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Liberty University
3-4 , 0-2
Monmouth
3-4 , 1-1
No. 22/22 Liberty Falls in Overtime to Monmouth
10/17/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
Despite two late fourth quarter touchdowns by the Flames, Monmouth used two field goals by Matt White to seal a 20-17 overtime win over No. 22/22 Liberty, Saturday afternoon, at Monmouth Stadium.
With the win, Monmouth evens its Big South record at 1-1 and moves to 3-4 on the season. The Flames fall to 3-4 on the year and to 0-2 in conference play following their first consecutive Big South losses since the 2006 season.
The Flames finished the game with more than a 100-total offensive yards edge over the home team (402 to 297), with 336 of Liberty's yardage coming via its passing game.
Liberty's Josh Woodrum attempted a career-high 53 passing attempts in the game. The senior finished the game completing 34-of-53 pass attempts for 336 yards, his ninth career 300-yard passing game.
Woodrum's top target in the game was Darrin Peterson, who posted his 13th career 100-yard game, finishing the contest with 13 receptions for 120 yards. With his numbers during the game, Peterson moved past Chris Summers for the program's all-time lead in career receptions (193) and receiving yards (2,772).
Desmond Rice was Liberty's leading rusher, finishing the game with 22 carries for 67 yards and his 24th career rushing touchdown.
Cody Williams led the Hawks, finishing the game by completing 17-of-34 passing attempts for 194 yards. The quarterback also carried the ball eight times for 17 yards and a touchdown.
Lavon Chaney led Monmouth's ground game, rushing 17 times for 70 yards and a touchdown. Darren Ambush was the Hawks' top receiver, finishing with six receptions for 45 yards.
Mike Basile (12 tackles) and Payton Minnich (10 tackles) both finished with double-digit tackles to lead Monmouth. Jimmy O'Grady was Liberty's top tackler with eight stops.
The Hawks had the first chance to add points to the scoreboard when Monmouth tried to capitalize on Liberty's second turnover of the game.
Following a Woodrum interception by defensive end Andrew Jurcznski on a pass into the flat, Monmouth took over at the Liberty 28-yard line.
The Flames' defense caused the Hawks to lose two yards on the drive and Matt White was brought on to attempt a field goal. However, the freshman's 47-yard attempt was short and missed left, keeping the game scoreless early in the second quarter.
Liberty tried to use the defensive stop as momentum to break the scoreless tie. The Flames converted four times on third-down plays during an 18-play, 60-yard drive that used up 11:04 on the game clock to get into the red zone.
The Flames tried to convert for a fifth time at the Monmouth one-yard line, but Tre Nelson was able to sack Woodrum on a bootleg rollout to the right. John Lunsford was brought in to attempt a 27-yard field goal, but the senior had his fourth field goal blocked of the year to keep the game tied at 0-0 with 2:31 left in the first half.
The Hawks implemented their two-minute offense on the following drive to break the scoreless streak with 47 second left before halftime.
Williams completed 4-of-5 pass for 60 yards before calling his own number on a one-yard touchdown run to give the home team at 7-0 lead heading into the locker room.
The two team's defensive units continued to control the pace of the game as the score remained the same until the early part of the fourth quarter.
Liberty pieced together its second 10-plus play drive of the afternoon, which got the visitors back into the red zone.
The Flames nearly tied the game when Woodrum lofted the ball into the corner of the end zone to Peterson. But the pass led him out of the end zone and Liberty was forced to settle for its first three points of the afternoon.
Lunsford connected on a 30-yard field goal with 12:47 left in the fourth quarter. The kick trimmed the home team's lead to four points, 7-3, after the 15-play, 70-yard scoring drive.
The Hawks answered right back on the following drive, pushing their lead to 11, 14-3, following a one-yard touchdown run by Chaney with 7:57 left in the contest.
The 11-play, 75-yard drive was spotlighted by an 18-yard sideline pass play by Chaney to Ambush on a third-and-17 play to get near the goal line.
The Flames started to get their offense going on the next drive, as Woodrum completed 6-of-9 passing attempts to get Liberty into the red zone. Woodrum then handed the ball off to Rice who scored from eight yards out.
After Liberty was stopped on a two-point conversion attempt, Monmouth led 14-9 with 4:24 left in regulation. The Flames forced a quick three-and-out series on the next drive and regained possession with 2:42 left on the clock.
Woodrum's arm once again led the Flames down the field on the following drive. The senior hit all four of his passing attempts, including a 30-yard strike over the middle of the field to Dante Shells to get near the goal line.
Todd Macon was handed the ball and scored from one yard out to give the Flames their first lead of the day. After Woodrum completed a two-point conversion pass play to tight end Canon Smith, Liberty led 17-14 with 1:11 on the fourth quarter clock.
Williams followed Woodrum's lead on the next drive, completing 3-of-7 passes to set up his freshman kicker who knocked down a 35-yard field goal as the regulation clock expired and send the game into overtime.
The Flames had the ball on the first overtime possession and elected to go for it on a fourth-and-two play at the 17-yard line. However, Woodrum's pitch to Rice on the option play resulted in an eight-yard loss and gave Monmouth the ball back.
The home team kept the ball on the ground for the next three plays, setting up White who ended the game with a 37-yard field goal.
Following a four-game road swing, Liberty returns home to Williams Stadium next weekend to host Kennesaw State. The first-ever matchup between the Flames and the Owls will cap of Liberty's annual Homecoming Weekend celebration. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Photo Gallery Photo Credit: B51Photography/Mark Brown:
Team Stats
LIBERTY 0, MU 7
MU - WILLIAMS, Cody 1 yd run (WHITE, Matt kick), 8 plays, 80 yards, TOP 1:44
LIBERTY 3, MU 7
LIBERTY - LUNSFORD, J. 30 yd field goal 15 plays, 70 yards, TOP 5:27
LIBERTY 3, MU 14
MU - CHANEY, Lavon 1 yd run (WHITE, Matt kick), 11 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:43
LIBERTY 9, MU 14
LIBERTY - RICE, D. 8 yd run (WOODRUM, J. rushfumbled), 11 plays, 74 yards, TOP 3:27
LIBERTY 17, MU 14
LIBERTY - MACON, T. 1 yd run (SMITH, Ca. pass), 5 plays, 83 yards, TOP 1:31
LIBERTY 17, MU 17
MU - WHITE, Matt 35 yd field goal 10 plays, 62 yards, TOP 1:05
LIBERTY 17, MU 20
MU - WHITE, Matt 37 yd field goal 4 plays, 5 yards, TOP 0:00
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