I had a dream.
Liberty comes out on fire! No, I mean really! It's part of their pre-game, Liberty Flames and all.
The Libs run the opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown, as Withers instructs the kickoff team (minus the kicker) to stand on the sidelines and watch what can happen if we don't show up. 7-0, Libs.
We start the Dukettes as the kick return team. They return the ball to the JMU 40. Our offense starts only Vad, Abdullah, and three linemen, just to see if we can. We move the ball into Lib territory quickly, but fumble on the Lib 10, which is recovered by the Flamers.
The Libs march down the field because our DBs are laying on the turf. They don't get knocked down or anything. Withers tells them to lay down so we can see if the Libs can score against six players. It works! Amazingly it takes the Libs eight plays to score, which is understandable as there are many second-degree burn injuries on the team from their pre-game workout. 14-0, Burkaville.
Withers decides to start the Dukettes on offense for the rest of the game as punishment for the fumble. The girls do well against the Lib D, scoring a TD on the next drive, a 70-yard dance into the endzone. Seriously, they dance all the way down the field. Much celebrating in the endzone - flips, beers, Dougies, and someone appears to be grilling brats under the goalpoast.... or that could be a Liberty defender on fire. Hard to tell in the haze of a dream. 14-7, Libs.
The Dukettes unintentionally kick onside. Unintentional because they can't kick the ball ten yards. The Dukettes recover. Much flipping and somersaulting down the field, which is too much for the Lib D. They are overwhelmed. It is hard to tell in the dream if the Lib defenders are stunned by the athleticism of the Dukettes or if they are just enjoying the scenery. Fifty-two Liberty football players submit their JMU transfer applications at halftime. Tied at 14 at the half.
Halftime. The Liberty players and coaches set themselves on fire again in the locker room. They don't have to. They just like it. Their equipment manager runs out of bandages and has to borrow half a truckload from JMU.
The rest of the game is sort of hazy, as dreams are. I can tell that the Dukettes dance down the field and score quickly, like in 20 seconds, or however long it takes to somersault 80 yards. 21-14, Dawgs.
Withers instructs the entire defense to lay down on the field, just because he always wanted to do that to see what would happen. Liberty scores, but it takes nineteen plays, as the players can hardly walk due to burn injuries. Tied at 21.
The game goes back and forth for the remainder of the second half. The Dukettes represent well. The JMU defense refuses to tackle Lib ball carriers, for fear of being burned. The Flamers win on a last-second, 20-yard field goal. Jimmy Moreland is heard to say, "NO! NO! NO! I am not blocking that kick. I don't want to get close to those guys. They are spooky.... and smoking!"
Final score - Human Torches 38, Dawgs 35
In celebration, the Flames set themselves on fire in the endzone. Their fans storm the field and also set themselves on fire. The rest of the Liberty team submits their transfer applications. The Flames are loaded onto a convoy of ambulances for the ride back to Lynchburg.
So, that's my prediction. I done seen it!
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2014 FCS Playoffs - Game 1 Predictions: Liberty at James Madison
