Liberty 37, VMI 31

Published Nov. 5, 2011 9:24 p.m. ET

foxsports

Mike Brown passed for 286 yards and two touchdowns, and ran for a third as Liberty edged Virginia Military Institute 37-31 Saturday in Big South play.

The Flames (7-3, 5-0) withstood the upset bid by VMI (1-8, 1-3). The Keydets, behind Eric Kordenbrock, nearly pulled it off. He was 31 of 47 passing for 320 yards and three touchdowns. Two went to Tracy Hairston, including a 55-yarder to open the scoring. But once VMI took a 17-9 lead, Brown took control.

He hit Brandon Apon on a 3-yard scoring pass, then scored from the 1 for a 23-17 lead. T.J. Talley's touchdown run gave VMI its last lead, 24-23. On the ensuing kickoff, Kevin Fogg sped 90 yards to score. Brown then hit Chris Summers for a 22-yard score and a needed cushion. Kordenbrock hit Dexter Bridge on a 22-yard touchdown with 14 seconds left, but an onside kickoff failed.