College Sports

No. 23 Liberty outlasts No. 9 Coastal Carolina in Cure Bowl

Posted December 27, 2020 6:00 am

By DICK SCANLON

Coastal Carolina's Massimo Biscardi (29) has his field goal attempt blocked by Liberty's Elijah James in overtime of the Cure Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Stamey) The Associated Press

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Liberty ended Coastal Carolina's perfect season with a blocked kick in overtime.

Elijah James blocked Massimo Biscardi's 42-yard field goal attempt to give No. 23 Liberty a 37-34 victory over No. 9 Coastal Carolina in a wild finish Saturday night in the FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl.

Liberty (10-1) took the lead on Alex Barbir's 44-yard field goal on the first extra possession.

Coastal Carolina (11-1) got a huge break in regulation when Liberty's Joshua Mack fumbled inside the 1 with 41 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Safety Alex Spillum recovered the fumble to end the long drive.

'œI thought it was a touchdown but they called it a fumble,'ť said Liberty quarterback Malik Lewis, who set several records in the game. 'œBut the next opportunity we got, we took advantage of it.'ť

Willis ran for 137 yards and four touchdowns and completed 19 of 29 passes for 220 yards with two interceptions.

The Flames' only loss came to North Carolina State on a blocked field goal.

'œNo question this is the best season Liberty University has ever had,'ť safety Javon Scruggs said.

Coastal Carolina overcame an early 14-0 deficit, and drove 72 yards to tie it in the fourth quarter. Grayson McCall ran in a 2-point conversion to make it 34-34 after throwing a 5-yard touchdown pass to Greg Latushko with 3:01 remaining

Coastal Carolina had won 12 straight.

'œWe couldn't do anything with their quarterback,'ť Coastal Carolina coach Jamey Chadwell said. 'œYou see why he was a five-star player.'ť

McCall had a big game for Coastal Carolina, completing 21 of 32 passes for 318 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. The red-shirt freshman also ran for 96 yards

It was the first time any ranked team had played in the six-year-old bowl, which was moved to prime time after being scheduled in the early afternoon. The teams were scheduled to meet Dec. 5, but that game was canceled because of COVID-19.

Willis led touchdown drives of 64 and 66 yards on the Flames' first two possessions, running 7 yards for the first touchdown and 6 yards to make it 14-0 late in the first quarter.

Braden Matts' interception turned the game in Coastal Carolina's direction early in the second quarter. Biscardi's 21-yard field goal got the Chanticleers on the board, and McCall connected with tight end Isaiah Likely on a 25-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-10 with 2:02 left in the half.

Biscardi added a 33-yard field goal on the final play of the half after Barbir kicked a 37-yarder for Liberty.

Scruggs' 59-yard interception return set up the Flames at the Costal Carolina 10 early in the second half, and Willis' third TD run made it 24-13. Coastal Carolina answered quickly on McCall's 43-yard scoring pass to Latushko.

Javon Heiligh caught 16 passes for 168 yards for the Chanticleers, who never led in the game.

TAKEAWAY

Coastal Carolina: Missed a chance for a perfect season.

Liberty: Willis set school records for total touchdowns (passing and rushing) with 34, and for rushing yardage by a quarterback (944).

Liberty players celebrate with the trophy after defeating Coastal Carolina in overtime in the Cure Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Stamey) The Associated Press

Liberty players celebrate after defeating Coastal Carolina in overtime with a blocked field goal in the Cure Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Stamey) The Associated Press

Liberty quarterback Malik Willis (7) celebrates with teammates after the team's overtime win over Coastal Carolina in the Cure Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Stamey) The Associated Press

Liberty wide receiver CJ Daniels (4) and quarterback Malik Willis (7) celebrate with teammates after the team's overtime win over Coastal Carolina in the Cure Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Stamey) The Associated Press

Liberty coach Hugh Freeze holds the trophy and celebrates with players after the team's overtime win over Coastal Carolina in the Cure Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Stamey) The Associated Press

Liberty's Alex Barbir (95) celebrates after kicking the go-ahead field goal against Coastal Carolina during overtime in the Cure Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Stamey) The Associated Press

Liberty safety Javon Scruggs (1) tackles Coastal Carolina wide receiver Jaivon Heiligh (6) during the second half of the Cure Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Stamey) The Associated Press

Coastal Carolina quarterback Grayson McCall (10) runs for a first down past Liberty defensive end Tre'Shaun Clark (10) during the second half of the Cure Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Stamey) The Associated Press

Liberty quarterback Malik Willis (7) loses his helmet while being tackled by Coastal Carolina linebacker Silas Kelly (29) and others during the first half of the Cure Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020, in Orlando, Fla. Kelly was penalized on the play. (AP Photo/Matt Stamey) The Associated Press

Coastal Carolina quarterback Grayson McCall (10) fakes a handoff to running back Shermari Jones (5) during the first half against Liberty in the Cure Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Stamey) The Associated Press

Liberty quarterback Malik Willis (7) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against Coastal Carolina during the first half of the Cure Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Stamey) The Associated Press

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