The final regular season home game turned out to be a nail biter down to the final minutes between Liberty vs. Fort Zumwalt.
The game, although slower moving, was heated, nerve racking, and thrilling all at the same time. The game ended with a close score of 34-33 giving the Eagles one more win at the Nest. Liberty won all four of their home games this season.
The game started off with the Bulldogs getting the first kick off. The Eagles made a move with a hand off to senior Marquis Williams. Followed by our first first down of the game also made by Williams. A pass to senior Matthew Manocchio followed by a flag on the play, penalty on the Bulldogs. Soon after, an 8-yard touchdown reception by senior Aiden King gave the Eagles a lead.
“Oh my god dude it felt amazing,” King said. “We started this Monday practice and I didn’t really know the play so I had to get help from my teammates, but thankfully (quarterback) Cody (McMullen) was looking for me and I got to score for him.”
After the Eagles took a 6-0 lead, the Bulldogs got a touchdown of their own making the score 6-6. Soon to be 7-6 after their extra point kick.
Senior Austin Steenbeke, scored on a 1-yard run that gave the Eagles the lead again, 12-7, followed by a flawless extra-point kick made by McMullen making the score at 13-7.
The two teams would trade touchdowns once more to finish the high-scoring opening quarter as Liberty took a 21-14 lead.
Quarters two, three and four are full of flags on plays left and right. But each one does have their highlights. The Eagles started off the second quarter strong with a touchdown made by Peyton Bertels making the score 27-14 followed by a valid extra point by McMullen, score being 28-14.
The Eagles stopped the Bulldogs on their next possession and took over on the 36-yard line. With the help of two first downs by Bertels, the Eagles got another touchdown made by Steenbeke making the score 34-14 at halftime.
The second half belonged to the Bulldogs as they rallied to get back in the game while shutting out the Eagles offense.
Two third quarter touchdowns got the Bulldogs within a touchdown as they would now trail, 34-27. The Eagles suffered a setback when junior Kaileb Rhen got tackled on the field but ended up walking off the injury and supporting his team the rest of the game. Steenbeke returned the ball with a shocking catch and sprinted to the end zone, not making it all the way but tipping odds back on our side and putting some spirit back into the fans.
Going into the fourth quarter with mostly just flags on plays here and there. A lot on the Eagles, but a few thrown on the Bulldogs too. Coming down to the last few minutes of fourth quarter, both teams were fighting for their lives.
The Bulldogs pulled one more touchdown out of their magic hat with 1 minute and 33 seconds left in the game that cut the deficit to 34-33, putting more pressure on the Eagles. With time running out, they went for a two-point conversion hoping to nag it and win the game.
However, the Eagles being the fighters that they are don’t let that happen. The game comes to a phenomenal ending with the score being 34-33 and the student section screaming and cheering for yet another magnificent win for Liberty.
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LIBERTY 34, ZUMWALT SOUTH 33
Zumwalt South 14 0 13 6 – 33
Liberty 21 13 0 0 – 34
First Quarter
L: Aidan King 8 pass from Cody McMullen (kick failed), 8:02
F: Carter Cox 1 run (Jackson Tankersley kick), 5:52
L: Austin Steenbeke 1 run (Cody McMullen kick), 2:54
F: Carter Cox 3 run (Jackson Tankersley kick), 0:14
L: Marquis Williams 52 run (Austin Steenbeke run), 0:00
Second Quarter
L: Peyton Bertels 59 pass from Cody McMullen (Cody McMullen kick), 9:37
L: Austin Steenbeke 2 run (kick failed), 3:20
Third Quarter
F: Carter Cox 6 run (Jackson Tankersley kick), 8:27
F: Chase Bensing 9 pass from Carter Cox (pass failed), 3:36
Fourth Quarter
F: Chase Bensing 9 pass from Carter Cox (pass failed), 1:33
