Liberty football secures bowl eligibility in Homecoming matchup

Another quarterback change, a crowd of nearly 21,000 and six combined turnovers all factored into Liberty squeaking out a 21-20 victory over Gardner-Webb on Homecoming Weekend. 

The Flames edged out the Runnin’ Bulldogs in front of an announced attendance of 20,924 —  the fourth-largest crowd in Williams Stadium history and the largest since No. 22 Syracuse came to Lynchburg Aug. 31, 2019. 

The fireworks started early for the Liberty defense, as safety Javon Scruggs intercepted Gardner-Webb quarterback Bailey Fisher on the first play from scrimmage, giving the Flames prime field position at the 14-yard line. 

The offense failed to cash in, however, with running back Shedro Louis fumbling just two plays later to give the ball back, making it two turnovers in the first 60 seconds of the game. 

The next three possessions for both squads ended in a punt before Johnathan Bennett found Jerome Jackson on a 7-yard touchdown to cap off a seven play, 69-yard drive to go up 7-0 late in the first quarter. 

The Flames defense forced a quick punt on its next possession, but the offense couldn’t capitalize, going three-and-out and giving the ball back to the Runnin’ Bulldogs. 

Gardner-Webb may have been a 2-4 FCS school entering the game, but it certainly didn’t look like it, going on an 88-yard touchdown drive early in the second quarter to tie the game 7-7. 

Bennett and the Flames offense responded swiftly, scoring in two plays on a 60-yard pass to Noah Frith, capped off by a two-yard touchdown run by Louis to put the Flames up 14-7. 

Four straight punts kept the score at 14-7 before Gardner-Webb went on a remarkable 93-yard drive, completed by a 22-yard field goal from Jay Billingsley to go into halftime with the Flames ahead 14-10. 

The Flames went the entire first half without its leading rusher Dae Dae Hunter taking any offensive snaps, and Head Coach Hugh Freeze was mum on the reason why. 

“I’ll leave that between Dae Dae (Hunter) and I,” Freeze said postgame. 

Regardless, Hunter was back in the fold for the second half in hopes to provide a spark for the sluggish Liberty offense. 

The Flames started the second half with the ball, but just two yards on two carries from Hunter and a Bennett interception on third down halted any momentum Liberty was looking for. 

Gardner-Webb took advantage of the mistake, moving the ball 57 yards in nine plays, capped off by a Bailey Fisher touchdown pass to receiver T.J. Luther from 10 yards out. 

Stunningly, the Flames found themselves down 17-14 midway through the third quarter, the first time they’ve trailed in the second half of a game since Sept. 17 against Wake Forest. 

Liberty needed an answer from the offense, but it didn’t get one, as Bennett was picked off again, this time on a fourth-down attempt from its own 49.

The Runnin’ Bulldogs, now with the ball and the lead, pulled a trick play out of the bag to catch the Flames napping, with receiver Ephraim Floyd rolling out to his right for a pass, but the ball was intercepted by safety Robert “Rocket” Rahimi.  

Searching for anything to get the ball moving offensively, Freeze made the decision to go to redshirt freshman Nate Hampton, who backed up Bennett with Kaidon Salter and Charlie Brewer both out due to injury.

The move to Hampton proved not to pay off, as the offense went just three yards in six plays for the two possessions Hampton was in the game. 

Gardner-Webb added a 41-yard field goal from Billingsley to go up 20-14 early in the fourth quarter, and the Flames situation continued to become increasingly urgent. 

Liberty went back to Bennett for the ensuing drive, this time with a more dink-and-dunk approach offensively, and it paid off in a big way, as they moved 67 yards in 10 plays to jump out in front 21-20. 

Bennett was masterful on the touchdown drive, completing six of seven passes for 57 yards, including a huge eight-yard run on a fourth-and-three play from the Runnin’ Bulldogs 31. 

Liberty’s defense stepped up the rest of the way, allowing just one first down on Gardner-Webb’s final three drives, and an interception by cornerback Daijahn Anthony  effectively sealed it for the Flames. 

The Flames final offensive possession ended in rather bizarre fashion, with Hunter picking up a first down on a 46-yard run but falling down at the 1-yard line instead of scoring in an effort to run out the clock. 

Liberty indeed ran out the clock, taking a knee on its next two plays to officially claim victory.  

The defense continued to be stingy, forcing three turnovers, five sacks and a whopping 13 tackles for loss in the winning effort. 

Despite the spectacular performance, Anthony believes the unit can still improve as the season goes on.

“There’s a lot of things we have to get better at,” Anthony said. “We’re not perfect, and we’re not satisfied with how we played. We’re just going to do another week and get better.”

The win improves Liberty’s record to 6-1 on the season, making it bowl eligible for the fourth year in a row. 

The Flames will now set their sights on a highly anticipated home matchup with BYU Oct. 22 at 3:30 p.m., airing on ESPNU. 

McCusker is the assistant sports editor for the Liberty Champion. Follow him on Twitter