Liberty 42, Gardner-Webb 35

Josh Woodrum threw for 373 yards and three touchdowns and running back Aldreakis Allen threw an option pass for another as Liberty rallied from an early deficit to edge Gardner-Webb 42-35 Saturday.

In this Big South opener between 0-4 teams, Woodrum out-dueled Lucas Beatty. The Gardner-Webb quarterback completed 27 of 32 passes for 383 yards but just one touchdown. Woodrum completed scoring passes to three different receivers. Two came in the fourth quarter: a 45-yarder to Ryan Ferguson, tying it at 35-all, then a decisive 5-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Apon with 5:11 left.

The most important completion might have been Allen's 15-yard option pass to Justin Gunn to cut it to 28-23. Then Woodrum hit Pat Kelly on a two-point conversion pass to draw Liberty within 28-25. Aldreakis also rushed for 97 yards and a touchdown.

Juanne Blount had two of Gardner-Webb's four rushing touchdowns.