The Liberty Flames fall to 6-5 on the season following a 55-27 loss at Virginia on a cold and wet Saturday afternoon in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Liberty had the lead with possession of the ball as they moved into Virginia territory before Buckshot Calvert’s streak of 295 consecutive passes without an interception came to an end. Following the interception, the Cavaliers ran off 28 unanswered points to take a commanding 38-14 lead as we moved towards the end of the 3rd quarter.
“We were up 14-10 and we went off the rails doing things we haven’t done,” Liberty head coach Hugh Freeze said after the game. “It just felt like from that point forward that we weren’t very well coached in all facets of the game. Our kids just didn’t play with the same confidence that they played with when we were up 14-10. It felt like it carried over into the locker room and we never responded which falls on me and my staff. It’s disappointing. I really felt like coming in here that we would be in the game. I felt like we had a good week of prep and that we would have a shot to be in it at the end.”
The game couldn’t have started much worse for the Flames as Liberty’s first two drives ended in quick 3 and outs. Meanwhile, Virginia was able to score a touchdown on its first possession and drove to the 8 yard line on its second possession. The Liberty defense was able to force an important stop to hold the Cavaliers to a field goal as UVA took an early 10-0 lead.
That stop helped reverse momentum as the Flames recovered with 14 straight points to take the lead at 14-10. It was a 56-yard pass completion on a go route by the running back Peytton Pickett where he found himself wide open behind the defense. He was caught from behind and brought down inside the 10-yard line. Frankie Hickson punched it in from 6 yards out to get Liberty on the board.
Following a Liberty defensive stand, two 3rd down conversions for the Flames would put Liberty on top early in the 2nd quarter. On 3rd and 7, Buckshot found Antonio Gandy-Golden for 12 yards and a first down at midfield. A few plays later with Liberty facing a 3rd and 17, Calvert found Noah Frith who was tackled as he fell into the end zone for a 32-yard gain.
The next big momentum change happened on Liberty’s next possession. After the Flames’ defensive got a big stop to force a turnover on downs at the Liberty 42 yard line, the Flames picked up a first down to move into Virginia territory. Looking to take a two possession lead, on first and 10, Calvert saw his FBS leading active streak of 295 pass attempts without an interception come to an end.
The Cavaliers would respond with 14 straight points of their own to seize control heading into intermission with a 24-14 lead.
“It appears that it affected us more than I would like to admit,” Freeze said of the interception. “I am big on don’t blink, you have got to play the next one. It was upsetting. We had an RPO on them. The ball should never go deep to the middle of the field. He knows that and he is beating himself up but that was frustrating. It seemed like it carried over to the second half.”
On Liberty’s final possession of the first half, Shedro Louis returned the kickoff into Virginia territory at the 48 yard line. The Flames were able to move the ball down to the 25 yard line before a few incomplete passes thwarted the drive. Alex Probert missed his 43-yard field goal attempt, wide left, another big momentum swing as the Cavaliers had possession to open the second half.
To open the second half, Virginia drove into Liberty territory before being stopped to force a 4th and 9 at the Liberty 31. Initially, the Cavaliers lined up to kick the field goal, but then changed their formation into an offensive attack and picked up the first down on the pass play to move inside the 10. Two plays later and Virginia had a 31-14 lead.
The Flames would add another touchdown thanks to another highlight reel catch by AGG as he snagged the ball out of the air with his right hand in the end zone to bring the score to 31-21.
Two more Virginia touchdowns would push this one out of reach at the beginning of the 4th quarter with the Cavaliers leading 45-21 with 13:26 left in the game.
Liberty will conclude its regular season next Saturday at Williams Stadium against New Mexico State with kickoff scheduled for 2 p.m. It will be senior day as this stellar senior class, led by Antonio Gandy-Golden and Buckshot Calvert, play their final game at Williams Stadium.
The Flames must beat the Aggies in the rematch from earlier in the season to become bowl eligible.
