Liberty 42, Gardner-Webb 35

Published Oct. 6, 2012 9:09 p.m. ET

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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.