The most indelible image from a game with so many dramatic moments was the one of head coach John Truby with his arm around the shoulder of QB Todd Erney in private conversation following the Liberty Hurricanes’ postgame huddle.

When Truby returned to meet with reporters he said, “I thought Todd Erney played a great game.”

Easton entered the game undefeated but untested, as their three previous opponents had combined to post a 0-9 cumulative record. Liberty was 2-1, coming off a loss to Bethlehem Catholic.

Following the opening kickoff, Easton drove 70 yards on seven plays, capped by a 31-yard TD pass for the first score of the game. It looked like Liberty might give the ball right back to the Rovers on a three-and-out when the ‘Canes faced a 3rd and 8 from their own 34. However, RB Daniel Damon went up the seam, blew past the Easton secondary, and Erney hit him stride just across midfield for the 66-yard equalizing TD.

It looked inevitable that Easton would retake the lead as it went on a 10-play march on its next possession. The drive stalled at the Liberty 18 and an intense rush off the corner on the FG attempt forced it wide right.

The kicking game produced more drama on the next two drives. A Liberty punt was mishandled the Eason returner leading to a scramble for the ball the Rovers ultimately recovered on their own 31. The Hurricanes’ defense then stepped up to push their opponents back nine yards on three plays, forcing a punt. The resulting shank set up Liberty exactly where they would have been had they recovered the Easton muffed punt, at the Rover 31.

It fell to the offense to convert the excellent field position into points, and Erney once again delivered on 3rd and long with a beautifully lofted pass to the back corner of the end zone. Junior WR Kyle Jimenez was on the receiving end of the 30-yard fade pattern that gave Liberty its first lead of the game.

An exchange of punts set Easton up near midfield and they turned to their workhorse RB Harold Reynolds on five straight runs to move the ball to the 1-yard line. Since three of those runs had taken place in goal-to-goal situations, the play from the 1 came on 4th down. As the whole stadium anticipated another Reynolds’ rush, QB Nathan Nimeh threw a 1-TD pass to RB Dominic Falcone.

Following a touchback on the ensuing kickoff, things started to unravel for Liberty. A run for a first down was followed by a penalty for too many men on the field. The 1st and 15 play looked as if it was going to get the offense back on schedule, but the ball wound up on the turf and then into the hands of the Red Rovers at the 36. It looked like Easton had shot itself in the foot when an illegal block pushed the ball back to the 47. However, they were bailed out a pass interference call on the next play and the Liberty reaction drew an additional flag for unsportsmanlike conduct. After the 30-yard walk off, Easton retook the lead on a 17-yard pass, although they missed the PAT.

Easton kicked short to keep the ball out of the hands of Nasir Legree, but the result was that Liberty look over at the 44 with 1:25 remaining in the first half. Truby elected to play conservatively from that point and took his team into the locker room down 20-14.

“We just wanted to get out of the half. Not make any mistakes that would cost us. It was time to go back and round up the troops.”

The second half of the game had no shortage of tension and drama as each drive ended with a groan from one side of the stadium and a cheer and a salute by the band on the other side.

Liberty received the 2nd half kickoff and mounted their longest drive of the game. The key play came on a 4th and 5 from the 14 when Erney coolly hit Jimenez for a 13-yard gain. Legree cashed in from one yard out and kicker Sander Sahaydak’s conversion put the ‘Canes up 21-20.

Easton turned the ball over for the first time with a fumble on their own 44. Liberty was unable to extend the lead when their drive stalled and they missed a 31-yard FG. The Rovers drove back to Liberty’s 33 but faced a 4th and 1. The Hurricanes’ defense rose to the challenge and stuffed the QB sneak for no gain.

Liberty appear to have momentum as they took the ball down the field and appeared poised to add some insurance points, but their second lost fumble killed the drive and turned it over to Easton at the 33 with 7:45 remaining in the game.

It looked like no harm would come from the turnover when the combination of a holding penalty and a sack left Easton staring at a 3rd and 25 situation. However, the Rovers brought their fans to their feet with 26-yard pass play and sustained the drive until they had reached the end zone. A two-point conversion left Liberty down 28-21 with 3:31 left to make something happen.

The Liberty fans didn’t have long to wait. Legree took the kickoff on one bounce at his 10-yard line and accelerated through the coverage team for a 70-yard return, setting up the offense at the 20. A lot can happen between the 20-yard line and the end zone. First, the stadium held its collective breath as the ‘Canes faced a 4th and 2 from the 12. Erney used his legs to pick up 7 to make it first and goal from the 5. Two runs netted one yard and Liberty called its second timeout of the half with 25 seconds remaining. Erney rushed for three more yards before being stopped just short of the goal line. Truby bled the clock down to three seconds before taking his final timeout to discuss the 4th down play.

The ball was snapped, Erney sprinted to his left pursued by the Easton defense, and an incredible game ended six yards deep in the Liberty backfield.

Next up for Liberty will be the opportunity to recover from the heartbreaking loss and complete a three-game Bethlehem sweep over Parkland. The Trojans have lost their two previous games, 21-20 to Freedom and 24-14 to Becahi. The game kicks off at 7 p.m. on Friday in Orefield.