LYNCHBURG, Va. - The Presbyterian College football
team tried to earn back-to-back wins over Liberty after downing the top-20 team a
year ago in Clinton, S.C. However, the Blue Hose suffered a 55-19 loss
Saturday evening in front of over 14,000 fans.
PC remains winless on the season (0-8, 0-3) while the Flames improve to 6-2 on
the year and 3-0 against Big South Conference competition.
Leading the way for PC was quarterback Brandon Miley, who entered the game in
the fourth quarter. He connected on six-of-eight passes for 99 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Tim Webb
hit 16-of-30 for 183 yards.
Patrick McKoy hauled in three catches for 61 yards while Sean Adegbola scored the
final touchdown of the game while accounting for 42 yards. Michael Ruff also caught a
touchdown pass with 9:03 to play.
Defensively, Justin Bethel led all players with 11 tackles. He also had a
game-high nine solo stops. Derek Brown chipped in with eight tackles, five of
which were unassisted.
In the third quarter, Liberty ran off 20 points to widen the lead
to 48-5 after three complete. The home team scored two touchdowns and
added two field goals, breaking the contest open. However, there was no quit in
PC.
The Blue Hose continued to battle, down 55-5, by putting together a solid drive
that resulted in Ruff's touchdown reception. After a pair of turnovers, PC
regained the ball and Miley promptly marched the visitors down the field in six
plays, covering 63 yards in 2:29 for the last touchdown of the game.
Things started out well for the Blue Hose, who received the ball to start the
game. With Tim Webb earning the start for the first time this season, PC moved
the ball rather well. Trandon Dendy got things going with a six-yard scamper
out of the gate. Webb then hit Robbins for five yards and a quick first down.
Dendy went back to work, earning another first down. However, PC was unable to
capitalize on the couple of quick first downs as the team could not convert a
third-and-four from the 47. Patrick Morgano's short punt gave the home team the
ball on the 36-yard line. It then took LU just six plays to go down the field
and score, making it 7-0.
The Blue Hose would back themselves into a hole. Facing a first-and-23 from the
seven, Webb's pass was tipped at the line and was intercepted. Two plays later,
the Flames went ahead 14-0.
PC's offense got back on the field very determined. The squad methodically
moved down the field, covering 72 yards in 11 plays while taking 4:44 off the clock. The big gainer on the
drive was Webb's pass to Patrick McKoy, which covered 38 yards down to the Liberty 31.
On fourth down from the eight, Aaron Mayes connected on a 25-yard field goal to
get the Blue Hose on the board.
The Flames tossed a touchdown pass and rushed for another to put the score at
28-3 with just 2:47 to play.
PC was unable to move the chains, giving the ball back to Liberty. With under two minutes to play,
the Blue Hose defense stiffened, forcing a punt. Leading the way for PC on the
drive was Derren Evans and Justin Bethel, who sacked the quarterback for a
10-yard line. Evans and Melvin Jones combined for another sack on third down,
forcing the punt. The ball was then snapped out of the end-zone, giving PC two
more points.?
After getting the ball back on the 47 yard line, Webb drilled Derek Frost for
a 15-yard completion to the 32. With two seconds remaining in the half, Mayes
was unable to hit a 50-yard attempt that ended up just inches short of the goal
post.
In the first half, PC managed to amass 164
yards of total offense compared to 162 for the home team. The Blue Hose also
held a 15:50-14:10 time of possession advantage through the opening half.?
The Blue Hose return to action next Saturday at 1:30 p.m., when they host Charleston Southern.
