Rutigliano, Liberty Win Opener, 51-27
Sam Rutigliano, formerly the coach of the Cleveland Browns, debuted with Liberty Baptist Saturday night as the Flames won their season opener over Edinboro, 51-27.
Charles McCrary rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns and Paul Johnson, who completed 18 of 27 passes for 271 yards, threw for three touchdowns for the Division I-AA school.
Rutigliano coached the Browns from 1978 to 1984.
The Flames held a 23-14 halftime lead, but the Scots came back with a 50-yard pass from Hal Galupi to Ernest Priester to cut the score to 23-21 in the third quarter.
Liberty put the game away later in the quarter when McCrary scored from seven yards out and Phil DeBerry scooped up a punt blocked by Donald Smith on the Scots’ 25 and ran it in for another score.
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