CLINTON, S.C. - The Presbyterian College football team played No. 12/16
Liberty even for the first half, but ultimately fell 34-24 in a hard-fought
game Saturday afternoon.
The Blue Hose now stand at 1-7 overall and 1-3 in Big South Conference play.
The Flames improve to 6-2 on the year and 3-0 in league action.
Leading the way for PC was rookie Ryan Singer, who accounted for the first two
rushing touchdowns of his career. Singer was also the team's leading rusher
with 72 total yards on three carries.
Myron Gary tallied 92 yards and a touchdown pass on seven attempts. Singer
completed seven passes as well for 63 yards.
Michael Ruff hauled in a team-best four receptions for 49 yards while Jeremy
Cole had three for 37. Trandon Dendy accounted for 48 yards, surpassing the
1,000-yard mark for his career.
Defensively, rookie Matthan Burton recorded a career-high 14 tackles, 10 of
which were solo. He also posted his first career interception, returning it for
41 yards. Justin Bethel reached double figures with 11 tackles.
After Liberty took a 7-0 lead, PC managed just six yards on its first
possession. The Blue Hose punted the ball back to the Flames, the defense
stepped up. The Flames recorded four first downs, marching to the PC 45-yard
line. However, PC's defense forced a punt on a fourth-and-six.
The Blue Hose were pinned deep in their own territory, but Gary was able to hit
Cole for a first down. Dendy then pushed the team to the 41 after a 20-yard
burst through the left side. Four plays later, Dendy's 25-yard scamper gave PC
a first down at Liberty's 24. The Blue Hose made the score 7-3 after Cam Miller
drilled a 39-yard field goal with 1:05 to play in the opening quarter.
With the Flames driving in the second quarter, Burton stepped in front of a
Mike Brown pass, intercepted it and returned it 41 yards to the Liberty 24. Ryan
Singer stepped in at the quarterback spot and promptly completed back-to-back
passes, putting the Blue Hose at the five-yard line. He then faked the pitch
and went into the end-zone untouched for a 10-7 advantage.
The Flames quickly evened the contest at 10 apiece with a field goal that went
through the uprights with 5:58 to play before the intermission.
Two possessions later, Brian Wilson forced Mike Brown to cough up the ball.
Derek Brown scooped it up and returned it nine yards to the 26.
Gary then hit Ruff and Cole for a first down. On first-and-10 from the 12, Gary
dumped the ball off to Dendy on the left side. With excellent blocking
downfield, Dendy was able to excel into the end-zone for a 17-10 advantage.
With just 1:09 to play in the half, the Flames organized a drive that resulted
in the tying score.
The Flames came out in the second half and SirChauncey Holloway scored on
back-to-back possessions in the third quarter for a 31-17 lead. The Flames'
first touchdown of the half began on their own one-yard line. Liberty tacked on
a field goal with 8:11 to play in the fourth for a 17-point advantage.
PC tried to come back. After a 24-yard return by Seth Moreland, the Blue Hose
started the drive on the 30. Singer dropped back to pass, moved up in the
pocket when nobody came open and promptly took off up the middle of the field.
He continued the run to the five before being pressured by a Flames' defender.
Singer made the Liberty player whiff on the tackle before scrambling into the
end-zone. Miller's extra point made it 34-24.
The Blue Hose tried an on-side kick and Justin Bethel almost came up with it,
but Liberty took control on PC's 49. However, PC could not get any closer.
On Dendy's second carry of the game, he busted a long run for a first down. The
rush also marked Dendy passing a career milestone as he eclipsed the 1,000-yard
rushing mark of his one-plus seasons at PC.
"Liberty is ranked No. 12 for a reason," head coach Harold Nichols said. "I am
proud of our effort and the way that we played. "We've made progress with each
and every week this season. Our team is getting better.
"I like the support of our athletic department, school and the community."
The Blue Hose return to action next Saturday when they host Stony Brook in a 1
p.m. game. The contest is part of the Big South Conference television package
and will air on SportSouth.
