Harrisonburg, VA (SportsNetwork.com) - Liberty aspires to move up to the FBS level, but the Flames have taken a quick liking to the FCS playoffs. <\/p>\n
In the first postseason game in program history, the Flames went across state to stun James Madison, 26-21, in the first round. <\/p>\n
Big South co-champion Liberty (9-4) will visit another CAA Football team, sixth-seeded Villanova (10-2), in the second round next Saturday. <\/p>\n
Coach Turner Gill's program, which has sought a move to the FBS, won a strange playoff debut by jumping to a 10-0 lead in the second quarter, falling behind 21-10 by halftime and then scoring 16 unanswered points in the second half. <\/p>\n
The winning points capped a 17-play, 85-yard, 11-minute drive in the fourth quarter. Fullback Nicky Fualaau scored on a 1-yard run to lift Liberty from a 21-20 deficit with 2:53 remaining. <\/p>\n
James Madison (9-4) drove the ball to the Liberty 27, but on a fourth-down play, quarterback Vad Lee's intended pass to Daniel Brown was broken up by Flames cornerback Kenny Scott. <\/p>\n
Liberty committed four turnovers to JMU's one, but held the ball for 39 minutes, 1 second. D.J. Abnar rushed for 69 yards and two touchdowns, and place-kicker John Lunsford had a 56-yarder among his two field goals. He has the three longest field goals in the FCS this season (60, 57 and 56). <\/p>\n
Lee threw for 139 yards and one touchdown with an interception, adding 57 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Jauan Latney finished with 119 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. <\/p>\n
Safety Dean Marlowe added two interceptions for James Madison, which entered the matchup on a seven-game winning streak. <\/p>\n
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Liberty wins playoff debut at James Madison<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Harrisonburg, VA (SportsNetwork.com) - Liberty aspires to move up to the FBS level, but the Flames have taken a quick liking to the FCS playoffs. In the first postseason game in program history, the Flames went across state to stun James Madison, 26-21, in the first round Continue reading