Liberty notes: Apon makes up for miss

Josh Woodrum knew Brandon Apon needed a pick-me-up. In the second quarter of Libertys 42-35 win over Gardner-Webb on Saturday at Williams Stadium, Woodrum threaded a perfect post pass to Apon, who had beaten the safety in coverage. The ball hit Apons hands before promptly hitting the stadiums FieldTurf, erasing what surely would have been a touchdown.

Woodrum threw an interception two plays later.

Apon was understandably down.

To have a wide-open play like that and not make the play, you feel like you let your team down, Apon said. I felt like I let myself down. But I knew I had to keep my head in it. My team needed me to be a leader and not feel sorry for myself.

Woodrum, the Flames redshirt freshman quarterback, wasnt going to let that happen.

I just told him it was unlucky, but you need to catch that ball when it happens, Woodrum said. Youve just got to make plays when you have the opportunity.

It came in the final six minutes of a tied game, when Woodrum faked a handoff, rolled left and hit Apon for a 5-yard touchdown that provided the winning margin.

Just to have the blessing to be able redeem myself, it was elating, Apon said. Its an unbelievable feeling.

Apon wasnt the only Liberty player who needed to redeem a tough first half. Cornerback Walt Aikens talked with Kurt Beathard after the game, and the Gardner-Webb offensive coordinator who recruited Aikens to Illinois before Aikens transferred to LU told Aikens the Runnin Bulldogs were picking on him early.

Though Aikens didnt see a stat sheet at halftime, he knew that GWU quarterback Lucas Beatty had lit up the Flames.

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Liberty notes: Apon makes up for miss