Different game, same story. Liberty football again comes up on the short side of a game where they could make a statement as they fall to the Old Dominion Monarchs 21-17.

Photo courtesy ODU Athletics

Photo courtesy ODU Athletics

The Flames won the coin toss and chose to receive, but were forced into a quick 3 and out. Taylor Heinicke effectively led the ODU offense quickly downfield and into Flames’ territory. The Flames had Heinicke in their grasps on 2 consecutive 3rd down plays, but was unable to get the Monarchs off the field. On 4th and 1 from the 4, the Monarchs were unable to convert as their receiver, Marquel Thomas, slipped and fell a yard short of the first down marker. The Flames took over on their own 4.

The Flames were again forced into a 3 & out as Grant Bowden had to punt from his own end zone. The senior had the ball go off his foot as the ball rolled down at the 46 inside of Liberty territory. On 1st down, Heinicke was pressured in his backfield and hit causing him to fumble. Liberty defensive tackle Erwin Dessources caused the fumble. It looked like the Flames were going to jump on it, but somehow an ODU lineman jumped on it for a 10 yard loss. The defense was able to hold on 2nd and 3rd down forcing the Monarchs to punt, and Kevin Fogg was able to return the kick to the 32.

On a free play after the Monarchs jumped offsides, Woodrum was able to connect with Dante Shells for a 38 yard gain giving the Flames a first down at the ODU 21. On 2nd and 4, Josh Woodrum hooked up with Gabe Henderson for a 15 yard touchdown strike giving the Flames the lead 7-0 with 3:35 left in the 1st quarter.

Not to be outdone, the Monarchs answered right back. Heinicke found Antonio Vaughan for a 36 yard reception as Vaughan made a SportsCenter Top 10 worthy one handed catch setting the Monarchs up in the red zone. 2 plays later Heinicke found Blair Roberts in the back of the end zone to tie the score at 7 with just over a minute to go in the 1st quarter.

The Flames were able to pick up a first down following 3 consecutive run plays to move the ball across the 40 yard line. After Woodrum and Darrin Peterson hooked up for 2 consecutive first downs to move Liberty to the ODU 31, Des Rice tiptoed for a 9 yard gain to set Liberty up with a 3rd and 1 at the ODU 22. Rice was then able to pick up the first down on a toss sweep to the right to move the Flames into the red zone. However the drive would stall and the Flames had to settle for a 40 yard field goal attempt from John Lunsford who missed wide right.

On 1st down, ODU converted a screen pass for 30 yards, but was called for an unsportsmanlike penalty after the play. 2 plays later, a Nick Sigmon hit would cause an ODU fumble that Chima Uzowihe recovered at the Liberty 36. However the Flames were unable to move the chains and were forced into a quick 3 and out. After a nice punt return which brought the ball out across the 40 yard line, the Monarchs quickly moved into Liberty territory and the red zone. Facing a 3rd and 2 at the 14 yard line the Monarchs were unable to convert the 1st down, but the Monarchs would go for it on 4th and 1. Old Dominion was unable to pick up the first down as they come up short in the red zone for the 2nd time in the 1st half.

Liberty took over on their own 15 yard line with 5 minutes to go in the half; however ODU forced Liberty into a 3 & out. The Monarchs took over on their own 37 with just over 3 minutes to go in the 1st half. ODU moved the ball into Liberty territory, and would attempt a 53 yard field goal with less than a minute to go in the 1st half. The kick sailed wide left as Liberty took over on their own 36 yard line with 43 seconds to play in the half.

Josh Woodrum would lead the offense on a 6 play, 29 yard drive in the final 43 seconds of the half to set up Lunsford from 52 yards out, and John would nail the kick which would have been good from 60+. The kick is his career long and the 2nd longest in school history giving the Flames the 10-7 lead at halftime.

The Monarchs would start the 2nd half with the ball on their own 24 yard line. A 54 yard pass from Heinicke to Antonio Vaughn would get the Monarchs into the Liberty red zone. The Monarchs had a 1st and goal from the 4 but were unable to put any points on the board for a 3rd consecutive red zone trip as Kenny Scott would get his first career interception in the end zone on 3rd down. Josh Woodrum connected with Darrin Peterson for a gain of 24 yards to get Liberty to midfield. The Flames would eventually attempt a 57 yard field goal which appeared to be tipped. The Monarchs would take over at their own 40.

Heinicke quickly led the Monarchs into Liberty territory. On 3rd and 1 from the Liberty 21 yard line, Cam Boyd would run for 4 yards to pick up the first down inside the red zone. Kenny Scott would again bail the Flames out with another interception in the end zone. The Flames took over on their own 16.

Woodrum and Henderson again connected, this time for 17 yards to get the Flames to midfield. On a 3rd and 11 from midfield, Woodrum found Henderson again for a gain of 23 yards. Apon was found across the middle for a 28 yard touchdown strike to give the Flames the 17-7 lead with 3:15 left in the 3rd quarter. The play had a wrinkle as Liberty offensive tackle Hunter Steward lined up as an eligible wide receiver and upon the snap was jumping up and down calling for the ball as a distraction. It worked. Liberty’s drive was 6 plays for 85 yards.

The Monarchs would again march into Liberty territory, but the drive would stall after a Gary Sampson deflected pass on a 2nd and 8 play. The Flames took over on their own 11 yard line with 50 seconds remaining in the 3rd quarter. After a couple of nice Des Rice runs got the Flames to midfield, a Clifton Richardson fumble was recovered by the Monarchs at their own 43 yard line.

A 47 yard pass from Taylor Heinicke to Larry Pinkard got the Monarchs to the 10, but they were again unable to score within the red zone. The Flames defense held on a 4th and goal play from inside the 1. The Flames would take over with 12:08 to play in the game. On 3rd and 4, Woodrum again found Henderson across the middle for a 38 yard pass to get the Flames out near midfield. The Flames would again face a 3rd down, this one a 3rd and 7 from their own 48 yard line. This time Woodrum was sacked as he had no time to find his receivers down field.

Grant Bowden’s punt was fair caught at the ODU 25 yard line as the Monarchs trailed 17-7 with 7:54 to play in the game. Old Dominion would drive into Liberty territory and faced a 4th and 10 from the Flames’ 30 yard line. Jarod Brown would miss the 37 yard field goal wide left, and Liberty took over.

The Flames were forced into a 3 & out, and Aaron Evans would return the punt 64 yards for an Old Dominion touchdown making the score 17-14 with 4:22 remaining in the game. From there on, the Monarchs had all the momentum.

On their ensuing possession, the Flames picked up 1 first down on 3 consecutive run plays, but were eventually stopped and had to punt with about 1:30 left in the game. The Monarchs took over on their own 27 with 1 timeout left. On a busted coverage, Blair Roberts caught the game winning score from 27 yards out to give the Monarchs the lead 21-17 with just 28 seconds remaining.

After the game, head coach Turner Gill had to take a few extra minutes in the post game press conference to gather his emotions. “I’m proud of our football team, they played very hard.” Gill continued, “they (ODU) made the plays when they had to to win the game.”