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Student News of Liberty High School

LHStoday
Student News of Liberty High School

LHStoday
Student News of Liberty High School

LHStoday
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North Point Gets Revenge on Liberty in Round 2 of Districts

Liberty falls short 21-20 in heartbreaking semifinal loss
Byline photo of Mason Molitor
Mason Molitor, Reporter | November 10, 2024
Lilly Brown
CJ McClain (10) returns a fumble downfield in the second half. The Eagles defense shut out the North Point offense in the first two quarters.
MaryKate Stroud

There’s a lot to unpack with the latest Liberty/North Point game. As the history between the two football programs suggests, it was going to be another close game. 

Liberty was 3-0 all-time against North Point going into Friday night’s district semifinal game. However, this was the first time the two teams have met in the district playoffs. The last time they met in the regular season it was a very close game with the Eagles coming out on top, 15-12.

Liberty football players look on with excitement during the third quarter when both teams went back-and-forth with scores during the district semifinal game. (Lilly Brown)

The coaches expected the same kind of game coming into this one. With literally no action in the first two quarters and a scoreless game at halftime, we go into the third quarter 0-0 with North Point receiving the ball first. They would score quickly to put them up 7-0 at 7:51, and Liberty wouldn’t respond until Riley Decaro (12) received a pass from Jalen Mack (11) with 57 seconds left in the third to even the score, 7-7. Then North Point would score with 26 seconds left to take a 14-7 lead.

 Then we get to the fourth, Liberty would score first with Jadaan Leech (11) getting in the end zone for the first time in this game at 9:08, 14-14. Three minutes later, North Point takes the lead at 6:24, 21-14.

Liberty gets the ball back and moves down the field, chewing clock waiting for the right time to score, and they do with 1:36 left in the game, but North Point blocked the PAT to cling to a 21-20 lead. Liberty would proceed to recover an onside kick to get them the ball back, and they would move down the field swiftly. You could feel the tense atmosphere throughout the entire game, but now you could really tell, the North Point fans had lost hope. It’s 4th down and 9 yards to go, Liberty has the ball on the 15-yard line with 27 seconds left. They go for it…

And the pass is incomplete. They turnover, and North Point wins. While yes, it is a heartbreaking loss, that’s the game, it’s a game of decisions, and sometimes you make the wrong ones. 

 

North Point 21, Liberty 20

North Point    0     0    14     7 – 21 

Liberty             0     0     7    13 – 20

First Quarter

No scoring

Second Quarter 

No scoring

Third Quarter

N: Ty’Ron Williams 10 pass from Hoyt Gregory (Landon Manco kick), 7:51

L: Riley Decaro 2 pass from Jaylen Mack (Cody McMullen kick), 0:57

N: Hoyt Gregory 9 run (Landon Manco kick), 0:26

Fourth Quarter

L: Jadaan Leach 17 pass from Cody McMullen (Cody McMullen kick), 9:08

N: Jeremiah Mozee 6 pass from Hoyt Gregory (Landon Manco kick), 6:24

L: Jaylen Mack 2 run (kick failed), 1:36

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About the Contributors
Mason Molitor
Mason Molitor, Reporter
Mason Molitor is a junior and it is his first year in Publications. He is taking intro to journalism and enjoys writing about sports. He just applied for a job at Detailed Driven down the road. He plays club baseball for the Gators. He loves working out, hanging out with friends and stand up comedy. Mason wants to go to college for either journalism or sports media.   
MaryKate Stroud
MaryKate Stroud, Reporter
MaryKate Stroud is a sophomore, and this is her first time in publications. MaryKate is one of the  managers for girls Varsity Basketball. MaryKate is also the President Elect for FCCLA. MaryKate enjoys doing sports photography and traveling. MaryKate’s favorite place that she traveled to was Italy in the summer of ´24. MaryKate plans on going to college after high school and is currently indecisive on where she wants to go, but she knows that she wants to go for broadcasting and human resources. 
Lilly Brown
Lilly Brown, Editor-in-Chief of The Talon
Lilly Brown is a senior, and is the editor-in-chief of the Talon yearbook as well as the social media manager for LHS Publications. This is her third year in publications and her second year as an editor. Lilly is also a part of girls swim, NHS, and Link Crew. Lilly also works at the Renaud outside of school as a gym attendant and front desk worker. In her free time she enjoys going to the gym, reading, puzzling, and playing Sims. Lilly plans on attending State Technical College of Missouri and pursuing a Digital Marketing degree after graduation.