By Dan Hiner

dhiner@vindy.com

liberty

Liberty quarterback Migel Burgess is quick. So quick, he left the football stadium Thursday night after the Leopards’ 47-0 win over Jefferson and almost no one knew.

Burgess used that speed to carry Liberty to its second straight win.

The junior ran the ball seven times for 154 yards and five touchdowns.

The production has been a surprise for Liberty head coach Chet Allen. Burgess wasn’t considered a contender for the vacant quarterback job prior to the season. Senior Hamad Alhmeed and freshman Daveyon Williamson were competing for the starting spot.

“He’s doing what we ask him to do,” Allen said. “It’s kind of nice having an athlete that just comes out of nowhere. We knew he was on our sideline, but didn’t know what kind of impact he could make and he’s doing it.”

Liberty led 40-0 by halftime thanks to Burgess, who was not available for comment after the game. He turned several negative plays into scores.

He scored on touchdown runs of 20, 50, 5, 10 and 53 yards.

“If he sees it’s not there and he gets it stretched out a little bit — the only thing he needs is a crease — he puts his foot in the ground and heads north and south. Next thing you know he’s standing in the end zone,” Allen said.

Burgess’ 53-yard run pushed the lead to 47-0 to cap the Leopards’ first possession of the second half. The starters were pulled for the next possession and different combinations of backups played.

The Leopards’ quarterback didn’t score every touchdown. Jalen McKinney scored on a 1-yard run in the first quarter to put the Leopards (6-2, 3-1 All-American Conference Blue Tier) up 14-0 and Justin Cizmar ran one in from 6 yards out in the second.

“We’re getting better every week we can, every snap we can,” Allen said. “Our kids are learning to be unselfish, starting to be better teammates and that’s paying off for us in these games. If we could get a couple games back, we could be sitting pretty, but we’re starting to get tougher as the year goes on too.”

Jefferson (0-8, 0-4 AAC White Tier) couldn’t run the ball all game. Despite playing on a short week, Liberty held the Falcons’ triple-option offense to 95 yards on 38 carries.

“Our coaches did a great job of it during the week,” Allen said. “It’s hard to defend an option offense in three days of practice and playing on Thursday. But our scheme is sound and our coaching staff did a great job of getting our kids prepared and we hit the gas and tried to go get the ball.”

Special Teams Blunders

Jefferson’s special teams unit won’t look forward to film study.

McKinney’s touchdown run was set up by a blocked punt by Zach Coman and Burgess’ 5-yard score was a result of a bad snap by Jefferson when the Falcons were punting from their 24.

The Falcons’ kickoff team didn’t return a kickoff until midway through the second quarter.

The Leopards almost recovered the opening kickoff.

Liberty kicked the ball to the Falcons’ 23-yard line, but no one caught the ball. Several Liberty players had a chance to recover, but the ball squirted through the pile and Jefferson recovered.

“We wanted to use our acceleration to be fast tonight and bring some of our mass with us,” Allen said. “The kids baught in.

“When they do stuff we ask them to do, with our athletic ability, it just pays off.”