Liberty blocks field goal to win Cure Bowl in wild fashion

By Andy Kostka - The Washington Times - Sunday, December 27, 2020

Liberty won the Cure Bowl against Coastal Carolina, 37-34, ending the Chanticleers’ previously undefeated season. But the way the Flames won Saturday’s matchup made it one of the more interesting and exciting bowl games so far.

Liberty could’ve — and should’ve — won the contest in regulation. With a first-and-goal with 1:35 remaining, coach Hugh Freeze decided wasting time to settle for the game-winning field goal was the right option. But as the Flames tried not to score, running the ball while hoping to stay out of the end zone, they fumbled.

Or, at least, that’s what the officials saw.

This was ruled a fumble while Liberty was in the red zone: pic.twitter.com/rXCVQmVJ2b
— ESPN (@espn) December 27, 2020

Coastal Carolina scooped the ball up and forced overtime, with the score locked at 34-34. And while the Chanticleers held Liberty to a field goal on its first overtime possession, Coastal Carolina couldn’t manage to find the end zone.

Needing a field goal to send the game to a second overtime period, Liberty came up with a huge stop, blocking the try and ending the Chanticleers’ undefeated campaign.