Lillard Leads Eagles Past Loudoun Valley 23-14
PURCELLVILLE, VA - Liberty's Corey Lillard played like a man among boys in the Eagles' 23-14 victory over the Loudoun Valley Vikings at Leonard Stadium Friday night. Lillard's impact was felt all over the field as he contributed to the Eagles' success in all three phases of the game. The senior leader ran for two touchdowns, converted a two point conversion, intercepted a pass, recorded a safety, forced a fumble and converted a fake punt on a 4th and long. Lillard accomplished all of this in the second half.
Lillard was one of the few Eagles that were not stricken with a virus that has circulated around the high school. A large number of players were so ill that Coach Tommy Buzzo held practice indoors twice this week, something that he has never done before. Starters Bryon Williams, Chris Foddrell, and Ryan Grimes did not play and Damien Dodson was also inactive as he is recovering from a knee injury he suffered against Culpeper last week.
Liberty (7-2, 4-2) got on the board first when QB Nick Potts connected with WR Derrick Lee for a 59-yard touchdown as time expired at the end of the first quarter. Potts and Lee have now connected for a touchdown in four of their last five games. Corey Lillard converted the two point conversion to give the Eagles an 8-0 lead.
Loudoun Valley forced three turnovers in the first half but was unable to score any points until the last play of the first half. Senior QB Iain Mottice heaved a ball down the near sideline that was hauled in by fellow Senior Connor Smith as time expired at the end of the first half. The Vikings (1-8, 1-5) went for two but was unable to get in and went into the locker room down 8-6.
After the Vikings stopped Liberty at the 1 yard line on 4th and goal Corey Lillard nailed Kevin Wiley in the end zone to push the Eagle lead to 10-6. Lillard would score on a 14-yard run on the drive following the safety to push the lead to 16-6.
The two teams then traded turnovers and penalties killing drives for the better part of the fourth quarter until Lillard iced the game with his second score, a 45-yard run. Mottice threw his second touchdown pass with 52 seconds left in the game when he found Peter Evans all alone in the back corner of the end zone to cap off the scoring at 23-14.
The Eagles return home next Friday night to host the Fauquier Falcons (7-2, 4-2) in the annual "Bird Bowl." The winner of the game will most likely gain a spot in the AAA Division 5 Northwest Region playoffs while the other team goes home. This game has the potential to draw the biggest crowd in the history of Fauquier county football. If you're planning on coming you better get there early.
If you can't make it to the game tune into the Gameday Radio Network for exclusive coverage of Liberty Eagle football starting at 7:15 with the "House of Speed Pre-Game Show."
