LYNCHBURG, Va. - Liberty scored 28 unanswered points in the fourth quarter capped off by Eugene Goodman's (Jr., RB, 5-8, Smithfield, Va.) three-yard run with 10 seconds left in the contest as Liberty opened up Big South Conference play with a 31-28 win over VMI, Saturday evening, at Williams Stadium.
After Greg Carlson (Jr., SE, 6-3, Purcellville, Va.) hauled in a 47-yard touchdown pass from Jonathan Wilson (r-Fr., QB, 6-1, Lexington, Va.) the Keydets (3-3, 0-1 BSC) took a seemingly commanding 28-3 lead with 10:39 left in the contest.
The Flames (2-4, 1-0 BSC) started their comeback when Goodman ran in from a yard out to bring the Flames within 28-10 with 13:29 left in the contest. Liberty's scoring spree continued when with 7:09 remaining when Goodman scampered 12 yards to capped off a nine-play, 90 yard drive.
On that drive the Keydets once again seemed to put the game away when Robert Mason (So., DB, 6-2, Gastona, N.C.) scooped up a Lauren Williams' (So., TE, 6-3, Upper Marlboro, Md.) fumble and ran it back for a touchdown only to have the played called back on a roughing the passer penalty.
On the ensuing VMI possession, Sean Mizzer (So., RB, 5-8, Prince Frederick, Md.) fumbled on his own 33-yard line which was recovered by Seth Reichart (Jr., DL, 6-1, Ellwood, Pa.) and returned to the 28-yard line. Goodman scored his third touchdown of the quarter five plays later to bring the Flames within 28-23 with 5:38 left in the contest. The Flames' attempt at a two-point conversion failed.
The Keydets were held to negative six yards and went three and out forcing them to punt with 3:10 remaining in the contest. After Liberty converted a fourth-and-eight to keep the drive alive, they marched down the field on nine running plays as Goodman finished the drive with his career high fourth touchdown of the evening.
At halftime it looked as if the Keydets would win their first Big South contest in school history as they held a 21-3 edge. Scott Kiovsky (Fr., K, 5-11, Noblesville, Ind.) opened the scoring with a 45-yard field goal to give Liberty a 3-0 lead. Back-to-Back touchdown runs by T.J. Snelling (Sr, SB, 6-2, Chester, Va.) gave VMI a 14-3 edge and a Wilson 17 yard pass to Carlson rounded out the scoring in the opening half.
Dre Barnes (Jr., RB, 5-7, Ocilla, Ga.) posted his second career 200-yard rushing game with a personal best 219 yards on 32 carries marking the second time he has ran for over 200 yards against VMI. It was the 10th best rushing effort in Flames' history. Goodman became only the second Flame in school history to score four touchdown at Williams Stadium as he ran for 109 yards on 21 carries. As a team the Flames rushed for a season high 336 yards setting a Big South record in the process.
For the Keydets, Wilson completed 15 of his 26 attempts for 231 yards and two touchdowns to pace the VMI effort. Carlson led the group of VMI receivers with five catches for 116 yards and two touchdowns.
The Flames continue Big South play next week as they travel to Gardner-Webb for a 3:30 kickoff while the Keydets host Charleston Southern at 1 p.m. (Story courtesy Liberty Sports Information)
