Hunter caps Liberty comeback, edges Gardner-Webb, 21-20
Dae Dae Hunter punches in the winning TD for Liberty
End Zone! Dae Hunter scores 1-yard rushing touchdown
LYNCHBURG, Va. -- — Dae Dae Hunter's fourth-quarter touchdown run from a yard out lifted Liberty to a 21-20 win over Gardner-Webb in a non-conference game on Saturday.
Liberty earned its sixth win of the season and fourth straight following a 37-36 loss to No. 19 Wake Forest.
Shedro Louis scored on a short run early in the second quarter to put Liberty up 14-7, but the Bulldogs rallied behind two Jay Billingsley field goals, the longest from 41 yards out, and Bailey Fisher's 10-yard touchdown strike to T.J. Luther to take a 20-14 lead early in the fourth quarter.
Hunter's score capped a 10-play, 67-yard drive by the Flames
Fisher was 23 of 43 for 239 yards and a touchdown but was picked off twice. T.J. Luther had eight catches for 131 yards for Gardner-Webb (2-5), his fourth 100-yard receiving game of the season. Narii Gaither 21 carries for 100 yards and a touchdown.
Johnathan Bennett was 17 of 30 for 222 yards and a touchdown, but threw two interceptions. Hunter finished with 76 yards on nine carries for Liberty (6-10).
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Game Information
2023 Big South-OVC Association Standings
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Gardner-Webb | 5-1 | 7-5 |
| UT Martin | 5-1 | 8-3 |
| Eastern Illinois | 4-2 | 8-3 |
| Bryant | 4-2 | 6-5 |
| Southeast Missouri State | 3-3 | 4-7 |
| Tennessee Tech | 2-4 | 4-7 |
| Robert Morris | 2-4 | 4-7 |
| Charleston Southern | 2-4 | 4-7 |
| Tennessee State | 2-4 | 6-5 |
| Lindenwood | 1-5 | 3-7 |
2023 Conference USA Standings
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Liberty | 8-0 | 12-0 |
| New Mexico State | 7-1 | 10-3 |
| Jacksonville State | 6-2 | 8-4 |
| Western Kentucky | 5-3 | 7-5 |
| Middle Tennessee | 3-5 | 4-8 |
| Louisiana Tech | 2-6 | 3-9 |
| Sam Houston | 2-6 | 3-9 |
| UTEP | 2-6 | 3-9 |
| Florida International | 1-7 | 4-8 |
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