Photo by Mark Duffel
BY JOEY MACIAS
Liberty High School snap Stockdale High School’s five-game win streak and take first place in the Southwest Yosemite League with a 38-13 victory at home on Friday night.
Liberty (7-1, 3-0 SWYL) dominated Stockdale (5-3, 2-1 SWYL) in the first half going up 31-0 going into halftime.
“We really wanted to come out fast tonight,” said Liberty head coach Bryan Nixon. “We’re really pleased with the way our kids came out and the way the defense played. I think the big thing was to get that touchdown right before the half.”
Already up 24-0 with five seconds left until halftime, the Liberty offense held nothing back as junior Haden Mann heaved a 39-yard pass to senior Ramon Henderson to put the score at 31-0.
Mann ended the game with 182 yards passing and 24 yards rushing along with two rushing touchdowns and two passing touchdowns.
“I think everybody played as a team together,” said Mann. “It’s nice to play a good opponent and come out with a win.”
Henderson also finished the game with 63 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns.
The Liberty defense has had its way with its league opponents managing to only allow an average of 6.6 points per game in its first three games of SWYL play.
Liberty senior Jake O’Connell was able to showcase the Patriot’s defense with an interception on Stockdale’s opening drive. O’Connell returned the interception 41 yards for a touchdown to give the Patriots their biggest lead of the game 38-0 with 10:43 remaining in the third quarter.
“It’s all about everyone doing their job and I thought that’s what everyone did tonight,” said O’Connell. “We had great preparation throughout the week. We had some really good practices and everyone came out and did what they had to do and it (showed) on the scoreboard. We had to protect our house and that’s what we did tonight.”
The Mustangs were able to get on the board in the third quarter. Following a botched snap on a punt by Liberty. The Mustangs were able to get into prime field position deep inside the Patriots territory at the 28-yard line. Stockdale junior Luz Barrientos punched in a 4-yard rushing touchdown to cut the Liberty lead to 38-6.
Stockdale was able to produce the longest play of the game with a 90-yard touchdown pass from junior Ryan Beecher to senior Jeremiah Gradowitz with 4:33 left in the game making the score 38-13.
Liberty will look to remain undefeated in the SWYL as they are scheduled to play Garces Memorial High School on Oct. 25 at 7:30 p.m.
“We’re going to celebrate this win and get back and watch film on (Garces) and see what we need to do to get better that week and do what we did today,” said Mann.
Stockdale will try to get back on the winning track as they are scheduled to host Frontier High School on Oct. 25 at 7:30 p.m.
PHOTOS BY MARK DUFFEL
