LIBERTY WINS!!!

4th Quarter

  • On the onside kick, Georgia Southern was called for illegal touching as they touched it before 10 yards. Liberty ball.
  • Georgia Southern is able to add a 35-yard field goal on a 14 play drive to make it a one possession game. LIBERTY 23, Georgia Southern 16
  • Liberty drove into Georgia Southern territory where they faced a 3rd and 3 at the 27 yard line. Buckshot attempted a pass to AGG which was incomplete in the end zone. Flames attempted to go for it on 4th down and Frankie Hickson was stuffed. Turnover on downs with 6:35 to play.
  • A holding penalty on Georgia Southern stopped the Eagles drive before it got started. GS went 3 & out again and punted to Liberty where DJ Stubbs called a fair catch at the 25.
  • The Flames went to Joshua Mack for three straight runs and he comes up a couple yards short as Liberty is forced to punt. Georgia Southern takes over on their own 27 with 12 minutes left.
  • Liberty’s defense has been the MVP of the game so far, this time Jessie Lemonier sacks Werts on 3rd and 11. Flames take over at their own 42 yard line.

3rd Quarter

  • Liberty reaches midfield before being forced to punt. Liberty’s offense hasn’t had much going since the first drive of the 2nd half. Alves’ punt is downed at the 29.
  • Eagles get a huge gain on the deep pass reception on a deflected pass. Add a roughing the pass penalty and Georgia Southern is down to the 16. Liberty’s defense would once again hold in the red zone, keeping the Eagles to a 30-yard field goal. LIBERTY 23, Georgia Southern 13
  • 43-yard gain from Buckshot to Kevin Shaa is cancelled out as Buckshot is intercepted on the flea flicker.
  • The Eagles picked up a first down on 3rd and 10 when Liberty lost containment around the left edge and Shai Werts was able to out run Tyren Dupree and TreShaun Clark. The Liberty defense stood strong after that first down forcing a 28 yard field goal by the Eagles with 6:20 to play. LIBERTY 23, Georgia Southern 10
  • On Liberty’s first play of the ensuing drive, Buckshot was intercepted as he attempted to throw the ball away while being pressured. Georgia Southern takes over in Liberty territory at the 30.
  • Georgia Southern forced to go 3 & out to open the half.
  • Liberty opened the second half with the ball and wasted little time marching down the field. The drive started with four straight Frankie Hickson carries including one that he broke free for 33 yards as he went over 1,000 yards for the second straight season. He’s the first Liberty running back to rush for 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons since Rashad Jennings. Buckshot connected with AGG for a 14-yard touchdown reception despite the pass interference. LIBERTY 23, Georgia Southern 7

2nd Quarter

  • It was an eventful final 62 seconds but it ended with an incomplete Georgia Southern hail mary. Flames get the ball to start the 2nd half.
  • Thanks to a long pass to Johnny Huntley for 33 yards, Liberty was able to set up Alex Probert for a 46-yard field goal. This time, he made it with 1:02 left in the first half. LIBERTY 16, Georgia Southern 7
  • With the Eagles passing in the 2 minute offense, Liberty’s Javon Scruggs came up with the interception at the 40. That’s Georgia Southern’s first thrown interception since the season finale of the 2017 season.
  • The Flames were able to pick up one first down but were then forced to punt from its own 25 with exactly 2 minutes remaining in the first half.
  • The Eagles are forced to punt again after another 3 & out. The Liberty defense has held Georgia Southern to 100 yards of offense and 4.2 yards per rush so far today.
  • A Joshua Mack screen pass was able to convert a 3rd and 10 from Liberty’s own 14 yard line to help the Flames change field position. One first down was all Liberty was able to pick up as Aidan Alves was forced to punt once again.
  • Liberty’s defense continues to play extremely well, forcing another 3 & out. That’s the 5th in 6 possessions for Georgia Southern. After a good punt, Liberty takes over at their own 14.
  • The Flames were able to move the ball into Georgia Southern territory before the drive stalled at the 30. On 2nd and 5, Buckshot was pressured and barely got the ball out for an incomplete pass. His helmet came off on the play which forced him to come off for one play, until Hugh Freeze called a timeout so he could come back in. He did, and was unable to have any time and threw the ball at Frankie Hickson’s feet. Alex Probert came on for a 48-yard field goal which he missed about 3 yards short.
  • The Liberty defense responds with another 3 & out. Austin Lewis entered the game for his first possession of the game, and on the first play he had a tackle. Then, on 3rd & 5, Lewis and Solomon Ajayi rushed the QB Werts and forced him to throw the ball away. Flames take over at their own 26.
  • Liberty came right back as Buckshot delivered a dime to Noah Frith on the left sideline for a 30 yard gain. Calvert then found Demario Douglas who juked a defender to move the ball to the 3 on an 18 yard gain. Joshua Mack carried it on the next play for the score, but Alex Probert’s extra point missed as it hit the right upright. LIBERTY 13, Georgia Southern 7
  • On the first play of the 2nd quarter, GS ran the option play left with Shai Werts pitching the ball to Wesley Kennedy for the 10 yard touchdown run to tie the score. LIBERTY 7, Georgia Southern 7

1st Quarter

  • The Eagles are finally able to move the ball picking up a couple of first downs to move into Liberty territory. They face a 3rd and 4 from the Liberty 10 yard line when play resumes to start the 2nd quarter.
  • The Flames were able to pick up a couple of first downs thanks to passes by Buckshot Calvert to move Liberty towards midfield. Following an offsides, the Flames utilized play action to find a WIDE OPEN Johnny Huntley in the middle of the field as he ran up the seem 58 yards for the touchdown. LIBERTY 7, Georgia Southern 0
  • For the third consecutive possession, the Eagles were forced to a 3 & out. On all three possessions, Liberty’s defense forced a third down and 4 yards or more.
  • Liberty picked up two first downs on a facemask penalty and a pass completion from Buckshot Calvert to Antonio Gandy-Golden.
  • Another 3 & out for Liberty’s defense as the Flames forced a punt thanks to a TreShaun Clark sack on 3rd & 4.
  • Stubbs then had a dropped pass that was slightly behind him on first down. A Frankie Hickson rush for just a few yards and then an incomplete pass on 3rd down.
  • The Flames’ defense held the GS triple option to just 6 yards on 3 carries forcing a quick 3 & out. DJ Stubbs muffed the punt but was able to recover it.
  • Liberty has won the toss and has deferred to the second half. Georgia Southern will receive.

PREGAME

  • The Cure Bowl is televised on CBS Sports Network. It is available on DirecTV (221) and Dish Network (158).
  • Today’s officials are from the Mountain West conference.
  • Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as we have had plenty of coverage of the sights and sounds both inside and out of Exploria Stadium so far today.

Live from Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida as the Flames prepare to take on the Georgia Southern Eagles in the FBC Mortage Cure Bowl. To help celebrate our Live Blog is free for all to enjoy!