Liberty (2-1) had the opportunity to tie or take the lead with just over a minute left in the game on Saturday night in Winston-Salem, North Carolina against No. 18 Wake Forest (3-0). Head coach Hugh Freeze elected to go for two after his team scored a touchdown to bring the score within 37-36. The Demon Deacons were able to stop the try, then recovered the onside kick to run out the clock and secure the win.
After struggling to find any momentum, particularly on the offensive side of the ball, in the first half, the Flames trailed the home-standing Deacons, 20-8, at intermission. Liberty would outscore Wake Forest, 15-0, in the period, aided by a stingy defense and two long touchdown runs to take a 23-20 lead into the 4th quarter.
The Demon Deacons would tie things early in the 4th, before each team exchanged two touchdowns a piece in the final 9:14 of regulation. It ultimately led to a Kaidon Salter 18 yard touchdown pass to Demario Douglas on 4th and 4 with 1:10 left in the game prior to the failed two point try.
Liberty gambles with 2-point try at end and fails
After Salter’s touchdown pass to Douglas, Freeze had no hesitation as he kept the offense on the field. The Flames were going for the win in regulation.
It was a trick play with Salter handing the ball to Dae Dae Hunter as he began to run around the left side of the line. He then tossed the ball to CJ Yarbrough on the wide receiver reverse as he headed to the right side of the field. It looked like Yarbrough was trying to throw it back to the quarterback Salter, but Wake was playing zone and had him well defended. Yarbrough then decided to try to run it in but the defense converged on him and he was knocked out of bounds around the three-yard line.
After Wake Forest recovered the onside kick, the Deacons were able to kneel on it a few times and run the clock out for the win.
Liberty responds in second half again
It looks like the Flames may be a second half team this year. For a third straight week, Liberty found a way to overcome adversity and make the game be decided in the 4th quarter (or overtime). In the first half, it felt like Wake Forest was on the verge of putting the game away, but Liberty was special in the third quarter.
The Flames’ defense held the strong WFU offense in check in the third quarter. The Deacons did not pick up a first down in the period until one minute left. Liberty forced three and outs on the first two drives and then got a turnover on downs on four plays, the next possession.
Meanwhile, behind Kaidon Salter and Dae Dae Hunter, the Liberty offense finally got some momentum. Salter broke free through the middle of the line for a 43-yard house call to make it 20-15. On the next drive, Hunter took it in from 44 yards out to give Liberty it’s first lead of the game.
Salter answers the bell
In the first half, the Liberty offense was unable to find any rhythm. Salter was stymied and could not figure out the Wake Forest defense. Coach Freeze opted to turn to Johnathan Bennett for two straight drives. Salter was then re-inserted into the game, and after the halftime break he was able to lead the Flames to four touchdown drives.
Just like at Southern Miss in his first extended playing time in college, Salter engineered two touchdown drives with the Flames trailing by one touchdown. Salter finished the game completing 19 of 34 passes for 256 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions while also rushing 15 times for 77 yards and a score.
Up Next
Liberty will return home to take on Akron next Saturday night at 6 p.m. The Zips are currently 1-1 on the season and trailing No. 15 Tennessee, 42-0, in the 3rd quarter. They began the season with a 30-23 overtime win against St. Francis (PA) before losing to No. 14 Michigan State, 52-0, last week.
