Quarterback Malik Willis passed for 223 yards and three touchdowns, and the Liberty rushing attack accrued a season-high 378 yards in a 45-0 rout over UMass Friday afternoon at Lynchburg, Va.

Liberty, which was ranked No. 21 in last weeks AP poll before a 15-14 loss to North Carolina State and is in its second full season in the FBS, improves to 9-1. UMass, in the FBS since 2012, is 0-4.

Willis connected on a 31-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Shaa midway through the first quarter to put Liberty up, 7-0. After UMass fumbled on the ensuing drive, Joshua Mack capped off a two-play, 72-yard drive with a 59-yard TD run. Willis then added a pair of touchdown passes in the second quarter and Alex Barbir kicked a 24-yard field goal to give the Flames a commanding 31-0 halftime lead.

Mack (11 carries, 109 yards) and Peytton Pickett (10 carries, 125 yards), who scored the final touchdown of the game on 16-yard run late in the third quarter, paced the ground game. Pickett began his collegiate career at UMass but transferred after his freshman year (2016).

Willis also added a rushing touchdown in the third quarter and finished with 63 rushing yards.

UMass had 227 total yards and just 12 first downs (Liberty had 31), and quarterback Garrett Dzuro was 9-of-22 passing for 172 yards and an interception.

The Minutemen currently do not have another game on their schedule this season. They were outscored by opponents, 161-12, during their four-game campaign.

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UMass football out of its league in blowout loss to Liberty - The Boston Globe