Flames Fall 62-59 in Triple Overtime Game at UMass

UMass overcame a two-score deficit in the fourth quarter to thrill its Homecoming crowd with a 62-59 triple overtime victory over the Liberty Flames on a windy Saturday afternoon at McGuirk Alumni Stadium.

The Flames scored three times during the first five minutes of the fourth quarter and seemed to be in control of the game. However, the Minutemen's quarterback-wide receiver combination of Ross Comis (29-of-44, 540 yards) and Andy Isabella helped UMass overcame a 45-31 deficit during the final 10 minutes of regulation to force overtime and secure the win.

Isabella entered the game as the No. 1 receiver in the country, leading all FBS players with 1,091 yards. The senior finished the game with an UMass and Liberty opponent record, hauling in nine receptions for 303 yards and two touchdowns.

The game featured a combined 1,265 total offensive yards. UMass led the way with 777 yards on 98 plays, including 708 yards in regulation. The yardage total set a Liberty opponent record, surpassing the previous mark of 680 yards set by Central State in 1983.

The contest set the stage for an interesting rivalry between the two FBS independent programs, who are set to face off against each other each of the next eight seasons. Liberty will return to Amherst, Mass., in 2019 for a game on Nov. 2 before the Minutemen make their first trip to Lynchburg on Nov. 28, 2020.

Liberty's 488 total offensive yards were paced by Stephen Calvert, who finished the contest with 272 passing yards on 16-of-35 attempts and two touchdowns. Antonio Gandy-Golden recorded his second career 200-yard game, finishing the contest with nine receptions for 205 yards. Frankie Hickson paced Liberty with 27 carries for 133 yards. Both players scored twice.

Box Score Highlights:
Final Score: 62-59 (3 OT)
Liberty (4-4)
UMass (4-6)
Location: McGuirk Alumni Stadium (Amherst, Mass.)
Attendance: 10,338

Turning Point:

Liberty forced its third turnover of the game with 11:05 left in the fourth quarter and pushed its lead to 45-31 five second later when Frank Boyd scored from four yards out.

However, the Minutemen calmly pieced together a pair of 10-play drives during the remainder of regulation to force overtime, scoring the tying touchdown with 25 seconds left in regulation.

The Flames did have one drive in between the 12 and 10 play 75-yard UMass drives. But Liberty only managed to pick up 10 yards on the five-play drive that included a bad snap that saw Liberty loss nine yards on the play and forced the Flames to punt.

Play-By-Play Breakdown:

First Quarter
• The two team scored on four consecutive drives to end the first quarter with the score tied 14-14 after 15 minutes of play.
• UMass scored on an 89-yard touchdown pass from Ross Comis to Isabella at 7:13, the longest reception by a Flames' opponent in 2018. Comis also called his own number with two minutes left to play when he scored from seven yards out.
• Gandy-Golden caught three passes for 74 yards on a six-play drive, including a 15-yard touchdown reception at the 5:03 mark, while Frankie Hickson scored on an 11-yard run as time expired in the period to keep the game tied heading into the second quarter.

Second Quarter
• The Minutemen bookended 10 points in the second quarter to keep the game tied at 24-24 heading into the intermission. Isabella caught a sideline pass for a 61-yard touchdown play at the 13:55, while Cooper Garcia knocked down a 28-yard field goal with time expiring in a first half that saw the Minutemen amass 395 total offensive yards.
• Alex Probert successfully kicked his first field goal of 2018, a 21-yarder at the 10:15, while the Flames found a way to score seven points following a Stephen Calvert interception. A deep pass downfield by Calvert was picked off by the Minutemen, but the return was fumbled and Khaleb Coleman scooped up the loose ball to return it 21 yards for a score at the 4:30 mark of the period.

Third Quarter
• The rapid scoring pace of the first half slowed down during the first part of the quarter, as UMass did not snap the tie until the 3:00 mark for the quarter's only score.
• Calvert tried to find DJ Stubbs deep downfield, but his pass was intercepted in the end zone and returned 34 yards by the Minutemen. UMass got into scoring position on a 48-yard pass to Isabella, pushing him over Liberty's opponent receiving yards, and setting up a four-yard rushing touchdown by Marquis Young to give UMass the 31-24 lead.

Fourth Quarter
• Gandy-Golden tied the game at 31-31 with a 13-yard touchdown reception 45 second into the fourth quarter. The junior leapt over two defenders to record the sixth multiple touchdown game of his career and cap a three-play, 45-yard drive.
• Liberty took its second lead of the game the next time it touched the ball, jumping out to a 38-31 lead at 11:22 on Frank Boyd's first career rushing touchdown. Boyd's one-yard scoring run was set up by a 25-yard reception by Gandy-Golden in the red zone.
• The Flames scored for the third time in the fourth quarter thanks to their third forced turnover of the game. Isaac Steele forced Young to give the ball up and Solomon Ajayi returned it to the UMass four-yard line. Boyd scored from four yards out on the next play at 11:01, giving Liberty a 45-31 lead.
• UMass responded with a pair of 75-yard scoring drives during the remaining time in regulation to tie the game. The Minutemen pulled within seven on a six-yard rushing touchdown by Comis at 6:42 and tied the game on a nine-yard scoring play by Young with 25 seconds left in regulation.

Overtimes
• Both teams scored touchdowns during their first two overtime periods to send the Flames into the second three-overtime game in program history.
• Boyd scored on a five-yard run in the first overtime for the Flames, while Comis answered with a seven-yard touchdown pass to Samuel Emilus.
• Comis found Emilus again in the second overtime period on a 23-yard scoring play, while Liberty responded with a two-yard scoring touchdown by Frankie Hickson.
• Facing a second-and-long play during the third overtime period, Calvert tried to find a receiver open in the end zone, but his pass was picked off by Jarell Addo.
• UMass kept the ball on the ground for the first six plays of the third overtime period, setting up the game-winning 22-yard field goal by Garcia.

What's Next:

The Flames will play the middle game of their three-game road swing next weekend when they travel to Charlottesville, Va., to face Virginia. Liberty's first-ever matchup against the Cavaliers kicks off from Scott Stadium at 3 p.m.

Date: Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018
Location: Charlottesville, Va. (Scott Stadium)
Radio: LFSN Radio (Flagship Station: The Journey 88.3 FM Lynchburg)
TV: ACC Regional Sports Networks
Kickoff: 3 p.m. (EST)

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Flames Fall 62-59 in Triple Overtime Game at UMass

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