Liberty Triumphs 30-27 Over New Mexico State: Game Recap
Liberty secured a hard-fought victory against New Mexico State with a final score of 30-27 on Tuesday night in Lynchburg, Virginia. The decisive moment came when Evan Dickens scored an 8-yard touchdown with just 36 seconds remaining, culminating a lengthy 92-yard drive that lasted over three minutes.
Game Highlights
New Mexico State made a last-ditch effort to tie the game, quickly advancing into field-goal territory. A catch by Gavin Harris for 32 yards placed them in range. However, Ryan Hawk’s 47-yard field-goal attempt went awry as time expired.
Key Player Performances
- Evan Dickens: 13 carries for 50 yards, 2 touchdowns
- Ethan Vasko (Liberty): 20 completions on 30 attempts, 179 passing yards, 2 interceptions
- Logan Fife (New Mexico State): 242 passing yards, 2 touchdowns
- Kadarius Calloway: 84 rushing yards, 1 touchdown
Scoring Breakdown
The first half was marked by strong special teams play from Liberty. Julian Gray electrified the crowd with a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, giving Liberty a 10-3 lead. Shortly after, a mishap on a New Mexico State punt led to another quick score, increasing Liberty’s lead to 20-6.
In a dramatic turn, New Mexico State scored 21 unanswered points at the beginning of the second half, pushing ahead 27-20. Despite the momentum shift, a second muffed punt by the Aggies allowed Liberty to narrow the gap with a short field goal, pulling the score to 27-23 early in the fourth quarter.
Outlook
This victory improves Liberty’s record to 3-4 overall and 2-1 in Conference USA. New Mexico State, now at 3-3 and 1-2 in the conference, will seek to bounce back in their upcoming games. Both teams showcased resilience, making this matchup a notable highlight of the season.
