Rustburg and Liberty-Bedford battle to the end, as the Red Devils prevail 28-21
Rustburg High School, Rustburg, VA – The Lynchburg area crunch fans got a heck of a game last night when the Rustburg Red Devils and Liberty Minutemen squared off. In a game where every single play mattered, all the way down until the final whistle, the emotions of high school football teams were on full display. Rustburg Coach Burt Torrence and Liberty-Bedford Coach Chris Watts are two of the best coaches the Lynchburg area has, and they both had their guys ready for a game that looked to be an offensive shootout. 
The first was all offense but the second half played out to be a defensive chess match. In the end it was Red Devil Junior RB 5 Jaidan Johnson’s 30-yard touchdown run that gave Rustburg the edge. Liberty had a chance at the end to tie it up, inside the Rustburg red zone, but it wasn’t to be. At the end of the night, Rustburg earned the hard-fought 28-21 win.
Rustburg takes the field Friday night
First Quarter– Rustburg received the opening kickoff to their own thirty-five-yard line.
Rustburg RB 5 Jaidan Johnson leaves them in his wake
Immediately RB 5 Jaidan Johnson made his presence felt with five great runs on the opening possession, the fifth went for six as Johnson ran it in from 26-yards out as Rustburg led 7-0 with 8:29 remaining in the first quarter and while the run was great but even greater was the blocking from WR 20 Trevon Scott to open the outside lane for Johnson to score.
Liberty RB 5 Jordan Steele breaks into the clear
Four plays were all it took Liberty to find the end zone, highlighted by a 39-yard run from 5 RB Jordan Steele followed by a 34-yard touchdown run from 4 RB Emil Hurt, the extra point was good tying the game at 7 with 6:20 remaining in the first.
Minutemen RB 4 Emil Hurt scores from 34 yards out
Rustburg was ready to respond after a great return on the kickoff gave them possession at their own forty-yard line. On the second play of the drive Jaidon Johnson ran a nearly perfect 39 yards before fumbling on the two-yard line. Fortunately for Johnson he was able to recover the fumble and run the ball in for a 2-yard touchdown giving Rustburg the lead 14-7 with 5:02 remaining in the first quarter.
Yet again Liberty was ready to respond as they nearly methodically marching down the field highlighted by great runs. The first quarter ended with the Minutemen on the Rustburg one-yard line looking to tie it up once again.
RB 5 Johnson at it again for the Red Devils
New Rustburg Head Coach Burt Torrence
Second Quarter – The second quarter opened with QB 10 Tanner Stanley plunging up the middle for a 2-yard touchdown to tie the game up at 14 with 11:55 remaining in the second quarter.
The Red Devils had great field position to start their next possession, but penalties plagued their drive as they were flagged for three false starts and for the first time of the night Rustburg had to punt the ball away.
Liberty would take over and drive deep into Rustburg territory but would turn the ball over on downs in what was a huge momentum boost for the Red Devils. Rustburg continued to find success on the ground as they march down the field. QB 10 Michael Knight would cap off the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run giving Rustburg the lead 21-14 with 2:10 remaining in the half.On the next possession, Liberty was able to string together a couple of first downs before being forced to punt for the first time of the night. The snap went wild, and the punter was forced to scramble in the backfield before eventually fumbling the ball out of bounds giving Rustburg possession at the Liberty fifteen-yard line. A couple of plays and a holding penalty later saw Rustburg attempt a 4th & 16 play. Rustburg had the right play dialed up, but the pass slipped right through the hands of WR 1 Avery Dixon. Liberty had survived the miscue from punt as the first half ended.
No quit in LIberty-Bedford QB 10 Tanner Stanley
Third quarter – Liberty started the quarter with possession on their own thirty-yard line. They were only able to gain 25-yards on the drive but chewed five minutes and nineteen seconds off the game clock before punting back to Rustburg.
Rustburg took over on their own fourteen-yard line but only went 20-yards on their drive as this time it was Liberty’s defense forcing a punt with 2:15 remaining in the third quarter. Liberty took over on their own thirty-yard line but again the defensive chess game continued to play out between the two teams as Liberty was forced to punt for the second time of the half. WR 1 Avery Dixon muffed the punt and Liberty recovered giving them possession at the Rustburg thirty-yard line as the third quarter ended.
Liberty capitalized on the fumbled punt driving thirty yards in four minutes and seven seconds with QB 10 Tanner Stanley punching it in from six yards out to tie the game at 21 with 7:53 remaining in the ball game.
Rustburg saw two key plays go their way on the next drive. The first saw WR 1 Avery Dixon line up at quarterback, on 4th & 3, use his speed to get outside and fight for a first down. The second was a 30-yard touchdown run from RB 5 Jaidon Johnson that gave Rustburg a seven-point lead with 3:34 remaining in the game.
RB 5 Jaidan Johnson adds to his rushing total on the night
RB 5 Johnson and WR 1 Avery Dixon celebrate a score
Liberty took over on their own thirty-five-yard line. They moved all the way to the Rustburg twelve-yard line but on the final meaningful play of the game QB 10 Tanner Stanley’s pass sailed over the receiver in the endzone and Rustburg would take over on downs with just three seconds remaining. Rustburg would win 28-21 in a thriller in the Seminole district. – Josiah Elmore
Offense:
Rushing: Rustburg – J. Johnson 20/233, 3 TDs, M. Knight 2/6, TD, A. Dixon 2/8
Liberty – T. Stanley 19/98, 2 TDs, C. Langone 10/35, E. Hurt 6/64 TD, J. Steele 3/38, D. Johnson 1/5
Passing: Rustburg – M. Knight 3/8, 37 yards
Liberty– T. Stanley 7/16, 91 yards
Kicking: Rustburg – J. Youngblood 4/4 XP
Liberty – A. Mineo 3/3 XP
Scoring:
First Quarter
• Rustburg: J. Johnson 26-yard rushing TD 8:29
• Liberty: E. Hurt 34-yard rushing TD 6:20
• Rustburg: J. Johnson 2-yard rushing TD 5:02
Second Quarter
• Liberty: T. Stanley 2-yard rushing TD 11:55
• Rustburg: M. Knight 2-yard rushing TD 2:10
Fourth quarter
• Liberty: T. Stanley 6-yard rushing TD 7:53
• Rustburg: J. Johnson 30-yard rushing TD 3:34