Liberty Christian battles Rustburg for a 27-16 win in state playoffs
Williams Stadium, Lynchburg, VA – Liberty Christian leaned on their defense in Saturday nights D3, Region C VHSL playoff battle. The Bulldogs were playing their first game without their their star RB/DB 8 Gideon Davidson. They needed their defense to step up, and they did. With LCA up 14-3, Just before half, Rustburg advanced the ball inside the Bulldog’s five yardline on the heels of a big 59-yard run by RB/LB 32 Quay Rosser. Rosser’s run got the ball to the fifteen, and the Red Devils worked the ball to a ‘first and goal’ at the three yardline. But runs by QB 10 Mike McKnight and Quay Rosser moved it only two yards. McKnight tried his hand through the air but the attempt fell incomplete. Facing fourth down at the two, Rustburg handed it to Quay again, but DL 56 Tyler Murray and LB 45 Logan Burnett stuffed the play. LCA Head Coach Frank Rocco was happy to advance playing shorthanded, “We’re playing without a lot of guys, but what these guys are doing is just short of miraculous. We are just thankful to be able to move on.” The Bulldogs added a 18-yard TD pass from QB 7 Joe Borchers to WR 6 Jaden Skates to make it 20-3 with 2:42 left in the third. But Rustburg wouldn’t quit. Red Devil QB 10 Mike McKnight hit WR/LB 21 Aldon Epperson from 15-yards out to make it 20-10 early in the fourth. Following an interception and return by DB 20 Trevon Scott, RB 32 Rosser took it in to move closer at 20-16. LCA blocked the point after. That was as close as Rustburg would get. Borchers found TE 4 Camden Clinton on a 43-yard TD pass with 3:09 left in the game. From there, the LCA defense dug in to get the win. – Cap’n Crunch
