Flames end four-game losing streak in game against Gardner-Webb

  • Flames beat Gardner-Webb 33-17 after the Flames returned an interception for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
  • Slow start for the Flames offense in the first quarter picked up and brought them to victory from the close game.

Despite conceding 483 total yards, the Flames defense helped Liberty break its four-game losing streak by forcing a blocked kick and two interceptions on Gardner-Webb’s final three possessions.

 

A minute into the fourth quarter, the Flames only led 19-17 before scoring twice in the last nine minutes of the game to defeat the Runnin’ Bulldogs 33-17.

 

“I like the way our team responded when they had to respond,” head coach Turner Gill said in an interview for Liberty Flames Sports Network (LFSN). “When we had to make plays, we made plays.”

 

The Flames offense struggled to move the ball on its first few possessions. On the Flames third possession, sophomore quarterback Stephen “Buckshot” Calvert was able to ignite the Flames by finding sophomore receiver Antonio Gandy-Golden for a 40-yard touchdown. Gardner-Webb was able to block sophomore kicker Alex Probert’s extra point attempt.

 

On Liberty’s following drive, the Flames offense drove 90 yards to Gardner-Webb’s 1-yard line, but junior receiver Cephas Reddick was stripped of the ball and the Runnin’ Bulldogs recovered. Gardner-Webb capitalized on the turnover by going 80 yards in eight plays to take a 6-7 lead.

 

Both teams were held to a punt on their following possessions, leaving Gardner-Webb with a one point lead with less than three minutes to play in the first half. Thanks to a short punt, Liberty got the ball at Gardner-Webb’s 32-yard line with 2:05 left in the half. Two plays later, Calvert completed a 22-yard touchdown pass to junior receiver Damian King. Probert missed the extra point, leaving the Flames lead at 12-7 at half.

 

On Gardner-Webb’s opening drive in the second half, junior cornerback Jeremy Peters intercepted the Runnin’ Bulldogs in the red zone to preserve the Flames lead. The Flames capitalized on the turnover with a one-yard rushing touchdown from senior running back Carrington Mosley.

 

The Flames defense held the Runnin’ Bulldogs to a field goal on their following possession. Neither team was able to get on the scoreboard again in the third quarter, leaving the Flames lead at 19-10 heading into the fourth quarter.

 

Less than a minute into the final quarter, the Runnin’ Bulldogs scored on a 37-yard run to cut the Flames lead to 19-17. However, the Flames responded by going 81 yards in 11 plays and capping the drive off with another 1-yard touchdown by Mosley, to increase their lead to 26-17.

 

The Runnin’ Bulldogs refused to give up though, and drove to the Flames 13-yard line in 10 plays, but Liberty blocked Gardner-Webb’s field goal attempt to preserve the Flames 26-17 lead. On the first play of the Runnin’ Bulldogs following drive, Peters intercepted his second pass of the game and returned it 15 yards for a Flames touchdown, finalizing the Flames lead at 33-17.

 

“It’s been a long drought,” Peters said in an interview for Liberty Flames Sports Network. “It was a must win. Today was the day, it couldn’t be another game. We plan on winning (all) out from here.”

 

The Flames will return to action at Williams Stadium against Duquesne University Saturday, Nov. 4, at 3:30 p.m.

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