BEDFORD — Liberty’s offense is built on deception. It’s difficult at times to see from the sidelines exactly which running back in Liberty’s three-back set gets the football. It can even be tougher for the players on the field.
Jefferson Forest, though, had played sound assignment football for most of Friday night, making sure to key in on the fullback every time he touched the ball. The Cavaliers made one mistake, one bad read, and it proved costly.
Thomas Clark broke free for a 33-yard run in the final minute, setting up the game-winning touchdown as Liberty rattled off 21 unanswered points to beat the Cavaliers 28-21. The second Clark touched the ball, Liberty quarterback Tyler Bowyer knew Clark would clear the line of scrimmage.
Bowyer, known as T-Bow (rhymes with Tebow) by his teammates, saw Clark hit the hole, raised a finger in the air and watched his fullback rumble down the field. Two plays later, Bowyer snuck in from a yard out for his third rushing touchdown, giving the Minutemen (7-1, 3-1 Seminole) the lead with 20 seconds left.
“I’ve been playing these guys ever since rec ball, so this is a big win for us,” Bowyer said.
Liberty overcame four turnovers, including a fumble deep it its own territory that led to JF’s third touchdown. In the end, it was Jefferson Forest (4-3, 2-1) that couldn’t get out of its own way.
After the Cavaliers forced a punt on Liberty’s final drive, Colby Rhodes — who had an interception and caught a touchdown pass — muffed a line-drive punt, and Liberty recovered, setting up Clark’s big run.
Then, after Liberty scored, the Minutemen tried to squib the kickoff to avoid a long return. The ball slammed right into the leg of JF lineman Chris Box, and Liberty recovered, ending the game.
“This is going to be hard for us as a team and as a staff to swallow,” JF coach Don Rice said. “Because we controlled it, then we gave it away.”
The Cavaliers also missed two field-goal attempts. And though top tailback Rashad Hall ran for 170 yards on 38 carries, he had a 59-yard touchdown run called back late in the third quarter because of a holding penalty.
If Hall scores there, JF has a two-touchdown lead. Instead, the Cavaliers were forced to keep driving, and the possession ended when Dylan Sims pushed a 29-yard field goal wide left.
Energized, Liberty coach Chris Watts called for a pass on first down on the next drive, and Bowyer connected with Matt Kerr for a 30-yard gain.
With seven minutes left, Bowyer faked a handoff and kept the ball himself, rolling out to the left, evading two JF defenders and diving into the end zone for a 22-yard touchdown that tied the game at 21.
“The DB and the corner were biting on it,” Bowyer said. “So I just decided to take it.”
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