Liberty advances to 3-0 after last-second blocked field goal earns them a 42-41 win

 

• Liberty beats Indiana State with last-minute blocked field goal to win 42-21.
• Win makes Liberty 3-0 for first time since 2008.

The crowd of 16,060 stood defeated as Indiana State University lined up with five seconds remaining to attempt a 23-yard game winning field goal, just three yards further than an extra point.

But the Flames didn’t stray from adversity. They just lined up for a scenario that they had anticipated since the beginning of training camp, with a play that they had practiced dozens of times – “All out.” The play is exactly as it sounds, all 11 players sell out completely in a last-ditch effort to block the kick.

 

 

The ball was snapped and the Flames interior linemen did their assignment by driving the kicking protection opposite back by about three yards. Those three yards turned out to be just enough for sophomore free safety Corbin Jackson to get his right hand on the kick sending the ball, and the Sycamores hopes of an upset, plunged to the ground.

“That’s a memory people will never forget,” Jackson said. “You could hear everybody roaring, it was a great feeling.”

The Flames 42-41 victory over Indiana State did not come easy as the teams went back-and-forth, combining for 1,043 total yards on the day.

After the Flames elected to receive, the two teams began the game dry offensively as both teams failed to convert a 1st down on their initial possessions. The Flames failed to produce a first down again on their second possession, however a muffed punt by the Sycamores would give the Flames a fresh set of downs on the Indiana State 30-yard-line. Four plays later sophomore quarterback Stephen “Buckshot” Calvert found junior receiver B.J. Farrow on a quick out, for a 3-yard touchdown to give the Flames a 7-0 lead.

Indiana State quickly answered back on the following possession by producing a five play, 74-yard drive highlighted by a 43-yard catch-and-run by senior receiver Bob Pugh. Pugh finished the day with a career-high 260-yards receiving and two touchdowns, as he exposed a Flames secondary that gave up 436 total passing yards on the day.

Despite the Flames sluggish start, Calvert and the rest of the Flames offense began to settle as they drove down the field in 11 plays and finished the drive with a one-yard touchdown run from senior running back Carrington Mosley. However, after the touchdown the Flames were penalized with a personal foul that would set up good field position for the Sycamores following drive.

The next 15 minutes of play turned into a defensive stalemate as both teams combined for 39 total yards on the following 3 possessions.

The Flames began to take control again on their ensuing possession, sparked by a 16-yard slant pass to junior receiver Damien King. Five plays later, Mosley broke free on a run up the middle for a 22-yard touchdown, increasing the Flames lead to 21-7.

Although the Flames led by double-digits, the Sycamores showed no sign of quitting as they converted a 49-yard pass to Pugh on the first play of their drive. However, the Flames defense stood their ground and held Indiana State to a 43-yard-field goal, shortening the Flames lead to 21-10.

Liberty was forced to punt on their following drive, and the Sycamores capitalized just two minutes later off of a 31-yard touchdown pass, cutting the lead to 21-17. With the game in reach, the crowd began to come alive, and the players fed off the energy.

“I want to say thanks to the fans for the energy they had,” Head Coach Turner Gill said. “They were (with us) all through the game, and it was very crucial for them to be involved in this game like they were.”

The Flames began their drive at their 25-yard-line and wasted no time as sophomore receiver Antonio Gandy-Golden caught two straight passes for 26-yards each. Three plays later Golden caught a 13-yard slant for a touchdown, putting the score at 28-17.

The Sycamores took the field with 3:18 left in the first half, but it only took them a minute and sixteen seconds to score on a 64-yard touchdown catch, relinquishing the lead to 28-24. The Flames were forced to punt on their next drive, which would eventually carry the game into halftime.

 

 

To start the half, Indiana State went on an 8-play, 65-yard drive, capped off by a one-yard touchdown run. For the first time in the game the Sycamores led 31-28, which was the first time Liberty trailed in 108 minutes of play.

Liberty answered back by going 93-yards in five plays, finished off with a 32-yard touchdown catch by King in double coverage. The Sycamores were unable to respond to the Flames quick score, as they were held to a three-and-out on their following possession.

With a chance to put the game out of reach, the Flames began their possession at the Indiana State 47-yard-line. Seven plays later Calvert connected with Farrow on a 6-yard bubble screen for his second touchdown catch of the day, fortifying the Flames lead to 42-31.

Indiana State began their drive with a little over five minutes left in the third quarter. Six plays later the Sycamores torched the Flames secondary once again as they scored on a 31-yard touchdown pass. Despite only having a 42-38 lead, the Flames showed no sign of urgency as they were forced to punt after just four plays.

The Sycamores had a chance to take the lead as the fourth quarter began, but the Flames defense bailed them out again as they forced Indiana State to punt after five plays. But before the Flames could get comfortable, the Sycamores punt pinned Liberty back at their own 5-yard-line.

Backed up at their own 2-yard-line thanks to a false start penalty, Calvert threw his first interception of the year, giving the Sycamores the ball at the Flames 28-yard-line. However, for the second consecutive drive the Flames were bailed out by their defense holding the Sycamores to a 43-yard-field goal.

Both teams’ defenses stood resilient, as Indiana State forced a punt on Liberty’s following drive, and sophomore corner Jimmy Faulks halted the Sycamore’s next possession with his first career interception.

The Flames began their final drive from their own 18-yard-line with 5:50 left in the game hoping to run the clock. After converting four first downs, the Flames were faced with third-and-seven with 2:13 left in the game. Calvert dropped back to pass, but was flushed out of the pocket and eventually sacked for a loss of seven yards.

On the ensuing play, sophomore kicker Alex Probert’s 48-yard-attempt banged off of the crossbar, giving Indiana State the ball at their 31-yard-line. The miss was Probert’s first of the season, previously he had been 7-7 on field goals and 17-17 extra points.

Indiana State took over on downs from their own 31-yard-line with 1:57 left in the game and a chance to pull off an upset. The Sycamores completed a 14-yard pass on second down to give them a fresh set of downs at the 45-yard-line. However, three plays later they faced a 4th-and-three from the Liberty 48-yard-line. On the following play the Sycamores pass sailed out of bounds, turning their possession over on downs.

The crowd began to roar and the Liberty benches began to celebrate as they thought they had sealed the game. But before the celebration peaked, the officials gathered on the field and came to the conclusion that Liberty had called a timeout before the play, after five minutes of review.

With a fresh chance to convert the 4th-and-three opportunity, the Sycamores completed a 10-yard pass to give them a new set of downs and hope. Indiana State drove to the Flames six-yard-line in three plays and spiked the ball on the ensuing play, setting themselves up for a chip-shot field goal for the win.

The Sycamores sophomore kicker Jerry Nunez lined up for the 23-yard potential game winner, but his attempt fell short as Liberty’s special teams saved the day as Jackson blocked the kick. Flames fans stormed the field in excitement as they celebrated the last second victory.

“I’m proud of the way our guys responded,” Gill said. “You’re going to have these kinds of games, so you have to find a way to win it, and that’s what we did.”

The 42-41 victory over Indiana State helped the Flames improve to 3-0 for the first time since 2008.

The Flames will travel to Jacksonville, Alabama on Saturday, Sept. 23, to take on Jacksonville State University at 7 p.m.