I predicted JMU 41. With 21 at the half that sure looked good. Was stunned to see JMU shut out in a half for the 1st time since the 1st half of the @ Maryland game Aug 30. Gill definitely out coached Withers this game.
3 key plays in the 2nd half.
1. Opening LU drive of the 3rd qtr. Liberty 4th and 4 at the JMU 39 yd line. Liberty lines up for a 56 yd FG. Surely they aren't going to attempt this. I'm half buzzed, standing just below the press box screaming "WATCH THE FAKE, WATCH THE FAKE! JMU calls timeout. Ok, at least they'll be ready for any fake. Again they line up, again I'm screaming WATCH THE FAKE, WATCH THE FAKE!.Well what happens, Liberty fakes it and runs 26 yds to the JMU 13 and scores a TD a couple of plays later. If myself half buzzed in the stands thinks they are going to fake it, what does that tell you about the JMU special teams coach? Great execution by Liberty, piss pooor by JMU.
Liberty in the 4th Qtr lines up for another 56 yd FG. De ja vu. Guess what I'm screaming? JMU this time makes no attempt to rush, watching for the fake (maybe they listened to me?) This time they kick it, and not only make it, it would have been good from 60-65 in the by then low 30s temp..
2. 4th qtr, JMU up 21-17. LU 1st and 15 from their 15. The LU QB is stripped by JMU's likely All American DE Sage Harold (13.5 sacks/23.5 TFL) at the LU 6 yd line. The ball squirts out to the 2 yard line, another JMU DL falls on it. JMU should be able to score, ballgame....except the ball mysteriously squirted out, the LU QB picks it up and gets back to the 15 yd line.
"WOODRUM,J. rush for loss of 9 yards to the LIBERTY6, fumble forced by HAROLD,S., fumble by WOODRUM,J. recovered by LIBERTY WOODRUM,J. at LIBERTY2, WOODRUM,J. for 13 yards to the LIBERTY15 (GATES,X.)."
Divine intervention? Liberty proceeds to go on a 20 play/11:01 drive to score the go ahead TD. LU nearly doubled JMU in the TOP, and JMU's defense at that point was just gassed.
3. JMU driving for the winning TD, just over a minute left, 1st and 10 @ LU 24. Lee completes pass out in the flat to the RB who runs it down to about the LU 6 yd line. JMU is gonna score and win the game. Except a JMU OL is called for holding. I've heard countless comments on the JMU board of not called 9 times out of 10, phantom holding, bs call, etc. I don't know as I would need to see a replay. Regardless, instead of 1st and goal at the 6, it was 1st and 20 at the 33. JMU still had 4 plays to get 20 yards and failed to.
JMU was was +3 in the turnovers (4 to 1). If it wasn't for that, LU might have won by double digits. Congrats to them, they deserved to win.
