Liberty (4-8, 3-5 CUSA) fell in double overtime, 48-42, to Kennesaw State (9-3, 7-1 CUSA) on Saturday evening. It was the team’s third straight overtime game and fourth straight loss in the closing moments. The Flames also were unable to capitalize on another career performance from running back Evan Dickens who rushed 43 times for 267 yards and 4 touchdowns. Attendance from a blustery Williams Stadium was 12,695.
Michael Merdinger Gets the Start at QB
Liberty quarterback Ethan Vasko was injured in the second half of last week’s loss at Louisiana Tech. He stayed in the game, throwing four interceptions late as the Flames blew a 28-7 lead. Liberty head coach Jamey Chadwell mentioned in the postgame interview last week in Ruston that he didn’t learn of Vasko’s injury until into the overtime period. This week, Vasko was unable to play for the Flames and Chadwell said he will need surgery during the off-season and will miss approximately six months. With Vasko out, Michael Merdinger got his second start of the season.
The former North Carolina transfer and redshirt-freshman, who began the year third on the depth chart for the Flames but became the backup just ahead of the season opener after Ryan Burger was lost due to injury, finished the game Saturday against Kennesaw State by completing 12 of 21 passes for 212 yards and a touchdown. He also ran the ball 8 times for 13 yards and another score. Perhaps even more importantly than those numbers, Merdinger did not turn the ball over and gave his team a chance to win the game. He spread the ball around to seven different receivers, with long passes of 40 yards to Tyson Mobley and 59 yards to Vaughn Blue (which ended in a touchdown).
Flames Lose in Overtime Again
For the third straight week, Liberty lost a game in overtime. The Flames had never had three overtime games in a single season prior to this year much less three in consecutive weeks. After dropping a pair of overtime games in Miami and Ruston, Louisiana, Liberty returned home to conclude the season, falling in overtime, this time in double overtime, once again. \
Liberty had their opportunities. With the game tied in the closing minutes, Jay Billingsley lined up for what would have been a game-winning 32-yard field goal that he pushed right. The miss was a bit of a shock as the senior had made eight straight field goals dating back October 8 in a win at UTEP in El Paso, Texas. Billingsley had also made 12 of his prior 13 field goal attempts over the six games entering Saturday against Kennesaw State. The former Gardner-Webb transfer did not get the chance to attempt another field goal, as what would have been a 42-yard attempt on the opening drive of the game was not attempted as holder Max Morgan was unable to spot the ball cleanly, leading to a fumble that set up a Kennesaw State score to open the game.
Of course, in a game that goes into double overtime, no one player or play is to blame. There were plenty of missed opportunities for Liberty. The Flames ended up with 503 total yards of offense, out-gaining the Owls who finished with 452. It marks the fifth time this season Liberty has lost a game despite having more total yards, which includes the week 2 loss at Jacksonville State when the Flames also went over 500 yards in a loss. Those two teams, the Gamecocks and Owls, will play on Friday night in Jacksonville, Alabama for the CUSA Championship.
Record Night for Evan Dickens Not Enough
Liberty running back Evan Dickens had a record-setting night. Entering the game with four straight 100-yard rushing games, including two of those being over the 200-yard mark, Dickens stayed in the flames. He ran the ball 43 times for 267 yards and 4 touchdowns. He had a 95-yard touchdown run to begin the fourth quarter, the second longest play from scrimmage in Liberty football history and longest running play in school history. His 43 rushing attempts are tied for the second most in a single game in program history with Stacy Nobles (1999 vs Charleston Southern), only trailing Mitchell Clark’s 47 in 1982 against Presbyterian. His 267 yards on the ground is the third most in a single game in school history, only trailing a pair of 300-yard contests (Lawrence Worthington 305 vs Charleston Southern in 1994, Greg Mosely 300 vs Evangel in 1981).
His five-game 100-yard rushing streak is the longest since Rashad Jennings’ program-record 10 game streak in 2007-08. He becomes the first Liberty player to ever post three 200-yard games on the ground in a single season.
Over the past five games, Dickens has rushed for 945 yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging 189 yards rushing per game during that span. He finished the season with 1,339 yards and 16 touchdowns. His yardage total is the fourth most in a single season in school history (Rashad Jennings, 1,500, 2008) and his touchdown mark is tied for the second most in a single season in school history (Rashad Jennings, 17, 2008). Even more impressive that he did this while being the team’s third string running back entering the season and despite missing the UTEP game and most of the Old Dominion game due to injury.
Turning Point
In both overtime periods, Liberty’s defense allowed Kennesaw State to score touchdowns on just one play. The first came after Dickens had run into the end zone on Liberty’s first play of overtime with the defense looking to keep the Owls out of the end zone to win the game. Amari Odom connected with Gabriel Benyard for the 25-yard score in the first extra period and then threw it to Christian Moss for 25-yards and a touchdown. When the Liberty offense retook the field, needing a touchdown to stay alive, Dickens was stopped for zero yards on two runs before Merdinger was sacked for a loss of four and then his quasi-hail mary attempt into the end zone on fourth down was knocked down.
Player of the Game
Evan Dickens: Despite the loss, the Liberty running back was sensational once again. He finished with 43 carries for 271 yards and 4 touchdowns. He also had 1 catch for 16 yards.
Up Next
Liberty has finished the season at 4-8, losing four straight and finishing the season alone in 8th place in the CUSA standings. Now, what is sure to be an interesting off-season, begins.
