The Liberty football team opened KingCo play with a bang, dominating Mercer Island 51-13 Thursday night.
The Patriots (3-0 overall, 1-0 KingCo 3A/2A) scored on their first five drives and piled up a 37-0 lead before letting the clock run out to the half on the sixth drive.
“Our passing game was really precise,” said Liberty coach Steve Valach. “Trey (Wheeler) was making good decisions… It was a good balanced attack.”
Liberty first-half scoring:
- Liberty started the scoring with a pass from Trey Wheeler to Chandler Jenkins lined up in the slot.
- On the second drive facing a third and one, the Patriots ran play action and Wheeler connected with Peter Wiggum over the top for 26 yards and a touchdown.
- Jenkins rushed up the middle for 20 yards and a score on Liberty’s third drive.
- Liberty got a safety with a Mercer Island snap sailed over the quarterback’s head and out of the end zone.
- Wheeler shook off a pass rusher in the backfield, rolled to the left and found Jake Bainton running a crossing route along the back of the end zone for a seven-yard score.
- Jenkins found the end zone again on a 55-yard rush up the middle to give Liberty its fifth touchdown on the first five drives.
On its sixth drive, Liberty got into good field position when Wheeler found Jenkins for a 45-yard reception near the left sideline on third and 11. However, with a 37-7 lead the Patriots let the clock run out to half time.
Liberty added two third-quarter scores when Jay Chakravarty rushed from 11 and three yards for touchdowns.
The Patriots spent the week before the game with renewed focus after some minor mistakes and five turnovers through the first two games.
“The coaches challenged the offensive line,” said senior Alex Kaser, who plays center and defensive end. “Last week we had little breakdowns and Trey got hit. Guys got mad about that and stepped up. I think we just dominated the game up front.”
Though Mercer Island is young (starting a sophomore quarterback) and battling injuries, Valach is happy with the league win.
“It was league play and it mattered,” he said. “The other two wins were nice, but the reality is they don’t mean anything.”
