win against an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent this year, all on the road. The Flames had their shot to extend the best start in program history, too, putting together a drive to give Barbir — who had kicked a 51-yard field goal to beat Virginia Tech earlier this season — a shot at the lead.

But Vi Jones deflected the kick to set off a celebration for the Wolfpack (6-3), who moved the chains once more to run out the clock and seal a win on a tough night for both offenses.

Zonovan Knight ran for two touchdowns to lead N.C. State, including the go-ahead four-yard score with 6:53 left. That play was set up by a diving interception from freshman reserve Aydan White.

Knight also had a first-half touchdown run and ran for 96 yards on the night, while Ricky Person Jr. added 83 yards — part of a 167-yard rushing effort that largely had to carry the Wolfpack’s offense with Bailey Hockman getting nothing going consistently in the passing game.

Malik Willis threw for 172 yards and two touchdowns for Liberty but had three interceptions, two coming in the fourth quarter. He also ran for 44 yards as the Flames managed just 279 total yards.

at No. 15 Coastal Carolina 34, Appalachian State 23:

The Chanticleers have come a long way in a short amount of time. After being picked to finish last in the Sun Belt Conference’s East Division in the preseason coaches poll, Coastal Carolina grabbed control of the division with a win over the Mountaineers.

Coastal Carolina’s victory wasn’t secure until Reese White’s three-yard touchdown run with 2:24 to go gave the Chanticleers their third and final lead of the game. D’Jordan Strong picked off a pass on the ensuing possession and returned it for a touchdown to clinch it.

The Chanticleers (8-0, 6-0 Sun Belt) had lost all six previous games to the four-time defending Sun Belt champion Mountaineers (6-2, 4-1). But they held Appalachian State to two field goals in the second half after falling behind 17-9 at halftime.

The Mountaineers tried to rally after White’s score. But Strong intercepted Zac

Thomas’ pass on fourth and 22 and returned it 38 yards for a touchdown to clinch it.

No. 7 Cincinnati 36, at Central Florida 33: Desmond Ridder threw two touchdown passes and ran for two scores the Baercats beat the Knights to head into the release of the first College Football Playoff ranking unbeaten.

The Bearcats (8-0, 6-0 American) fell behind 14-3 in the first quarter against their toughest opponent yet, but grabbed the lead by halftime.

Dillon Gabriel threw for 243 yards, three touchdowns and one interception as the Knights (5-3, 4-3) lost at home for the second time this season.

at No. 8 Brigham Young 66, North Alabama 14: Tyler Allgeier ran for a career-high 141 yards and two touchdowns and the Cougars routed the Lions to improve to 9-0.

Allgeier had his fourth 100-yard game of the season. Zach Wilson threw for 212 yards and four touchdowns before halftime and added 33 yards rushing. He had a seasonhigh 256.3 quarterback rating.

BYU scored touchdowns on all six firsthalf drives. The Cougars rolled up 394 total yards and averaged 11.3 yards per play before halftime.

at Nevada 26, San Diego State 21: Carson Strong threw two touchdown passes and the Wold Pack’s defense stifled the Aztecs in the second half, stopping San Diego State with a last-minute goal-line stand.

Darren Hall intercepted Strong at the Nevada 26-yard line with 3:23 remaining. The Aztecs (3-2, 3-2 Mountain West) reached the Nevada six-yard line with 11⁄ 2 minutes left but were stopped on a fourth-and-goal with 29 seconds remaining.

Strong was 31 for 46 passing for 288 yards, going over 4,000 for his career.