Liberty opened its season Friday night, with a 26-12 non-district football win over host Blacksburg.

The Minutemen (1-0), whose only win last year was against Blacksburg, jumped out to a 14-0 lead at the half behind a 25-yard touchdown run by Chase Key and a 72-yard scamper by Austin Porter.

The Bruins (0-2) finally got on the scoreboard in the third quarter on a 39-yard field goal by Carson Wise to make it 14-3. Liberty answered with a 100-yard kickoff return by Matthew Smith to extend its lead t0 20-3.

In the fourth quarter, the Bruins used an 87 yard scoring pass from Kaleb Bohrnstedt to Colin Ball and a22-yard field goal by Wise to cut their deficit to 20-12. Liberty closed out the game with a 67-yard pass interception by Trevon Lightfoot to make the final 26-12, Minutemen

Kaleb Bohrnstedt led the Bruins with 178 yards passing on a 10-for-26 evening and a touchdown. He was also picked off four times in the game.