2nd half miscues cost Flames

Woodrum finished 23/42 for 241 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 pick

Liberty again is unable to make a statement against a CAA and in-state opponent, as they fall 30-21 to the Spiders. A fumble, 2 blocked field goals, and a muffed punt cost the Flames on a wet night in Richmond against former head coach Danny Rocco. Liberty and Richmond are both 2-2 on the season.

Richmond got the ball to start the game, and Justin Grant fumbled the ball out of bounds at the 3 on the opening kickoff. On the Spiders 2nd play of the game, Strauss connected with fullback Seth Fisher to bring the ball out to the 20. Following 2 incomplete passes, Strauss and receiver Ben Edwards connected for 17 yards on 3rd and 10 to keep the Richmond drive alive. However, the drive stalled at the Richmond 43 forcing a punt which Joe Gulli booted inside the Flames own 7.

Liberty was unable to get going on their 1st drive as they had to punt to Richmond. On the Spiders 1st play of their second drive, running back Jacobi Green broke loose behind the left tackle for 53 yards, which matched a career high rush for the sophomore. The Spiders who had 32 yards rushing combined in their prior 2 games against NC State and Gardner-Webb, rushed for 69 yards on their 2nd drive alone. The Spider drive stalled at the 24, forcing a 41 yard field goal attempt by Brandon Jordi which he nailed, setting a career long.

Brandon Apon scored a touchdown in the 1st quarter giving Liberty an early lead

On the ensuing kickoff, Kevin Fogg returned the kick to the 32 yard line. Henderson and Woodrum connected on a 10 yard pass to pick up a first down near midfield, and on the next play the duo connected again for 21 yards to move the Flames into Spider territory at the 33. After a 1st down holding penalty on the Flames, Liberty faced a 3rd and 12 on the 20 yard line, where Woodrum found tight end Brandon Apon over the middle for the touchdown giving the Flames the lead, 7-3, with 3 minutes left in the 1st quarter.

John Lunsford knocked the next kickoff out of bounds giving the Spiders great field position at the 35. On 1st down, Strauss used the play action to give himself time to find Ben Edwards in the flat for 15 yards and a first down. Jacobi Green picked up another first down on the ground, this one went for 9 yards giving Richmond a 1st down at the Liberty 38. Strauss and Stephen Barnette connected on a 36 yard pass to give Richmond 1st and goal at the 2. T.J. Moon scored his first career touchdown on the following play to give the Spiders a 10-7 lead.

Francis Bah nearly had an interception

The Flames started their next drive on their own 18 yard line, and were unable to get any offense going as they went 3 & out. After Ben Edwards’ nifty punt return, which included a spin move, Richmond was set up in Liberty territory to start the drive at the Flames’ 46. Jacobi Green picked up 15 yards to convert a 3rd and 3 to move the Spiders down to the Flames 23. Ben Edwards and Strauss would connect again to pick up a first down at the Flames 8. On the next play, Strauss connected with fullback Seth Fisher in the flat who walked into the end zone giving Richmond the 17-7 lead with 12:22 to go in the 1st half.

When the Spiders got the ball back after a Lunsford punt, Richmond continued to march down the field with Liberty’s defense showing little to no resistance. Chima Uzowihe would finally get in the Spiders’ backfield and sack Strauss forcing a 3rd and long, but Michael Strauss had no trouble helping the Spiders move the chains again. The Flames’ defense was helped when Strauss overthrew Ben Edwards on a 3rd and 10 play. Had Edwards been able to catch up to the pass, he would have been able to walk into the end zone.

Players exchanged words throughout the night

The Flames took over on their own 36, and Woodrum found Abnar on a screen pass to move the chains on Liberty’s 1st play of the drive. Woodrum was able to elude Richmond’s pass rushers to find Dante Shells, who did not give up on the play, to the 21. After a couple of carries by Clifton Richardson set up Liberty with a 1st and goal, Woodrum showed great fortitude to get into the end zone from 9 yards out to bring Liberty within 3 at 17-14 with 3:46 left in the 1st half.

Following two rushes that went for double digit yards by T.J. Moon and Jacobi Green on Richmond’s next possession, Edwards and Strauss again connected, this time for 19 yards, to set Richmond up at the Flames’ 21 yard line. A couple plays later, T.J. Moon took it in from 13 yards out giving Richmond a 23-14 lead going into the half after the extra point was missed.

Liberty got the ball to start the 2nd half, and Fogg ran the kick back to midfield. It took just 2 plays for Liberty to go 52 yards, highlighted by Des Rice’s 46 yard run into the end zone to bring the Flames within 2 at 23-21 just 54 seconds into the half. The quick score seemed to give Liberty’s defense some momentum as they forced Richmond into a quick 3 & out. The Flames front line was able to put pressure on the Spiders’ Michael Strauss on the drive.

Des Rice rushed for 106 yards on 12 carries

The turning point of the game came on Liberty’s next possession as Des Rice fumbled the ball and the Spiders jumped on it at the 5 yard line. Rice spoke on the fumble, “I don’t even think I got hit by one of their players, it was wet out there and I didn’t have two hands on it.” Ben Edwards lined up in the wildcat and ran it in from 8 yards out on 2nd down to give Richmond the 30-21 lead with 8:24 left in the 3rd quarter. The rushing score was Edwards first of his career. With the heavy rains, the Flames were unable to get any substantial drives put together for the remainder of the game.

The Spiders offense ran circles around the Flames’ defenders in the 1st half on their way to 332 offensive yards in the half. When Nick Sigmon was asked what the Spiders did in the 1st half on offense, he stated simply “they out schemed us.” Liberty’s defense was much more stout after the break as they only allowed 96 offensive yards in the 2nd half.

Afterwards Coach Gill spoke on the game: “I thought our players played very, very hard. We just didn’t make enough plays. We had opportunities but we didn’t make the plays.”

Former Liberty head coach Danny Rocco said in the postgame press conference that he “presented the game ball to Coach Rocco. You maybe thought I should have given it to Jacobi (Green), but I chose to give the football to myself here tonight.” He continued on what he said prior to the game to his players, “life is about decisions, the best decision I ever made was to come here to the University of Richmond to be your head football coach.”

Richmond’s Wayne Pettus had 2 blocked kicks and an interception on the night. His interception with 3:48 left in the game virtually sealed it. Quarterback Michael Strauss was 20/35 for 210 passing yards and 1 touchdown. Wide receiver Ben Edwards finished with 9 receptions for 101 yards and a rushing touchdown.

The Flames look to get back on track next weekend back inside Williams Stadium against Kentucky Wesleyan.