N.C. State blocks field-goal to hand Liberty first loss

RALEIGH, N.C. — For the second time this season, Liberty found itself lining up for a late field goal to beat an Atlantic Coast Conference team on the road.

Only this time, Vi Jones and North Carolina State came up with the play to end the Flames’ perfect season.

Jones blocked Alex Barbir’s 39-yard field-goal attempt with 1:18 left to help the Wolfpack beat then-No. 21 Liberty 15-14 Saturday night, handing the Flames their first loss of the year and knocking them from the AP Top 25.

It was a fitting finish for the Wolfpack (6-3), whose surging offense sputtered much of the night while the defense and special teams came through with big plays — particularly in the fourth quarter.

“Eve r y t h i n g

t h a t ’s come at them, they’ve responded,” Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren said. “People have doubted this football team all year. For us to now sit here with six wins and two (top-25 wins) says a lot about them.”

Liberty (8-1), which won at Syracuse and Virginia Tech, was trying to earn a third road victory against an ACC opponent this year. The Flames had their shot to extend the best start in program history, too, putting together a drive to give Barbir — who had kicked a 51-yard field goal to beat the Hokies — a shot at the lead.

This time, it didn’t work. Jones said Barbir’s kick hit him in the right elbow, setting off a sideline celebration for N.C. State.

With N.C. State’s offense fighting for every yard in the third quarter, quarterback Bailey Hockman’s quick-kick punt on a stalled drive was downed at the

Liberty 3-yard line. Isaiah Moore then stuffed Peytton Pickett on the next play for a safety with 3:34 left in the period. That cut the Flames’ lead to 14-9.

Zonovan Knight ran for two touchdowns to lead N.C. State, including the go-ahead 4-yard score with 6:53 left in the game. That play was set up by a diving interception from true freshman reserve Aydan White.

Malik Willis threw for 172 yards and two touchdowns for Liberty but had three interceptions, two in the fourth quarter. He also ran for 44 yards as the Flames managed just 279 total yards, their fewest of the year.

“It’s all on me,” Willis said.

“I take the blame for that loss. I take the blame for turning the ball over and putting us in terrible situations where the defense was picking me up every time.”