This week’s ASOR Player of the Week award goes to K Alex Barbir. Along with being 5/5 on extra points, Barbir drilled a 51-yard field goal with one second remaining to give the Flames a 38-35 lead and eventual win over the Hokies.
Barbir was just 7 of 11 on field goals in his collegiate career entering the game, all coming earlier this season, and just 2 of 6 on field goal attempts longer than 29 yards. His kick in the final seconds sealed a wild final two minutes of a game that went back and forth.
Barbir had previously been sent out to attempt a 58-yard field goal that was blocked and returned for what everyone thought was a game winning touchdown for the Hokies. However, Hokies Coach Justin Fuente had called a timeout before the kick in an attempt to ice him. The Flames offense would convert on a 4th down the next play, as Malik Willis hit CJ Yarborough on an 8-yard pass which set up a much more manageable kick for Barbir. Barbir drilled the kick (his career high), and the #25 Flames defeated the Hokies in their biggest win in program history.
After the game ended, Barbir returned to midfield to soak in the moment of hitting the biggest kick in program history.
Liberty K Alex Barbir soaking it in after his 51 yard game winning field goal pic.twitter.com/rNzzHwRn6R
— A Sea of Red (@ASeaofRed) November 7, 2020
Barbir and the Flames will return to Williams Stadium next Saturday, as they host the Western Carolina Catamounts.
*photo courtesy Liberty Athletics