The boys varsity football team improved to 2-0 as they secured another win under the Friday Night Lights this week against the Timberland Wolves, coming out on top with a decisive 44-14 victory.
From the start, the game was filled with energy as both teams battled hard, but the Eagles’ offense quickly found its rhythm and our defense held strong. The Hawaiian theme in the stands added an extra spark to the night, with fans decked out in leis and bright shirts, shouting and cheering after every big play.
Each quarter brought new highlights on the field, and the combination of sharp execution and constant support from the crowd made it clear early on that this would be our game.
Before the start of the game there was a moment for Maxon: a Timberland student who passed recently. A heartwarming moment as both crowds found common ground in Max’s memory, phone flashlights lit up everywhere by everyone in attendance. Truly a surreal moment that showed the character of our community. As the announcer says: “Even in our darkest moments we can bring light to others.”
Before kickoff, our student section was already packed and loud. The players were hyped for their second game of the season.
The first quarter was feeling it out, with both teams testing each other and neither finding the end zone. The score at the end of it was 0-0, and our players took note of how Timberland plays. Jalen Mack (12) talks about balancing nerves and confidence on the field.
“You have to have just the right amount of both; if it goes without nerves, you can’t be confident, without confidence you’re too nervous to be good,” Mack said, who finished the game with 109 yards on 13 rushing attempts.
In the second quarter, our team figured it out. The team not only showed up, but they showed out. The Eagles surged to a 21-7 lead. Running back Jalen Mack was a key player throughout the game, but especially when the team needed him.
After halftime, it was the victory lap. The Eagles’ first touchdown of the half was Camden Cooper (12) on the 37-yard line fresh into the new quarter. This upped our score to 36, while Timberland had 7. Cooper led the team in receiving yards with 125 yards and caught one of quarterback Sully Thornton’s (12) four touchdown passes.
During the last quarter of the game, our players played as if they were losing. We had few fumbles throughout the game but nothing in comparison to our scores. The crowd was cheering and the lights were bright as the team solidified our win. Our final score was a landslide with a 30-point victory, 44-14.
“I think we started off a little rusty…we have some things to fix,” Mack said. “Other than that, we came out hard, fast, and physical. We executed.”
As for adjustments the team made during halftime, Mack continued with “There were some issues, but we came out and we talked about it. We got it fixed.”
The Eagles will host Warrenton on Friday at The Nest for their first home game of the season. Both teams are undefeated with 2-0 records.
LIBERTY 44, TIMBERLAND 14
Liberty 0 21 9 14 – 44
Timberland 0 7 0 7 – 14
Scoring
Second Quarter
L: Camden Cooper 8 pass from Sullivan Thornton (kick failed)
L: Jaylen Mack 4 run (Jaylen Mack run)
L: Camden Cooper 41 pass from Sullivan Thornton (Zander Killian kick)
T: Tristan Moss run (kick)
Third Quarter
L: safety
L: Jaylen Mack 48 run (Zander Killian kick)
Fourth Quarter
L: Camden Cooper 60 pass from Sullivan Thornton (Zander Killian kick)
L: Caleb Orcutt 69 pass from Sullivan Thornton (Zander Killian kick)
T: Hudson Cerrano run (kick)
