Liberty Football: 3 takeaways from dramatic win over Virginia Tech

Liberty football hit the road to take on Virginia Tech on Saturday afternoon and the Flames added to their case for a New Year’s Six berth.

The probable choice for the projected rank team from the Commonwealth in 2020 would be Virginia Tech. Knowing what this year would end up being, the chaos of college football, it’s the team that’s in their third year in the FBS in the Liberty Flames.

And those Flames answered the call on Saturday in Blacksburg with a 38-35 thrilling win over Virginia Tech.

Liberty is ranked No. 7 in the country in rush offense and that’s how they would start this game. Hugh Freeze would emphasize the run game as the Flames gashed the Hokies up front with Joshua Mack (five carries, 30 yards). Malik Willis’ first completion, would cap off the drive with a 32-yard strike to the end zone for CJ Yarbrough.

Things would go from bad to worse for the Hokies as star running back Khalil Herbert would get injured on their first offensive drive and would be out for the rest of the game with a hamstring injury.

Virginia Tech would get on the board with a field goal, headlined by a 25-yard pass to veteran wide receiver Tre Turner.

Liberty would just have things going the right way, specifically headlined by quite possibly, the best play of the year for the Flames. On fourth-and-3, Willis would  scramble near the sideline and throw a strike down the field to get the Flames inside the five.

The Flames would add to their lead with a touchdown to finish the drive with tight end Jerome Jackson, his first of the season.

After being stagnant for the majority of the half, Virginia Tech’s offense would pick up their pace with Hendon Hooker running the football with Herbert out. Hooker would do it all by himself, having all of the yardage on a seven-play, 65-yard drive with finding tight end Nick Gallo for the three-yard touchdown.

That touchdown drive would start momentum for the Hokies as they would recover a fumble and Hooker would continue his dazzling display with a 12-yard touchdown run to give the Hokies the lead.

Virginia Tech’s defense would come up huge once again with Liberty driving as they would force a Malik Willis fumble when the Flames were on the door of finding the end zone. The Hokies would storm down the field and end up with three as the half ends.

After it seemed like Virginia Tech was taking ahold of the momentum, Willis would lead the Flames 95 yards with his third touchdown to take a one-point lead.

The first turnover for Virginia Tech would cost them as a muffed punt would convert with Johnny Huntley on a pass from Willis would  give the Flames a 28-20 lead.

Back and forth this two teams would go, Hooker would find Kaleb Smith on a tough fourth down to put the Hokies within two and with less than six minutes left, would convert and tie the game at 28.

Both teams would go back and forth as with less than a minute left, this game would be knotted up at 35.

Hendon Hooker would have a fantastic effort, totaling up 373 total yards and all four offensive touchdowns for the Hokies.

The chaos would only spark from that point as Liberty’s initial field goal to give them the lead got blocked and returned for a touchdown. Not until, it was known that the referees would initial a timeout from Virginia Tech. Liberty would set up a play for 10 yards. Making what was a 59-yarder, instead a 50-yarder. Alex Barbir would nail the field goal and give Liberty the lead with one second left.

What was initially a win in Waco as Liberty’s biggest win in 2017, they add a new big win with a taking the win in Blacksburg against Virginia Tech. This game was dominated by quarterback play and less than desirable run defense.

Willis finished with 317 yards with four touchdowns.