LYNCHBURG, VA – Indiana State University football went nearly shot-for-shot with Liberty University with the Sycamores falling a point short, 42-41 in the Saturday clash between an Oakleaf High wideout and a Clay High defensive back.

Oakleaf High graduate Rontrez Morgan, a mean and lean wide receiver for the Knights under coaches Derek Chipoletti and Steven Reynolds, handled the ball in three different positions for the Sycamores of Indiana State, now 0-3.

In the final drive of the night, Morgan, a true freshman, was instrumental in putting his Indiana State offense in position for a game-winning field goal with a 25 yard pass play to the Liberty six, but the field goal attempt was blocked by Liberty.

For the Liberty defense, senior defensive back Jeremy Peters, a Clay High graduate, was in charge of the patroling the secondary for the Glames (3-0). Peters would finish with six tackles against Indiana State; two for loss and one pass breakup.

“Maybe once or twice did I get with Rontrez one on one,” said Peters. “They do a lot of motions and shifts throughout the game. I got to talk to him after the game.”

In Liberty’s second game of the season, a 58-17 win over Morehead State, Peters had four tackles and two pass breakups.

In Liberty’s season opening upset of 48-45 over Baylor, Peters had seven tackles with two pass breakups including a pass breakup in Baylor’s final drive of the game.

“I feel like we are closer as a team that in previous years,” said Peters. “I had the final breakup of the game, but we just executed the whole game.”

Against Liberty, Morgan had three kick returns for 68 yards with a 30 yarder the longest of the day. Morgan also caught two passes for 26 yards with a 25 yarder the highlight for that stat. And, finally, Morgan carried three times for two yards as a slot back with a four yarder the best of the carries.

In the first quarter, Morgan got caught in the backfield for a one yard loss.

With 11:35 left in the first, Morgan returned a Liberty kickoff 26 yards from the Sycamore goal line with the score tied at 7-7.

As the second quarter started, with Liberty up 14-7, Morgan had a four yard run on a second and eight situation.

Indiana State took a brief lead of 31-28 in the third period, but Liberty answered quickly to regain the lead at 35-31 with 11:31 left in the third period. Morgan returned the ensuing Liberty kickoff 12 yards to the Sycamore 12, but Indiana State could only get to their own 18 before a punt.

In the final drive of the game, Morgan caught a 25 yard pass to the Liberty six yard line with 16 seconds left in the game, but the field goal attempt by Indiana State was blocked to end the game at 42-41.

Indiana State lost 22-20 to Eastern Illinois in their season opener and 42-7 to Tennessee in game two. Morgan had one rush for two yards against Eastern Illinois and two rushes for three yards against Tennessee.

Also on the Indiana State roster is Khalif Copeland, an Oakleaf High graduate defensive back, who is a redshirted freshman.